NeedTags is a highly reputable and reliable online platform that specializes in providing vehicle registration services for California vehicle owners. With a strong track record of customer satisfaction, NeedTags has established itself as a trusted source for individuals and businesses seeking efficient and hassle-free vehicle registration solutions.
NeedTags (needtags.com) has 324 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 3.2 out of 5.
Also known as
needtags.com
Website
needtags.com
Category
Motorcycle & Powersports
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
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The company replied to 47% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: October 2026.
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Reviews are shown as their authors wrote them. The company can reply, but cannot edit them.
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Do NOT use this company. I paid NeedTags $840.90 on October 4 to renew my California registration (order #1254527). They cancelled the order and never told me why, and they kept my money the whole time. No tags, no explanation, no refund. The order page just says "CANCELED" and "records unavailable online." Their support line is a joke, and they're painfully slow to respond. The site is built to look like the real DMV, and they charge hundreds more than renewing directly at dmv.ca.gov. Check their 1.3-star BBB rating before you hand them a dime. You'll get the same treatment I did. Go straight to the DMV and save your money and your sanity.
Response from NeedTagsOct 19, 2026
Thank you for your review Brandon. Our records show you were required to pay a $14.00 DMV Reinstatement Fee. DMV records indicated your vehicle's registration is suspended due to insurance reasons.
We sent you two seperate emails advising you of this requirement. Our emails provided you with instructions and the link needed so you may make the payment. Due to the fact that we did not receive any update from you we cancelled your order and refunded you in full.
On the header of every page of our website we display the following text, as per California Business Partner Automation requirements, “NOTICE: NeedTags has been officially licensed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles to provide DMV services on their behalf. NeedTags is not owned or operated by any government agency and charges fees for value-add DMV services pursuant to CVC Section 1685. Standard service may be obtained from the DMV at no cost.” Please contact our customer care department if we can be of any further assistance.
SR
Sarah R.
Predatory business profiting off of encouraged human error
Agree with other reviewers that this business is predatory... profiting off of human error and intentionally using similar website design and verbiage to deceive people who have 'accidentally' landed on their page into believing they are on the DMV site. I made the mistake myself and immediately realized it and called them within 3 minutes of receiving my confirmation email and was flatly rejected for both cancellation and fee reversal. I would like to suggest a few things below people might do to affect change... perhaps if enough people speak out, Need tags will be forced to include a cancellation window for orders. I imagine if this happened, they would be so busy reversing orders, they would be encouraged to change their website and to make their disclaimers larger and more visible. 1. BBB complaint, 2. DMV complaint, 3. stop payment through credit card, 4. Consumer protection complaint with attorney general. 5. Reviews wherever possible to alert others of this predatory business. 6. Write to your congressman, there is proposed legislation that could help with this matter.
****Another example of predatory behavior might be threatening legal ramifications**** see below response- this is the type of intimidation they are using to stand behind a self assigned policy to keep peoples money.
Why not just give people their money back when they make a mistake and call in an extremely timely manner? I cannot think of another example of a business that would not allow for this.
Response from NeedTagsOct 19, 2026
Publicly accusing our business of being “predatory” is a serious allegation that may constitute defamation if it is false and damages our reputation. Those who make or spread false and damaging statements about our business may face legal liability. We reserve all rights to protect our reputation and pursue appropriate legal remedies against any unlawful defamatory statements.
Our website in no way resembles that of the official DMV, not by color, layout nor format. Our full website information is: www.NeedTags.com and on the header of every page of our website we display the following, "NOTICE: NeedTags has been officially licensed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles to provide DMV services on their behalf. NeedTags is not owned or operated by any government agency and charges fees for value-add DMV services pursuant to CVC Section 1685. Standard service may be obtained from the DMV at no cost.”
We would like to highlight available features and services found on our website that make it distinguishable from the DMV. Starting with our instant downloads. Our customer transactions are processed instantly, the DMV is paid immediately, and registration renewals are updated in real time. This also includes our free registration e-card which our customers receive instantly via email.
Following that is our next day shipping, DMV replacement sticker protection, and full service assistance from our real DMV experts. We disclose our fees throughout our purchasing process so our customers can review their information before completing their orders. As for our cancellation terms, all sales are final. The California Business Partner Automation (BPA) has strict cancellation requirements which we cannot bypass. Once we have transmitted funds to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, no cancellations, refunds or returns shall be accepted. We appreciate your time and feedback. Feel free to contact our helpful customer support team should you have any further concerns.
