(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall issue new and different license plates immediately upon request to the registered owner of a vehicle who appears in person and submits a completed application, if all of the following are provided:

(1) Proof of ownership of the vehicle that is acceptable to the department.

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Terms Used In California Vehicle Code 4467

  • Department: means the Department of Motor Vehicles except, when used in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2100) of Division 2 and in Divisions 11 (commencing with Section 21000), 12 (commencing with Section 24000), 13 (commencing with Section 29000), 14 (commencing with Section 31600), 14. See California Vehicle Code 290
  • driver: is a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. See California Vehicle Code 305
  • owner: is a person having all the incidents of ownership, including the legal title of a vehicle whether or not such person lends, rents, or creates a security interest in the vehicle. See California Vehicle Code 460
  • Person: includes a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation. See California Vehicle Code 470
  • registered owner: is a person registered by the department as the owner of a vehicle. See California Vehicle Code 505
  • vehicle: is a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See California Vehicle Code 670

(2) A driver‘s license or identification card containing a picture of the licensee or cardholder issued to the registered owner by the department pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 12500) of Division 6. The department shall conduct a search of its records to verify the authenticity of any document submitted under this paragraph.

(3) The previously issued license plates from the vehicle.

(4) The payment of required fees under subdivision (c) of Section 4850 and subdivision (b) of Section 9265 for the issuance of duplicate license plates.

(5) One of the following:

(A) A copy of a police report, court documentation, or other law enforcement documentation identifying the registered owner of the vehicle as the victim of an incident of domestic violence, as specified in § 1708.6 of the Civil Code, the subject of stalking, as specified in § 1708.7 of the Civil Code or § 646.9 of the Penal Code, the victim of a rape, as defined in Section 261 or former § 262 of the Penal Code, or the victim of a sexual battery, as defined in § 1708.5 of the Civil Code.

(B) A written acknowledgment, dated within 30 days of submission, on the letterhead of a domestic violence agency or a rape crisis center, that the registered owner is actively seeking assistance or has sought assistance from that agency within the past year.

(C) An active protective order as defined in § 6218 of the Family Code, or issued pursuant to Section 527.6 or 527.8 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that names the registered owner as a protected party.

(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to special license plates issued under Article 8 (commencing with Section 5000) of Chapter 1 of Division 3, special interest license plates issued under Article 8.4 (commencing with Section 5060) of Chapter 1 of Division 3, or environmental license plates issued under Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 5100) of Chapter 1 of Division 3.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 626, Sec. 73. (AB 1171) Effective January 1, 2022.)

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