CVC 4454(a)Eligible for written declarationCorrectable · Fix under CVC 40522

Registration Card Not Kept in Vehicle

An owner not keeping the vehicle's registration card, or a facsimile copy of it, with the vehicle.

Reviewed by the TicketClear teamLast reviewed October 10, 2026

Fine: $193, or $25 if correctedDMV Points: None✓ Correctable

This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.

What is a Registration Card Not Kept in Vehicle ticket?

CVC 4454(a) says every owner, upon receipt of a registration card, shall maintain the card or a facsimile copy of it with the vehicle for which it was issued.

Ask your insurer how a conviction affects your policy.

What the Law Says

(a) Every owner, upon receipt of a registration card, shall maintain the same or a facsimile copy thereof with the vehicle for which issued.

What the Officer Must Prove

1You were the owner of the vehicle and had received its registration card
2The registration card, or a facsimile copy of it, was not with the vehicle

Arguments Commonly Raised for Registration Card Not Kept in Vehicle

General information: arguments drivers commonly raise for this code section. Whether any applies depends on your own facts.

Card or copy in the vehicle

CVC 4454(a) allows the registration card or a facsimile copy of it to be kept with the vehicle. If one was in the vehicle, describe it.

Not the owner or card not yet received

The section applies to the owner upon receipt of a registration card. Describe who owns the vehicle and when the card arrived.

Correction

CVC 4454(c) says any violation of this section shall be cited in accordance with Vehicle Code 40610, the correctable-violation procedure. If your notice is marked correctable and you present proof of correction, certified as Vehicle Code 40616 describes, by mail or in person on or before the date on your notice, the court shall dismiss the charge (Vehicle Code 40522). The clerk collects a $25 transaction fee unless the notice is processed only by the agency that issued it (Vehicle Code 40611).

Card removed for renewal or transfer, or vehicle left unattended

CVC 4454(b) says the section does not apply when a registration card is necessarily removed from the vehicle for the purpose of application for renewal or transfer of registration, or when the vehicle is left unattended. Describe why the card was not in the vehicle.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

✗Not keeping a copy of the registration card in the vehicle
✗Not getting the correction certified and presented to the court by the date on your notice

What this code section covers (general information)

CVC 4454(a) — Registration Card Not Kept in Vehicle. An owner not keeping the vehicle's registration card, or a facsimile copy of it, with the vehicle.

This section is a correctable (fix-it) violation: if the officer marks your notice correctable, the court shall dismiss the charge when you present proof of correction on or before the date on your notice (Vehicle Code 40522). The officer does not mark it correctable on finding fraud or persistent neglect, an immediate safety hazard, or that you do not agree to, or cannot, promptly correct it (Vehicle Code 40610(b)).

Eligible for Trial by Written Declaration: generally yes.

This is general information about CVC 4454(a). It is not advice about your citation, and TicketClear does not evaluate anyone's facts. Whether any of it applies depends on your own facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed California attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions About Registration Card Not Kept in Vehicle

Can I keep a copy of my registration instead of the original?▼

CVC 4454(a) says the owner shall maintain the registration card or a facsimile copy of it with the vehicle for which it was issued.

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