Expired Vehicle Registration
A CVC 4000(a) citation means your vehicle registration had expired. From July 1, 2024 to January 1, 2030, expired registration cannot be the only reason for enforcement before the second month after the month it expired, though it can be cited sooner if you were stopped for something else (Vehicle Code 4000(a)(4)). If your ticket is marked correctable, renewing your registration and getting the correction certified before the deadline resolves it.
Correction Window
The deadline is printed on your citation. Check the date on your ticket.
Fee After Correction
These steps apply when your ticket was issued as correctable. An officer does not issue it that way if there is evidence of fraud or persistent neglect, the violation presents an immediate safety hazard, or you cannot promptly correct it (Vehicle Code 40610(b)). When the court accepts your proof of correction, the court clerk collects a $25 fee for each corrected violation (Vehicle Code 40611). There is no fee if the agency that cited you handles the correction and nothing is sent to the court (Vehicle Code 40611(c)). Without proof of correction, you may owe the full fine. Check your notice or ask your court for the amount.
Who Can Certify
The DMV, a court clerk or any law enforcement agency can certify a registration correction. The California Courts self-help guide says to bring a copy of your current registration to the court clerk. Call ahead to confirm the office will sign it.
The court must dismiss a corrected violation when you deliver proof of correction on or before the date on your ticket (Vehicle Code 40522). After that date it may not accept the correction, and you may owe the full fine. If you fail to appear without good cause, the court may add a civil assessment of up to $100 after mailing you a warning notice (Penal Code 1214.1). Willfully failing to appear, or willfully failing to deliver proof of correction, is a misdemeanor (Vehicle Code 40508 and 40616). If you need more time, ask the court before the date passes.
Step by Step
How to Correct This Violation
- 1
Locate the deadline printed on the front of your citation.
- 2
Renew your registration online at dmv.ca.gov, in person at a DMV office, or by mail.
- 3
Obtain your new registration card and updated sticker as proof of renewal.
- 4
Bring your citation and proof of renewal to any DMV office or law enforcement agency for certification.
- 5
Have the back of your citation signed in the Certificate of Correction section.
- 6
Mail or deliver the signed citation to the court listed on your ticket before the deadline. A $25 processing fee applies.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I still have to pay after I fix the violation?
- Usually. When you file proof of correction with the court, the clerk collects a $25 fee for each corrected violation (Vehicle Code 40611). There is no fee if the agency that cited you handles the correction and nothing goes to the court (Vehicle Code 40611(c)).
- Can I mail the signed citation instead of going to court?
- Yes. Mail the signed citation to the court address on the front of your ticket before the deadline. Certified mail with a tracking number is recommended so you have proof of delivery.
- Will this ticket appear on my driving record?
- Not as a conviction. When the court accepts your proof of correction it dismisses the charge (Vehicle Code 40522), and DMV points are counted for convictions (Vehicle Code 12810), so a dismissed fix-it ticket adds no points.
This guide covers passenger vehicles. Some rules differ for commercial vehicles and truck tractors (for example, where registration tabs go under Vehicle Code 5204(a)). If you were driving one, check with your employer or a licensed attorney.
This guide provides general procedural information only. It is not legal advice. For questions specific to your citation, contact the court listed on your ticket.
Also have a moving violation on your ticket?
Speeding and moving violations follow a different process. TicketClear prepares your written declaration.
See how TicketClear worksYour ticket has a deadline. Tell your side today.
Most California citations have a 60-day deadline. Write what happened in your own words, then review, edit and sign your declaration.
Start my declarationFree to start · $49.99 when you're ready to download