Generally, it is illegal to drive a vehicle with expired registration tags in California. If you are caught driving with expired tags, you may receive a ticketand could be required to pay fines and penalties. The length of time before the registration expires depends on the registration term, which is usually either one or two years. The DMV will mail a renewal notice to the registered owner before the registration expires,and be fined. The length of time before the tags expire varies depending on the registration period, and the maximum penalty for driving with expired registration can be up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has extended the expiration dates for registrations, driver's licenses, and identification cards to provide relief to Californians. This extension applies to registrations set to expire between March 2020 and June 2021, and you may continue to drive with expired registration tags until the end of this extension period. However, it is still recommended to renew your registration as soon as possible to avoid any potential issues with law enforcement.