Cal. Vehicle Code § 4750

The department shall refuse registration, or renewal or transfer of registration, upon any of the following grounds: (a) The application contains any false or fraudulent statement. (b) The required fee has not been paid. (c) The registration, or renewal or transfer of registration, is prohibited by the requirements of Part 5 (commencing with Section 43000) of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code. (d) The owner of a heavy vehicle, which is subject to the heavy vehicle use tax imposed pursuant to Section 4481 of Title 26 of the United States Code, has not presented sufficient evidence, as determined by the department, that the tax for the vehicle has been paid pursuant to that section. (e) Evidence of financial responsibility, that is required for a vehicle registration renewal where there is no change in registered owner, has not been provided to the department pursuant to Section 4000.37 or electronically. This subdivision does not apply to any of the following: (1) A vehicle for which a certification has been filed pursuant to Section 4604, until the vehicle is registered for operation upon the highway. (2) A vehicle owned or leased by, or under the direction of, the United States or any public entity that is included in Section 811.2 of the Government Code. (3) A vehicle registration renewal application where there is a change of registered owner.