Complete and mail an Application for Refund (ADM 399) along with any required documentation to the correct DMV Address:

Registration

For any of Vehicle/Vessel registration, Personalized plates, Vehicle Record Printout, Franchise Tax Board, or Dishonored Checks, mail the form to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 942869, MS A235
Sacramento, CA 94269-0001

Driver License/Identification Card

For any of Driver License, ID Card, Driver's Record Printout, or Administrative/Reissue fees, mail the form to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 942890, MS G204
Sacramento, CA 94290-0001

Occupational License

For any of Vehicle Salesperson, Dealer, Manufacturer, or Registration Service, mail the form to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Occupational Licensing Section
PO Box 932342, MS L224
Sacramento, CA 94232-3420

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Tips and Information that may be needed when applying:

• The vehicle identification number (VIN) or hull identification number (HIN) of the vehicle or vessel for which you are requesting a refund.
• If you are requesting a refund for Driver License fees, have the Driver License number handy. If you are requesting a refund for registration fees or penalties, please have your vehicle license plate number (or boat/vessel registration number) readily available.
• Know the date fees were paid, the name of the location where they were paid, and the payment method used.
• You must file for a refund with the California DMV within three years of making the payment, though some exceptions, like for use tax on vehicles, may have different deadlines. 
• Refund requests must be submitted within three years from the date of payment of the fees in question. 
• Requests received more than three years after payment of the fee(s) cannot be honored because of the statute of limitations in VC §§42231 and 42232.

Exception: Nonresident Military (NRM) requests for a refund of Vehicle License Fees (VLF) may be accepted more than three years after payment of fees.

Common reasons for requesting a refund:

• Accidentally paid the wrong fees
• Incorrect fees were charged
• Vehicle is registered out of state and incorrectly paid California DMV Fees
• Paid a fee that was not required
• Cleared a transaction in error
• Cleared a transaction when it should have been a non-resident military vehicle or had an exemption

Additional documents/items you may need to submit:

• Any documentation of payments claimed, such as photocopies of the front and back of a canceled check payable to DMV or receipts issued by DMV. Front and back photocopies of both checks are needed when payment was made twice for the same vehicle.
• The current year registration card and unused sticker, if the refund will cancel the current year registration.
• The California Certificate of Title, if a correction, such as VLF classification.
• The California Certificate of Title, if issued, registration card, license plates, and stickers, if the entire registration is to be canceled (in other words, the vehicle should not have been registered).
• A Statement of Facts (REG 256) form, explaining why items cannot be submitted if any of the items required to be submitted with the ADM 399 are missing. A duplicate fee is not charged for missing items.

If needed, a completed:

• Notice of Release of Liability (REG 138) (PDF) form.
• Nonresident Military Exemption Statement (REG 5045) (PDF) form.
• REG 256 authorizing DMV to issue the refund to a person other than the registered owner.

How to fill out the ADM 399

Where to find more information:

Link to DMV’s website: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/customer-service/payments-refunds/ 

Link to the form ADM 399 (The form is also available in DMVdesk under the Dashboard tab): https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/application-for-refund-adm-399-pdf/

The DMV has strict procedures about VR (KSR/DL/OL) Lookup. The DMV requires that you only use your own authorized terminal that is on site at the registered place of business. If you’re finding that you’re constantly losing your terminal registration or receiving Access Denied, here are a few tips that can help preserve terminal registration.

• If you are using programs that require you to clear your cookies, it is recommended that you clear ONLY those cookies from your Site Settings in your browser. If you clear all cookies for All Time, you may accidentally delete your terminal registration for DMVdesk and need to submit a new request for Admin approval. Should this happen, you can start the process by clicking on the Red lock in the top right corner and then completing the information in the popup window.

• If you have an Orange lock, that means your request is Pending and requires Admin approval. If your Admin is unavailable to approve your request, please email help@vitu.com, provide us with your dealership name, your name and that your Admin is unavailable to approve your request. We are only allowed to approve terminals for users under these conditions by DMV regulations.

• If the lock is Green or it disappears entirely and yet you receive Access Denied when attempting to run a report, that means your IP address may have changed. Locate your IP address by hovering over the business name in the top right corner of the screen, then your name to bring up the Terminal ID information. Toward the bottom of the popup is your IP address — report this to our Support Team through chat or by calling.

DMVdesk performs best in Chrome. Add our site to your browser settings to save our cookies and experience optimal printing of documents with Adobe Acrobat as your PDF viewer.

