ADM 399 is the Application for Refund that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) uses to request back vehicle or vessel registration, driver license, identification card and other fees or penalties that were erroneous, excessive or not due. You use it when you paid DMV in error, paid twice, or sold, wrecked or moved a vehicle out of state after paying. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form and its instructions are published by the DMV at dmv.ca.gov.
Last updated
What is ADM 399?
The Application for Refund (ADM 399) is the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) form used to request refunds for vehicle or vessel registration, driver license, identification card, special certificate, financial responsibility and other fees or penalties that DMV collected.
A refund may be due for fees paid in error or not required, as stated in California Vehicle Code (CVC) §42231 and California Revenue and Taxation Code (CRTC) §10901. The DMV instructions tell you to read the eligibility rules first and complete the form only if you qualify.
The form has four sections: refund type (Section 1), applicant information and reason for refund (Section 2), registration refunds (Section 3) and driver license, ID card or occupational license refunds (Section 4). Refund types that use Sections 1, 2 and 3 are registration, personalized plate, Franchise Tax Board or dishonored check, and vehicle record printout. Driver's license, ID card, driver's record printout, occupational license and reissue fee for driving privileges use Sections 1, 2 and 4.
ADM 399 is not for every payment made to DMV. The DMV does not honor refund requests for parking fees (contact the issuing agency or the court) or for use tax (contact the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration). It also does not honor several registration, duplicate-certificate and driver license requests, listed under Who needs it.
Who needs to file ADM 399?
Anyone who paid DMV a fee or penalty that was erroneous, excessive or not due, and who is eligible under the DMV's rules, completes ADM 399. This covers registration fees, personalized plates, vehicle record printouts, Franchise Tax Board or dishonored check items, driver's license and ID card fees, driver's record printouts, occupational license fees (vehicle salesperson, dealer, manufacturer or registration service) and reissue fees for driving privileges.
The form's reasons for a refund include: the vehicle or vessel was registered out of state or left California, it was sold, wrecked or stolen, fees were paid twice, or a penalty was charged in error or in excess. An Other box covers any reason not listed.
DMV will not honor refund requests:
- for registration fees paid before the sale of the vehicle, when the vehicle was operated after the new registration year, when they cover a portion of the year, or when the vehicle was wrecked after fees became due;
- for duplicate certificates or stickers applied for voluntarily;
- for parking fees or use tax;
- received more than three years after DMV received payment (CVC §9800);
- for driver license or identification card applications, unless the fees were collected in error.
If you are not the registered owner or selling dealer, a completed Statement of Facts (REG 256) authorizing DMV to issue the refund in your name must accompany the request.
When to file ADM 399
File ADM 399 once you find that fees or penalties collected by DMV were erroneous, excessive or not due, and before three years have passed. DMV will not honor a refund request it receives more than three years after it received your payment (CVC §9800).
The form has no other deadline printed on it. Timing still matters for eligibility: the DMV instructions exclude registration refunds for a vehicle operated after the new registration year and refunds covering only a portion of the year. DMV states that you will be notified of the disposition of your refund, and that it will contact you by phone, email or surface mail if it needs additional items or clarification. The DMV's Refund FAQs webpage has more details.
Documents you need
- Proof of payment: a photocopy of the front and back of the canceled check(s) or credit card receipt(s). If you paid DMV twice, submit photocopies of both payments.
- Photocopy of receipts issued by DMV, as applicable to your request.
- Vehicle registration card and stickers for the year to be refunded, as applicable. If you no longer have the stickers, explain on the form.
- Photocopy of an insurance document showing the date of loss, or a police report showing the date of loss, as applicable.
- Completed Certificate of Non-Operation/Planned Non-Operation Certification (REG 102), as applicable.
- Completed Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) with the purchaser's name and address and the date of sale, as applicable.
- Completed Nonresident Military (NRM) Vehicle License Fee and Transportation Improvement Fee Exemption (REG 5045) form, as applicable.
- Certificate of Title for the vehicle or vessel, if a change or correction of its description is also part of the refund request.
- Statement of Facts (REG 256), completed and signed authorizing DMV to issue the refund in your name, if you are other than the registered owner or selling dealer.
- Proof of a medical condition that prohibits the issuance of a driver license, as applicable.
How to fill out ADM 399
Mark the refund type
In Section 1, item 1, mark an "X" for the type of fee or charge. Registration, Personalized Plate, Franchise Tax Board or Dishonored Check and Vehicle Record Print Out use Sections 1, 2 and 3; Driver's License, ID Card, Driver's Record Print Out, Occupational License and Reissue Fee for Driving Privileges use Sections 1, 2 and 4.
Enter the refund recipient
Item 2: name (last, first, middle initial) of the individual(s) or company entitled to the refund. The refund goes back to the original form of payment; to issue it to a different person, attach a completed Statement of Facts (REG 256).
Enter your mailing address
Item 3: the complete mailing address; for an "in care of" address, enter the C/O name first, then the address. Item 4: city, state and ZIP code.
Describe the original payment
Item 5: the date the fees were originally paid, in MM/DD/YYYY format. Item 6: the DMV office, business partner or Auto Club location where you paid. Item 7: mark the original payment method (credit, debit, cash or check/e-check).
