Moving Out of California With a Car: Registration and Insurance

Questions about your California policy before a move? Call (209) 670-1556. Offices: Stockton, 956 W Robinhood Dr, Stockton, CA 95207 · San Jose, 25 N 14th St #125 · San Rafael, 9 Vivian St.

Two moves, two different DMV answers

Your situation	What the DMV page says to do
You will register the car in the new state	Report a change of address within 10 days of moving. If a California renewal notice still arrives, write on the back of the stub the date the vehicle left California and the name of the new state where it is registered, and mail it back so the record is updated.
You move but the car stays registered in California (for example, a student or a family car left behind)	Report the change of address within 10 days, online or with a Change of Address (DMV 14). The registration, and the insurance rule that comes with it, stay in force.
You sold, gave away, or donated the car before moving	File a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138). The DMV says a missing or illegible REG 138 is the usual reason renewal notices keep coming. See release of liability.

The insurance trap: canceling the California policy too early

The DMV's insurance requirements page says insurance is required on all vehicles operated or parked on California roads, that the DMV registration will be suspended if it does not receive proof of insurance, and that you must notify the DMV before you cancel your insurance. Insurers in California report private-use vehicle policies to the DMV electronically, so a cancellation shows up on the vehicle record. If the California registration is still active when the policy ends, the DMV can start a suspension even though the car is already in Oregon or Texas.

The DMV gives two clean ways out:

Register the car in the new state first, then cancel the California policy, keeping the new state's policy in place from the day you arrive. Tell the DMV the date the car left and where it is now registered.
File an Affidavit of Non-Use (REG 5090) if the car is not being driven or parked on a California road. The DMV's Affidavit of Non-Use page says that once it receives the REG 5090 it cancels the registration, that no reinstatement fee is due when the registration is cancelled this way, and that the vehicle cannot be driven or parked on a California road until proof of insurance is received. You must allow 3 business days before you can remove an ANU you filed online.

The ANU page also warns that a registration is suspended if you do not respond to a notice, even if you did not receive it because you moved, which is why the change of address comes first.

Getting part of the registration back

The DMV's payments and refunds page lists, among the cases that may qualify for a refund, a vehicle that left California before the first day of the new registration period. If you paid the renewal early and then moved, the DMV asks for:

A signed Application for Refund (ADM 399).
Proof the vehicle was registered in another state before the California registration expired, such as the new state's current registration.
Your California registration card, sticker, and license plates, if applicable, or a Statement of Facts (REG 256) explaining why they cannot be returned.

We do not print refund amounts. The DMV decides each request.

Moving the car itself

The DMV page points to one-day vehicle moving permits and one-trip permits for moving a vehicle. If the car will be shipped, ask the carrier how it is insured in transit and keep your own policy active until delivery. Ask your agent whether your policy covers the car while it is on a carrier's truck; we do not give a general answer because it depends on the policy.

A move-out checklist

Change your address with the DMV within 10 days of the move (DMV).
Buy the new state's policy so it starts the day the car arrives, before the old one ends.
Register the car in the new state, then tell California DMV the date the car left and the new state.
Only then cancel the California policy, or file an ANU if the car will sit unused and unregistered in California.
If you paid the renewal early, file the ADM 399 with proof of the new registration.
If you sold the car instead, file the REG 138 within 5 days of the sale.

Moving to California instead? See registering an out-of-state car in California.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to return my California license plates when I move out of state?

The DMV's moving-out page does not ask you to return them to stop the registration. If you want a refund of an early renewal, the DMV's refund page asks for the registration card, sticker, and plates if applicable, or a REG 256 explaining why they cannot be returned.

Can I cancel my California car insurance when I move out of state?

Yes, but the DMV says you must notify it before you cancel. Register the car in the new state first, or file an Affidavit of Non-Use (REG 5090), so the California registration is not suspended for lack of insurance.

How do I stop California registration renewal notices after moving?

The DMV says to write the date the vehicle left California and the name of the new state on the back of the renewal stub and mail it back. If you sold the car, file a REG 138.

Can I get a refund of California registration if I moved?

The DMV lists a vehicle that left California before the first day of the new registration period as a case that may qualify. It asks for an ADM 399, proof of registration in the other state, and the California card, sticker, and plates if applicable.

What if I keep the car registered in California after moving?

Report the change of address within 10 days. The registration and the insurance requirement continue, so the car stays insured to a California-compliant policy.

Sources

DMV Moving Out of State (10-day address change, renewal stub, REG 138, permits). Checked 12 October 2026.
DMV Affidavit of Non-Use (REG 5090, cancellation without reinstatement fee, 3 business days to remove). Checked 12 October 2026.
DMV Insurance Requirements (notify DMV before cancelling insurance; suspension without proof; electronic reporting). Checked 11 October 2026.
DMV Payments and Refunds (vehicle left California before the new period; ADM 399, proof, plates or REG 256). Checked 12 October 2026.

Reviewed by Santo Militello, California-licensed Property & Casualty agent (CA License #1737723) and owner of Via Rapida Services. Insurance City Agency, LLC · CA License #6003045. Our licensed team brings more than 70 years of combined insurance experience. Call (209) 670-1556. Last reviewed 2026-10-09.