Emergency Report of Sale (RoS) books are to be used in instances where there may be issues that prevent F&I from generating a Report of Sale electronically or other scenarios, like a long lasting power outage. If this occurs, it’s very simple to handle so long as you have one of these books on hand. Here’s how.

1. Locate your Emergency RoS book and fill it out.
2. Affix the Temp Tag to the vehicle.
3. Scan a copy of the RoS that was issued to Vitu. We will then report that sale to the DMV

Are you ready to empower your dealership to boost efficiency and compliance? We’re excited to invite your Sales and Finance teams, Title Clerks and Business Managers to our exclusive two-hour RMP webinar: Vehicle Title and Registration Compliance Seminar.

Why attend?

• Receive expert-curated content covering everything from the vehicle sale to title and reg to compliance.
• Stay ahead and avoid costly mistakes with the latest DMV updates including compliance, audit triggers, digital signatures, out-of-state deals and more. 
• Get instant access to three essential RMP digital books.
• Exclusive bonus: Every registrant is automatically entered into our special prize raffle!

When?

• Tuesday, November 18, 2025 — Two sessions available: 9 AM and 1 PM

What’s included?

• F&I — Registration Streamlining for Sales & Finance (digital book)
• REG 201 — Fundamentals of Used Vehicle Titling & Registration (digital book)
• REG 401 — Occupational Licensing & Dealer Compliance (digital book)

Cost: $125 per attendee

Who is this course for?

Sales and Finance team, Office Managers, Business Managers, Controllers and Title Clerks

Don’t miss out on this valuable seminar in November!

Welcome back Warriors! This is the continuation of our series all about YOU.

Happy Fall, y'all! 🎃 🍂 I have missed you all, and am happily back for a few months to celebrate this Year of YOU. ♥️

Seasonal Relaxation

Let's get spicy this month! Pumpkin spice, that is!

Fall is a time of change, of comfort, of joy, and of peace. Have you ever noticed that fall seems to bring a gentle calm into your life unlike any other month? It is a time where we can take a breath, slow down, enjoy our coffee or tea a little bit more as we look at the changes happening in nature all around us. Fall color is amazing! Oranges, yellows, and reds abound all around us amidst the greens. People seem calmer, walking in the welcome coolness of a nice fall evening. We start to decorate our work and home areas with pumpkins and leaves that reflect the season. Sweaters and hoodies start to come out of storage as the days get a little shorter, a little cooler, and the nights get a little longer. Favorite movies that celebrate the season start popping up on our TVs, inviting us to just curl up with a light blanket and sit, relax, and enjoy them, quietly feeling an inner peace that is so different than the other months of the year.

Yes, October is a very special month. During this wonderful month of YOU, we also think about taking some downtime for ourselves, of taking care of ourselves. It is so important to take care of "us" — if we don't do it, who will?

Remember to still take the time to stretch while at work — get up and walk a bit every hour or so, to keep up your energy levels and to keep that relaxed feeling flowing through you as you power through your day! As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, try and get some morning sunlight in your eyes to help your biological clock (circadian rhythm). Some people benefit from using a special light during the fall and winter months to help them to wake up and sleep better, and help ward off Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It is a real thing, and affects a lot of people during these shorter days and longer nights.

This month’s Treat for YOU 

Now, let's talk about spice! Do you like pumpkin spice? I recently learned how to make a guilt-free, sugar-free, pumpkin spice ice cream, and a pumpkin spice coffee ice cream. I will share the recipe with you, and next month I will share a different recipe with you for another guilt-free item that you can enjoy during the upcoming holidays. 

For the totally guilt-free ice cream, you will need 1 pint of heavy whipping cream, 5 egg yolks, 2 capfuls of real vanilla extract or a vanilla bean, and 6-10 packets of stevia leaf powder or monk fruit. That is our base. It makes for a delicious vanilla ice cream. To make it more fall-like, add a teaspoon or two of Pumpkin Spice, and if you love pumpkin spice lattes, add a tablespoon or two of instant coffee crystals.

Mix it up with a hand mixer, or a whisk, or stand mixer. If you have an ice cream maker, you can then add it to the machine. If you don't have an ice cream maker, do not despair! Just put it in the freezer for 45 minutes, then mix up again for a few minutes, then back in the freezer for 2 hours. Then enjoy this delicious guilt-free treat! 

Have a wonderful October, Warriors! I'll see you next month as we continue to Celebrate this wonderful Year of YOU! 😊