Department of Motor Vehicles: private industry partner fees.

Assembly Member Haney's proposal to modify California's DMV private partnership program would establish a fixed cap on fees that private vendors can charge for vehicle registration and titling services. The legislation replaces the current adjustable fee structure with a limit of 2% above DMV's direct service rates for transactions completed through its website or offices.

The bill maintains the existing $3 transaction fee that private partners can pass on to customers while introducing an additional temporary $1 fee to fund system improvements. This supplemental fee expires when sufficient funding is collected or by December 31, 2023, whichever occurs first. All fees collected through these provisions deposit into the Motor Vehicle Account.

Private industry partners must continue meeting established requirements, including submitting applications with fees, providing fingerprints and personal history statements, and posting bonds. The DMV retains authority to implement regulations protecting customer privacy and preventing improper use of vehicle records. Partners must submit periodic documentation for departmental review and the DMV must provide annual reports to the Legislature detailing partner activities, transaction volumes, collected funds, identified fraud, and program evaluations.