TL
Timothy L.
Predatory Practices
They deceive customers into using their website instead of the official DMV site with aggressive search ads. Their website mimics the DMV site. The up charge is excessive for a basic renewal. They should be investigated for predatory practices.
Response from NeedTagsOct 12, 2026
We appreciate your feedback and regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. We remain committed to transparency, providing clear information about our services, and ensuring customers can make informed decisions before completing a purchase.
MI
Mike
Abysmal customer service
Abysmal customer service. They make zero effort to offer assistance. They use deceptive advertising to create the illusion that they are the DMV instead of an expensive third party.
It’s too late for that now. Your response is simply not true. Your agents were rude and unhelpful. You quickly canceled my order and supposedly sent my documents and refunded my money. I have not seen either of those things happen yet. I asked for help and you were unwilling now that I have complained you claim you’re willing to help. Too little too late.
Again that is not accurate. The issue with my payment being processed was exactly what I needed help with. The charge was not being presented to the bank. There was an error but instead of attempting to assist you canceled blaming me for nonpayment. If you communicated as you intended you would have saved us both time. Additionally when I asked for a breakdown of the fees I was being charged your rude staff directed me to the DMV.
Response from NeedTagsOct 9, 2026
Thank you for sharing your updated feedback Mike. In this instance, our team communicated with you via email regarding the difficulties processing your payment and the declined card transactions. Unfortunately, we were unable to proceed with your order due to these payment issues, and the order was subsequently canceled and your documents returned. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we understand how frustrating it can be when a payment issue prevents an order from being completed.
While we understand your disappointment with the outcome, our intention is always to communicate clearly and assist our customers as best we can. We take feedback regarding our service seriously and appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.
AG
Alejandro G.
The most pretentious and malicious people
I would leave a zero star rating if I could. To start off I just needed a simple title transfer and that’s it. I get the order confirmation email and the steps I need in order to process. However I work 2 jobs and didn’t find the time to do so until about 10 days before the 30 day deadline so I was in a big rush and had to spend a good amount of money to send those documents next day through FedEx. In the email it simply states that a copy of form REG 258 and my vehicle title is required to complete this process. I sent them a copy of my title, because it didn’t state that the original was required, and also the form REG 258. Then I received an email from Jane stating that they needed the original title and a photo copy of my license. So I’m already pissed because had that been stated in the very first email I would’ve sent that instead of having to send it again and waste even more money. So I send an email with an attachment of my license and the original title. I don’t get a response until the next week that they still need a photo copy of my license. This was after a whole week mind you and they couldn’t even send a reminder email telling me the previous email that has that information wasn’t able to be viewed or whatever the issue was. So I tell them that why couldn’t they do their job and see that that information is already there. We have a back in forth email battle and now since they can’t communicate and tell me that the attachment wasn’t working on their end that they canceled my order and refunded everything but now I have to take time away from work because they don’t know how to train their employees to do basic communication and email processing. It’s such an inconvenience and they need to be better at taking accountability. If you read this whole thing you are one big chismoso/a.
Response from NeedTagsAug 19, 2026
Thank you for your review Alejandro. For our title transfer orders, the original vehicle title and a valid driver’s license are required to verify ownership and ensure the transaction can be completed securely. These requirements are clearly outlined in our initial email under the section, “Which Documents Are Required To Be Mailed In.”
In this case, the required documentation was not provided as requested, and our agents made multiple attempts to communicate what was needed in order to proceed. When documentation is incomplete or requires clarification, it can understandably affect the time needed to complete an order. However, we also expect our staff to be treated with professionalism and respect. Unfortunately, the communication in this situation became inappropriate and abusive toward our staff, and the order was ultimately canceled as a result. We remain committed to providing accurate information, timely service to everyone we serve. Thank you for your time.
JH
Julie H.
I had to send multiple (>10) emails…
I had to send multiple (>10) emails asking for what was needed to complete the process. I was only told one thing at a time which resulted in having to snail mail and certified mail numerous times when it should have only taken one. In addition , Instructions were very unclear. I refinanced my loan to a new lienholder that reduced the interest rate. The process took 3 months when it should have only taken 1-2 correspondences.
