The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is alerting residents about fraudulent advertisements promoting discounted vehicle registration services. These deceptive ads, primarily found on social media, claim to offer significant discounts—up to 50%—on registration renewals and often request sensitive personal information such as license plate numbers and Vehicle Identification Numbers.
The DMV emphasizes that it does not offer discounts on vehicle registration renewals and will never ask for payment or personal information through unofficial channels. Customers are strongly advised to avoid engaging with these advertisements and to conduct all DMV-related business through the official DMV website or authorized businesses listed in the DMV’s Business Partner Automation program.
To protect against online scams, individuals should take the following precautions:
- Ignore offers for discounted DMV services, as these are not legitimate.
- Do not respond to unsolicited messages requesting personal or financial information.
- Verify the legitimacy of the source before providing any information.
- Contact the DMV directly at 800-777-0133 if there are any concerns.
The DMV encourages customers to utilize its online services for most transactions, including driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals, which are now primarily handled online. To receive paperless renewal notices, customers should create a secure online account at dmv.ca.gov and opt in for the service.
