I suppose i should have mentioned I lost the paperwork, I don't have the bill, just the registration from last year, and it expired in December, I just noticed the plate yesterday.
Just think it through.
Who has the info you need? The DMV (AAA does too) The info you are looking for is the registration fees for the current year less penalties if it hasn't been paid. You are trying to find out if you paid it right?
So now you have the base fee, the total amount you would have paid but can't recall if you did.
Armed with that info you call your CC bank. Ask the CSR to find if there has been a charge for that amount within the last 4 months. You wouldn't have paid it six months ago right, most likely between last October and December. They can find this information in seconds.
Then you will know if your card got charged for that amount. If the answer is yes then ask the bank to email you a record of the transaction or failing that since you then know the exact date, searching your online records is easy and quick.
Then comes the good/bad time. If you didn't pay, get ready, the penalties are quite hefty. So what, you messed up so pay up. If you did pay, since you have a record of the payment you can get the DMV to reissue the registration document and replacement sticker.
Think step by step:
What is the real problem?
What info do you need to solve the problem?
Who has the info you need?
Get info.
Solve problem.
Don't repeat.
Things like this can be overwhelming, it messes with you because you can't recall if you paid the fees. Shit happens. It's like losing your only key to the bike, if you let the monster cloud your thinking you end up taking a bike apart when the answer was a phone call.
Now, all the talk doesn't help you much without a start so here is a start:
Follow this link and it will give you the registration fee and perhaps also penalties. Disregard the penalties just pay attention to the normal registration fees which is the number you need.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?..._content_en/dmv/portal/feecalculatorweb/index
Yes, it is for buying but by massaging the dates you can get the info. Don't mind screw this, it is easier than you might think.
Remember, the bank can easily search for an approximate amount for the charge, it doesn't have to be exact. You're going to tell the bank CSR who would have rec'd the money (State of California...) and the amount. Tell them it might not be the exact amount.
They will tell you. Then solve your problem.
This should take no more than a few minutes of your time.