Enter the refund amount
Item 8: the amount you are requesting, including dollars and cents.
State the reason for the refund
Item 9: mark the matching box and enter the date where asked (registered out of state, left California, or sold, wrecked or stolen). Use Other if no reason fits, and write a brief justification in the additional details space.
Complete Section 3 for registration refunds
Item 10: last three characters of the VIN or HIN. Item 11: registered owner's name, if different from you. Item 12: license plate, vessel registration, one trip permit, commercial requester account or IRP fleet number, and so on.
Complete Section 4 for license refunds
Item 13: the name on the driver's license, ID card or occupational license, if different from yours. Item 14: the license or ID number, including ID card, driver's license, motorcycle license, commercial driver's license, special certificate, occupational license or financial responsibility.
Sign and add contact details
Item 15: your signature, under the penalty-of-perjury certification. Item 16: the date you sign. Item 17: your email address. Item 18: your daytime area code and telephone number.
Review, download and assemble the package
Check every item, gather the substantiation that applies, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and submit it through the channels under How to submit.
How to submit ADM 399
You can submit ADM 399 at the nearest DMV office or mail it to the DMV office that handles your refund type.
- In person: take the completed form and your attachments to the nearest DMV office.
- By mail, registration refunds (vehicle/vessel registration, personalized plates, vehicle record printout, Franchise Tax Board or dishonored checks): Department of Motor Vehicles, PO Box 942869, MS A235, Sacramento, CA 94269-0001.
- By mail, driver's license/identification card refunds (driver's license, ID card, driver's record printout, administrative or reissue fees): Department of Motor Vehicles, PO Box 942890, MS G204, Sacramento, CA 94290-0001.
- By mail, occupational license refunds (vehicle salesperson, dealer, manufacturer or registration service): Department of Motor Vehicles, Occupational Licensing Section, PO Box 932342, MS L224, Sacramento, CA 94232-3420.
Include the substantiation that applies to your request. Refunds are issued back to the original form of payment, and credit card refunds go to the card holder. Questions about the form go to DMV Customer Service at 1-800-777-0133. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the DMV channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Requesting a refund DMV does not honor: registration fees covering a portion of the year, paid before the sale of the vehicle, or for a vehicle wrecked after fees became due.
- Asking for a refund of a voluntarily applied-for duplicate certificate or sticker, or of parking fees or use tax, which DMV does not handle on this form.
- Mailing the request more than three years after DMV received payment; DMV will not honor it (CVC §9800).
- Sending proof of payment for only one payment when fees were paid twice; DMV asks for photocopies of both, and of the front and back of canceled checks.
- Leaving out a Statement of Facts (REG 256) when the refund must be issued to someone other than the registered owner or selling dealer.
- Mailing a registration refund to the driver's license PO Box, or any request to the wrong office, instead of the address for your refund type.
- Completing Sections 3 and 4 together: Section 3 is for registration refunds only and Section 4 for license or ID card refunds only.
- Leaving the signature or date (items 15 and 16) blank; the form is certified under penalty of perjury.
- Applying for a driver license or ID card application refund when the fee was not collected in error.
Frequently asked questions
What is ADM 399 used for?
ADM 399 is the California DMV Application for Refund. You use it to request a refund of registration, driver license, ID card, special certificate, financial responsibility or other fees and penalties DMV collected in error, in excess or when not due, under CVC §42231 and CRTC §10901.
Who is not eligible for a DMV refund on ADM 399?
DMV does not honor refunds for registration fees covering a portion of the year, paid before the sale of the vehicle, or for a vehicle wrecked after fees became due. It also excludes voluntary duplicates, parking fees, use tax and, unless collected in error, driver license and ID card applications.
How long do I have to request a refund from the DMV?
DMV will not honor a refund request received more than three years after it received your payment (CVC §9800). Submit ADM 399 well before that period ends, with proof of payment attached.
Where do I mail the ADM 399 form?
It depends on the refund type. Registration refunds go to PO Box 942869, MS A235, Sacramento, CA 94269-0001; driver's license or ID card refunds to PO Box 942890, MS G204, Sacramento, CA 94290-0001; occupational license refunds to PO Box 932342, MS L224, Sacramento, CA 94232-3420. You may also use the nearest DMV office.
What documents do I attach to the Application for Refund?
Attach the substantiation that applies to your request, most often a photocopy of the canceled check (front and back) or credit card receipt showing payment. Other items include DMV receipts, REG 102, REG 138, REG 5045, REG 256, the title or proof of a medical condition.
Who receives the refund if someone else paid?
The refund is issued back to the original form of payment, and credit card refunds go to the card holder. To have it issued to a different person, or if you are not the registered owner or selling dealer, attach a signed Statement of Facts (REG 256).
Can I fill out ADM 399 online?
Yes. You can fill out the ADM 399 PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the DMV and does not submit the form; you deliver it to a DMV office or mail it to the address for your refund type.
How will I find out what happened to my refund request?
DMV says you will be notified of the disposition of your refund, and it will contact you by phone, email or surface mail if it needs additional items or clarification. Its Refund FAQs webpage at dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/online/refund/refundfaqs has more details.
Ready to fill out ADM 399?
Fill out ADM 399 now