What to bring
- Driver's license for each driver (household drivers for personal auto, listed drivers for a business policy)
- The VIN, GVWR and current mileage of each vehicle, and what the business uses it for
- Your current insurance card or declarations page if you're switching
- For commercial policies: the business name, address, EIN and any contract or MCP insurance requirements you have to meet
What it costs
This one depends on the vehicle and the paperwork, so we quote the service fee before anything is processed. Call and describe your situation.
All service fees are in addition to the DMV’s own fees, which are the same everywhere and are passed through at cost.
Posted prices are cash prices. Paying by credit card adds a 3.79% convenience fee on the total.
All sales are final. There are no refunds on service fees once processing has begun; DMV and state fees, penalties and third-party charges are non-refundable.
Why is insurance tied to registration?
Because the DMV won't complete a registration without it. California requires financial responsibility on every registered vehicle, insurers report coverage to the DMV electronically, and a lapse can lead to a suspended registration. When we renew or transfer a vehicle and the record shows no insurance, the fix is right here: Jose's Insurance Agency can quote and bind a policy and the proof reaches the DMV so the registration can finish.
What are California's minimum liability limits?
As of January 1, 2025, California's minimum auto liability coverage is $30,000 for injury or death to one person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. Those are minimums, not recommendations; the agency will show you what higher limits and collision or comprehensive coverage cost so you can decide with real numbers.
What commercial auto coverage do contractors need?
Commercial auto liability on every truck titled to or used by the business, usually at higher limits than a personal policy and often at a level a general contractor or a Motor Carrier Permit requires; physical damage on the trucks you can't afford to replace; and hired and non-owned coverage for employees driving their own vehicles on the job. Jose's Insurance Agency quotes the fleet as a whole, lists the drivers, and issues the certificates of insurance your customers and the DMV ask for. Because the agency sits next to the registration counter, the vehicle list on the policy matches the vehicle list on the registrations.
- Commercial auto liability, at the limits your contracts or permit require
- Physical damage (collision and comprehensive) on trucks and equipment haulers
- Hired and non-owned auto for employees' vehicles used for work
- Certificates of insurance and the DMV insurance filing for a Motor Carrier Permit
Can I get an SR-22 here?
Ask. If a court or the DMV requires you to file an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility, the agency can tell you which carriers it works with will file one and what it costs. Bring the notice that requires it so the filing matches exactly.
Auto & commercial auto insurance: common questions
Is Jose's Insurance Agency the same business as Ramos Auto Registration?
They share the office at 332 E Norris Rd, Ste 3, Bakersfield, and the same phone number, (661) 525-3050. Ramos Auto Registration Services handles DMV transactions as a licensed business partner; Jose's Insurance Agency quotes and writes insurance. You can do both in one visit.
Do you write commercial auto insurance for contractors?
Yes. Jose's Insurance Agency, in the same office as Ramos Auto Registration at 332 E Norris Rd, writes commercial auto liability, physical damage and hired/non-owned coverage for contractors, owner-operators and small fleets, and handles the insurance filing the DMV requires for a Motor Carrier Permit. Call (661) 525-3050 with your vehicle list.
Do I need insurance before I can register my car?
Yes. California requires proof of financial responsibility, usually a liability policy, on every registered vehicle, and insurers report it to the DMV electronically. Without it the DMV won't complete a renewal or transfer. We can bind coverage and then finish the registration in the same visit.