Response from NeedTagsAug 19, 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback Julie. It’s important to clarify that the delay in completion was directly related to the fact that the required instructions provided in our initial email were not fully reviewed and the documentation submitted was incomplete. For our type of service, we outline all required information to ensure timely processing. When those instructions are not followed or the documentation provided is missing key details, we are unable to proceed and must request revisions or additional information before moving forward. We do our part to process requests as efficiently as possible, but timelines are dependent on receiving complete and accurate information from the start. In this case, multiple follow-ups were necessary due to incomplete submissions, which extended the overall processing time. We encourage all customers to carefully review the initial requirements to avoid unnecessary delays in the future.
LI
Lisa
This company pretends to be the DMV but…
This company pretends to be the DMV but actually is a third-party site. They say that they have a notice at the top to customers, but even that notice is misleading. It's very small print and writen in a way the implies you are on the DMV site. They use the same colors, design, and even display a Calif licence plate at the top like the DMV site. They "mock" the DMV site. NeedTags marketers know that the average consumer will be tricked by this and that's their tactic. They don't make that obvious until you realize you just paid 3 times what it would cost to do to the DMV directly. I didn't even realize until I got my registration from the actual DMV displaying what the actual cost should be and realized I was on another site. This is predatory marketing regardless of any commission with the State, which is also profiting from this misrepresentation. I recommend you DO NOT USE THIS SITE! There doesn't seem to be any reason to use them. You can just go to the DMV site directly and get exactly the same thing and regular cost! (IMPORTANT: Check you are on the correct DMV site by looking for the .gov on the URL.)
Response from NeedTagsAug 11, 2026
Thank you for sharing your concerns Lisa. We take transparency and the accurate representation of our services very seriously.
To clarify, NeedTags is a third-party service provider and it is not the DMV. Our website does not represent itself as the DMV, and we do not claim to be affiliated with or operated by the DMV. Our third-party status is disclosed on our website for the purpose of making this distinction clear to consumers.
We also respectfully disagree with the characterization that our website is designed to impersonate or misrepresent the DMV. Similarities in general website design elements, such as colors, navigation, or formatting, do not constitute a representation that a private company is a government agency. Our branding and website are independently operated.
We encourage customers to carefully review the disclosures on our website and the services being offered before completing a transaction. We remain committed to providing clear, accurate information and to complying with all applicable laws and regulations. We welcome the opportunity to address any specific concerns directly and clarify any misunderstanding regarding our services. Thank you.
HO
hoche
Misleading presentation for DMV service
Misleading presentation on their website and service.
I searched online for DMV vehicle registration renewal. The website presentation at the top showed a DMV-style website, which caused me to believe I was using the DMV’s direct online service. I did not realize that NeedTags was a separate private registration service charging substantial additional fees.
They charged my credit card immediately. According to its confirmation, they charged an additional $73 for a simple car renewal. After realizing what had happened, I contacted NeedTags to cancel the process immediately. No real person answered the phone call. I have requested a refund through their message. They refused to cancel, claimed the transaction was final, and emphasized potential legal consequences for improper chargebacks to scare the customer.
At the moment of this review, I am still waiting for a continued response addressing that refund request.
Consumers should be careful with this company. It is not a trustworthy company. People really need to double-check that you are on the official government service website, not be misled by their website.
Response from NeedTagsAug 5, 2026
Thank you for your review. We appreciate your time. NeedTags is in fact a delegated provider for the California Department of Motor Vehicles. On the header of every page of our website we display the following text, as per California Business Partner Automation requirements, “NOTICE: NeedTags has been officially licensed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles to provide DMV services on their behalf. NeedTags is not owned or operated by any government agency and charges fees for value-add DMV services pursuant to CVC Section 1685. Standard service may be obtained from the DMV at no cost.” As for the benefits of utilizing our service, although the registration renewal interface (portal) for our users is online, the real work is done behind-the-scenes, by our awesome employees, and we're doing our very best to keep our offices staffed and continue offering our valued customers the expedited DMV services they've come to expect from us, including our speedy next-day shipping, instant download of your renewed registration card, and our above par customer support. Please contact our customer care department if we can be of any further assistance.
