u/BellaArmy

remove if this is not allowed sorry in advance

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I need help lol please bare with me. Backstory:

-I was a travel nurse originally from Florida working in California from 2021 to 2024, with breaks in between where I was not working in CA for a full year

-shipped my FL car to California and have been using that for transportation here. Currently have FL Insurance and registration

-Officially moved into a California apartment 2024 and got a full-time RN job

-I have not updated my DL/Registration/Insurance to CA yet. Irresponsible on my end I admit.

-Tragic events happened to my FL home and therefore I need to update my car registration due to FL home not being there anymore (expires 11/2026). Since I need to update my car registration, I have to update my DL and Car insurance.

-Im still under car insurance with my mom/dad back home in FL, who have moved to a different home in FL (idk if this info is necessary). Car insurance expires in September and parents want to remove me from their insurance because my DL doesn't match their new FL home.

-Did research and I read I need to have a SMOG test on my car (Toyota RAV4 2019), I did that during my routine car inspection here in CA but it was done in January 2026.

Ok so now I applied online for a DL and set up an appointment next week. I already uploaded the information they asked online (Passport, Utility bills, Paystub). Im prepping for the DMV test to take in person.

Now my question is really the Car insurance/registration and any penalties I should expect:

-Should I get a CA Insurance first and then get my car registered? or vice versa?

-If the first step is getting my car registered - will they asked if I'm CA Insured or it doesn't matter for now

-Do I get the same insurance company from my FL insurance or get a completely different company for CA insurance? What's the best steps to approach this because I read that I can get severe penalties if I cancel my FL insurance first or tell my current FL insurance that Im already in California and ask to switch to CA insurance

-Will my SMOG test done in 1/2026 be qualified or do I need to repeat another SMOG test?

-How much should I expect to pay in fines/penalties for waiting this long? Is there any way to avoid it (ie not telling the DMV how long I was really staying here)

thanks so much for your help and I understand how irresponsible it is to wait this long but Im owning up to it and I just want to know what to expect with everything

Thank you!

hello I need help lol please bare with me. Backstory:

-I was a travel nurse/contractual employee originally from Florida working in California from 2021 to 2024, with breaks in between where I was not working in CA for a full year

-shipped my FL car to California and have been using that for transportation here. Currently have FL Insurance and registration

-Officially moved into a California apartment 2024 and got a full-time job

-I have not updated my DL/Registration/Insurance to CA yet. Irresponsible on my end I admit.

-Tragic events happened to my FL home and therefore I need to update my car registration due to FL home not being there anymore (expires 11/2026). Since I need to update my car registration, I have to update my DL and Car insurance.

-Im still under car insurance with my mom/dad back home in FL, who have moved to a different home in FL (idk if this info is necessary). Car insurance expires in September and parents want to remove me from their insurance because my DL doesn't match their new FL home.

-Did research and I read I need to have a SMOG test on my car (Toyota RAV4 2019), I did that during my routine car inspection here in CA but it was done in January 2026.

Ok so now I applied online for a DL and set up an appointment next week. I already uploaded the information they asked online (Passport, Utility bills, Paystub). Im prepping for the DMV test to take in person.

Now my question is really the Car insurance/registration and any penalties I should expect:

-Should I get a CA Insurance first and then get my car registered? or vice versa?

-If the first step is getting my car registered - will they asked if I'm CA Insured or it doesn't matter for now

-Do I get the same insurance company from my FL insurance or get a completely different company for CA insurance? What's the best steps to approach this because I read that I can get severe penalties if I cancel my FL insurance first or tell my current FL insurance that Im already in California and ask to switch to CA insurance

-Will my SMOG test done in 1/2026 be qualified or do I need to repeat another SMOG test?

-How much should I expect to pay in fines/penalties for waiting this long? Is there any way to avoid it (ie not telling the DMV how long I was really staying here)

thanks so much for your help and I understand how irresponsible it is to wait this long but Im owning up to it and I just want to know what to expect with everything

Thank you!