The short answer: The California DMV registration-fees page, retrieved 2026-10-31, lists a Road Improvement Fee of $121 for original registration or renewal under Vehicle Code section 9250.6. The fee is assessed on model year 2020 and later zero-emission vehicles, it affects registration renewals unless exempted, and it is not assessed on the initial registration of a newly purchased zero-emission vehicle from a licensed vehicle dealer. AFDC law 11779 states a statutory base of $100 plus an annual California Consumer Price Index adjustment. This page quotes the DMV table's $121 and does not multiply the $100 base.
What the sources say
| Source | What the source says |
|---|---|
| California DMV, Registration Fees AFDC law 11779, Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Fee | The California DMV registration-fees page, retrieved 2026-10-31, lists a Road Improvement Fee of $121 for original registration or renewal under Vehicle Code section 9250.6. The fee is assessed on model year 2020 and later zero-emission vehicles, it affects registration renewals unless exempted, and it is not assessed on the initial registration of a newly purchased zero-emission vehicle from a licensed vehicle dealer. AFDC law 11779 states a statutory base of $100 plus an annual California Consumer Price Index adjustment. This page quotes the DMV table's $121 and does not multiply the $100 base. |
| AFDC law 11779, Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Fee | AFDC law 11779 says zero-emission vehicle owners must pay an annual road improvement fee of $100 on registration or renewal for model year 2020 and later, and that the Department of Motor Vehicles increases the fee annually with the California Consumer Price Index. This page does not multiply that $100 base by the index. The DMV fee table quoted above lists $121. |
The first column is the source name. The second column is the quotation. On a phone, swipe the table sideways. The page itself should not scroll sideways.
What to do with this number
Confirm the fee on the motor-vehicle renewal notice before you pay. The figure above is not a quote from your county clerk. Electricity after the car is registered is a different bill.
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The registration fee is not the charger. What the hardware costs, and which Level 2 units are adjustable, is in the charger guide and the Home Flex review. The button opens the Amazon listing. It does not change a DMV fee.
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FAQ: EV registration fees in California
What extra EV registration fee applies in California?
The California DMV registration-fees page, retrieved 2026-10-31, lists a Road Improvement Fee of $121 for original registration or renewal under Vehicle Code section 9250.6. The fee is assessed on model year 2020 and later zero-emission vehicles, it affects registration renewals unless exempted, and it is not assessed on the initial registration of a newly purchased zero-emission vehicle from a licensed vehicle dealer. AFDC law 11779 states a statutory base of $100 plus an annual California Consumer Price Index adjustment. This page quotes the DMV table's $121 and does not multiply the $100 base.
Is this the whole amount due at the DMV in California?
No. These quotations are the additional statewide electric, plug-in, or alternative-fuel charge the cited source states, or a statement that no such charge was in the AFDC laws retrieved on 2026-10-31. Weight fees, value taxes, county fees, plate fees, and sales tax are separate.
Does this fee include a home charger rebate?
No. Home charger programs are on the charger rebate page for this state. What the electricity costs after the vehicle is registered is on the charging-cost page.
Sources
- AFDC laws and incentives, CA. Law text retrieved 2026-10-31.
- California DMV, Registration Fees. Retrieved 2026-10-31.
- AFDC law 11779, Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Fee. Retrieved 2026-10-31.