Watch out!! A supposed “50% discount” offer to renew vehicle registration has gone viral on Facebook, Instagram and X, promising to save time and money… Everything looks legal, official logos, shortened links, and even fake testimonials from satisfied users…
However, after clicking, drivers are directed to forms that request personal data, license plate number, VIN and payment methods like Zelle or CashApp. Once the transaction is completed, they don not receive their new sticker or the official receipt.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has just issued an urgent alert: there are no external discounts or promotions and any procedure must be done through the official portal!! The scam, however, is spreading to other states and takes advantage of the massive renewal season caused by the REAL ID calendar.
An almost perfect plan
Scammers use classic engineering: they mix urgency (“last day to pay less”), scarcity (“limited spots”) and authority (“endorsed by DMV.org”). With just one tap on the phone, the user believes they are on the official site, and in a flash, gives away their bank credentials.
Social media and the spread of the scam
You probably know that social media platforms make almost anything go viral, and criminals use these platforms to target profiles that searched “renew registration” or “DMV appointment”, so the algorithm amplifies the reach and they manage to get to more interested people to take advantage of them…
Warning signs in your feed
What we can recommend is that you distrust everything, from links with strange domains, reduced prices, and requests for immediate payment through third-party apps. Remember that the DMV will never offer discounts, and if they ever did, they would show up through their official channels, not on TikTok.
More than just lost money
And of course, beyond the money lost, these people have been exposed to identity theft, fraudulent purchases, and impersonation to apply for credit, for example… On top of that, they still owe the real renewal fee and could face fines for driving with expired registration.
Guide to renewing your registration safely
In California, for example, the official portal is dmv.ca.gov; in other states, the .gov extension guarantees that verification. Type the address manually. Never go in through ads or sponsored links with generic domains and you’ll avoid a scare.
- Of course, before entering any banking information, make sure the lock on your browser bar is green and closed. If the site doesn’t show a secure protocol or throws warnings, leave it.
- On the other hand, the DMV accepts debit/credit cards, electronic checks or in-person payments. Apps like Venmo, CashApp or Zelle are not integrated into the state system, so if one of these appears… start doubting and exit the page.
- If you get suspicious emails or texts, call the official number (800-777-0133 in California) or use the service chat. Sharing screenshots helps the anti-fraud team disable fake domains.
And if I fell for it?
Activate transaction alerts with your bank as soon as possible, change passwords, file a chargeback and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The faster you realize and act, the better your chances of recovering what was stolen…
So, no, there are no magical DMV discounts, you’ll have to pay like every other citizen. And yes, this is another sign that the digitalization of procedures still needs order and above all, digital education so malicious acts like this don’t happen.
Renewing your vehicle registration should be as routine as it is safe; that’s why you should avoid shortcuts and, in case of doubt, contact the DMV’s official channels! Do not let the bad people win!