If you know Linda, she probably already warned you about this…but the DMV has a new “policy” (which henceforth will be referred to as a scam) in which they are not sending registration renewal notices. This is especially problematic if it’s your year to also get a smog check (try doing that in one day with the clock ticking!).

How do you know to pay it then? How do you know how much it is? Well, you don’t.  You can now renew your registration online, so I suggest that you stop what you are doing RIGHT NOW and check your month sticker on your license plate, then come back in to your computer and add a reminder that will pop up 30 days before that month begins and remind you to go online and pay it.

As a delightful sidenote, in addition to “saving money by not sending mail” the DMV also increased the penalty amounts on expired registration by approximately 10,000%*. I’m not a mathematician, but that seems quite exorbitant, doesn’t it? It’s 60% of your registration cost plus $30 EACH for the DMV and CHP (Why CHP?) for the first 30 days that you are deficient, and skyrockets after that. They are giving a sneaky 30-day grace period to account for the sudden change in policies, which didn’t help me as I don’t CONSTANTLY LOOK AT THE BACK OF MY CAR AND NOTICE MY STICKER IS OLD. Thankfully, Linda noticed, and I proceeded directly to the DMV to pay none less than ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS in late fees. $100?!?!?!?!

&#$%(&%^*^&%*^#$!!!!!!

I did try to argue with them, but they claim to have sent me 4 reminder letters, despite the fact that the website claims that their registration renewal policies changed on July 1, and my registration was due in July. Also, we did receive a renewal notice for the Harley, which we paid in July. So figure that out. Anyway, I feel like I pretty much got worked over by a system that set me up to fail and then collected when I did as expected. So, California DMV, I want you to know that I hate you. Everyone hates you. Now we all hate you a little more. [Okay, I feel better now.]

So learn from my mistakes, and make yourself a reminder.

*Actual figures may vary.