How much do license plate cost in California?

Answer 1

The base calculation for a registration fee in the state of California is based on a percentage of the purchase price of a vehicle for new purchases. Cars that aren't new purchases are calculated based on a fair market value. The California Department of Motor Vehicles provides calculators to determine new purchase registration fees, non-resident vehicle registration, used vehicle purchase and renewal registration. All calculations are meant to be estimates, though, because other fees might be assessed based on the particular situation.

Answer 2

The license fee depends on the purchase price of the vehicle (or the value when acquired) and decreases each year for the first 11 years. So it's not possible to give a single value. (It also depends on the county, and potentially the city, in which you live.)

Also, a LOT of separate fees get rolled into the overall registration fee; the actual license may only be a small part of the total.