History of DMV

The horseless carriage began to dot the landscape of California in 1897, around the time our 25th President, William McKinley, took the oath. Back then, driving an automobile was as wacky as diving over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

The cacophony of sputtering engines, the billowing dust, and the sheer novelty of it all caused draft animals to rear in terror and the local citizenry to beat a hasty retreat. People used horse-drawn buggies, and were unsure (and even afraid) of these new-fangled cars. Legislators felt the need to pass laws more for the protection of the frightened people and work animals, than for the protection of drivers.

But by the time Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House (having been the first president to ever ride in an automobile), many Californians had fallen in love. Go anywhere, anytime you wanted, fast? Count us in! By 1901, the State of California passed statutes that provided for the licensing of automobiles.

The First Motor Vehicle Laws

In 1905, California passed legislation allowing the state to register and license motor vehicles―hence the creation of a de facto California Department of Motor Vehicles. The annual fee to register a vehicle at that time was $2, while the price of a family car was around $500.

Records show that the first car registered in California was to business mogul John D. Spreckels of San Francisco. By 1905, there were 17,015 registered vehicles in California.

The CHP and the CA DMV Are Born

Until 1913, the Secretary of State oversaw vehicle registrations. Then the State Treasurer took over, while the California Engineering Department maintained car records.

The California Vehicle Act of 1914 laid the foundation for the current vehicle laws, including the need for a driver's license and license plates. A revised version completed in 1923 further established other departments, including what eventually became the California Highway Patrol.

The DMV became its own department in 1931 (the time during which Herbert Hoover took the presidential reins). The DMV has retained its independent-agency status since.

Fees Used for Highways and Freeways

Shortly after WWII (when Harry Truman was in the Oval Office, for you history buffs), California legislators voted to increase DMV fees to cover the cost of building new highways and freeways systems for the influx of new residents and increased post-war shipping.

Evolving with the Times

Over the years, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has kept up with the changing times. From the first photo licenses in 1958, the first-ever smog control requirements in 1965, to computerizing transactions in 1980, the California DMV had lead the country in up-to-date developments in customer service and efficiency.

The California DMV will continue to evolve. Its mission is:

• To promote safety by licensing qualified drivers, protect consumers by issuing identification cards, registering and titling vehicles, licensing and regulating the motor vehicle industry, and collect revenue on behalf of state and local government."

But even more inspiring is the DMV's vision statement:

• "California DMV: Driving change. Customer focused. Solution oriented. Innovative."