If you pay off your vehicle in full, the lender is required to provide title, or a release, to you within 15 days.
California requires vehicles to be legally registered to be operated on public roads. Evidence of proper registration is also required when operating the vehicle. Evidence or proper registration may be in the form of a license plate with a registration expiration date, or a temporary window tag. Dealerships are authorized to provide temporary registration and/or license plates for a vehicle purchased by a buyer.
If you bought a vehicle from a licensed dealership, certain registration tasks may be taken care of by the dealership. When a dealership sells a new car to a buyer, the dealership must report the sale to the California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV). The dealership must also attach a copy of the report of sale form to the vehicle.
In the sale of a new vehicle, the dealership must submit to the DMV an application accompanied by all license and registration fees due, within 20 days from the date of sale. In the sale of a used vehicle, the dealership must submit to the DMV an application accompanied by all license and registration fees due, within 30 days from the date of sale. If done properly, the DMV will issue the registration and/or license plates to the buyer within 90 days.
If the dealership does not submit the proper paperwork and fees to the DMV, this can delay your receipt of the registration/license plates necessary to operate your vehicle on public roads. If you have a loan on the vehicle with a bank or lender, the bank or lender will also demand proper registration for the vehicle to secure your loan.