CA – I just got off the phone with US Bank and told them that I didn’t get to renew my registration. They said I don’t need to renew just turn it in, I don’t have to pay for it. The dealership will just take an odometer reading then that’s it.
Is this true? Can the DMV come after me afterwards?
When is turn-in? How long has your registration lapsed for?
Did you turn in the lease and fill out the release of liability before or after the registration due date?
In all the leases that I’ve done, the contract states that you are liable for all registration fees. If you turned in the car before expiration, that’s ok, but if afterwards- you’re likely to get hit with charges.
Some one else previously, paid for the CA DMV PNO and then got a 1 day moving permit from AAA. Registration renewal for the lease return (strange situation) - #5 by idenis
Dealer isn’t the final word when it comes to DMV. DMV has no problems sending you a delinquent bill with penalties after the fact.
I haven’t turned the car in yet… do I fill out that “Release of Liability” when I turn into dealership?
I thought about doing that, PNO. $150 is better than $550. I actually tried to go to AAA this past afternoon, thought they were still open at 5pm but was too late. Will try again tomorrow morning
End of this month (Feb). Registration is a month past now… (was trying to sell to Vroom, they told me not to renew since it will delay the process, turns out they can’t even do it with US Bank - wish I checked these forums long time ago… lol)
Yes, you’re required to fill out the release of liability in ca. Some dealerships will do it for you, but they’re not obligated to. It takes 30 seconds on the ca dmv site.
As for registration, if you’re already past due, I’m not sure pno is an option. You’re on the hook for the registration here and if you don’t pay it, CA will take you to collections
Yes, that gets signed when you ground the car.
I believe you can still change to PNO, but there are penalties involved as well.
you’re on the hook either way for penalties.
“1. Be prepared to pay the filing fee. Your renewal notice will indicate the PNO fees based on the date you request the filing. (Note that filing for PNO up to 90 days after registration expiration will include late penalties in addition to the PNO filing fee.)”
As long as the car is turned in, even if the registration is expired why will US Bank care? And once the car has been turned in, how does the DMV find out that the reg on it was ever expired? Not suggesting you try your luck with expired registration, merely curious to know how DMV would come back for it.
Because they know that the registration was already due and they haven’t been paid for it… The dmv is the one that issues the registration.
Right, but how do they know if the car has been turned in or not? Is that where the release of liability comes in? I’m asking because I have a BMW lease turn in coming up and I have TX plates on my car, and moved to WA recently. BMWFS told me it didn’t matter that I had out of state reg and to just take off the plates and turn the car in.
That’s what the US Bank rep told me, the car isn’t mine and will just get sold somewhere, it’s no longer my responsibility… I questioned it, but he was confident… But maybe he doesn’t know I’m in California? So I’ll probably try to call us bank again tomorrow and go to AAA to ask, also about that PNO thing…
Ah, gotcha. As far as the dmv is concerned, until they’re notified that the car is longer in the OPs possession, either through a release of liability or the title transferring when the bank sells the car, the registration is the OPs responsibility.
Either of those occurrences are going to be well after the registration was due, so there’s no getting around paying it.
PNO may be an option, although a moving permit will be needed for the day of turn in, and the car can’t be driven, street parked, etc in the mean time.
I’ll have to look up TX DMV laws on this I guess. Last time I sold my vehicle with TX tags and plates to Carvana they just had me take off the plates and we both went our merry way. In hindisight I probably should have looked into when my liability was actually released. Good thing my current tags expire the same month the lease ends.
In some states, tags are tied to the owner rather than the vehicle, so it’s handled differently. In CA, the license plate and registration go with the car.
I was 5 weeks past/expired on my Lexus lease due to a “complementary covid extension” from Lexus to delay the return of my car. It’s now been over 7 months and I haven’t received a bill from Lexus or the DMV. Might be an exception to the rule. But all worked out for me.
I wouldn’t count on this being all said and done. CA dmv is known go send past due registration to collections after 6 months to a year, and it’ll just keep accruing penalties.
Update:
Called US Bank again this morning and rep said it wouldn’t need to be registered, however was concerned that CA DMV may cite me if I drive around, etc
Went to AAA, was able to file my leased vehicle as PNO no problem, even let them know my situation that I will either turn it in or sell it. Already gave me a one day pass when I need to move it.
I’m actually now considering buying it out and selling it right after. There seems to be some equity in it, as long as I don’t pay the tax.
Thanks everyone