Vehicles: biennial registration.

Existing law generally establishes an annual registration period for vehicles and imposes annual registration fees on vehicles. The Vehicle License Fee Law establishes an annual license fee for a vehicle subject to registration in this state in a specified amount of the market value of the vehicle. This bill generally would require the Director of Motor Vehicles, commencing in 2012, to establish a biennial registration period for vehicles, except the bill would require the director to retain an annual registration period for vehicles registered pursuant to the International Registration Plan or commercial motor vehicles with a declared gross weight of 10,101 pounds or more. The bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles, commencing in 2012, to collect 2-years' worth of registration fees, vehicle license fees, and associated charges at the time of biennial registration, rather than collecting those fees and charges annually. The bill would make conforming changes and would require the department to inform a person who renews his or her vehicle registration in 2011 of biennial registration beginning in 2012 and collection of registration fees and charges on a biennial rather than annual basis.