What the Monterey Peninsula actually costs this fall: 17-Mile Drive is $12.50 a car, Point Lobos $10, and two rules that turn cars away at the gate.
California is not charging per mile yet. The SB 339 pilot ended January 2025 and the report is due December 2026. EVs pay a flat $121 Road Improvement Fee.
R-1, R-2 and R-3 explained, plus the catch: Caltrans publishes three different R-1 definitions. What to carry, where chains get called, and the 25 mph limit.
Five things block a California registration renewal: smog, insurance, parking tickets, IRS 2290, and Clean Truck Check. How each clears and what it costs.
Tule elk bugle at Tomales Point from August through October. The drive, the parking, the free entry, and what the park does not have out there.
Who needs a REG 31 VIN verification in California, who can legally sign one, and the six vehicles a licensed verifier cannot touch.
Turo requires hosts to keep vehicles legally registered. What its terms say, what a lapse costs in California, and how multi-car hosts stay current.
California’s BIT program changed on January 1, 2026. Who CHP still inspects, what the 90-day inspection covers, and where CHP’s own form is out of date.
Failed a California smog check? BAR’s Consumer Assistance Program pays up to $1,450 in repairs, plus retirement incentives and the $650 Referee waiver.
Buying from a private seller in California? The smog rule, the 10-day deadline, the title signature traps, and what to do if you already bought the car.