Image Credit: Wall Street Apes on XA California man posted a video on social media after learning that he could not renew his vehicle's registration until all outstanding recalls had been addressed.This came as news to him when he received a registration notice in the mail, stating that he had to first complete the recalls before he could register his vehicle.The man, who was clearly frustrated, approached the Honda dealership, which told him there were not one or two but four recalls he had to get addressed.AdvertisementAdvertisementThey told him it would take an entire day to get the job done, meaning he would have to keep the car at the dealership, then pick it up once the work was complete, obtain proof of the repairs, mail it to the Department of Motor Vehicles, and then pay the registration fee.No Recall Fix, No RegistrationImage Credit: Wall Street Apes on XAccording to the video posted by Wall Street Apes on X, the owner of a Honda was quite cross after receiving a letter from the DMV, asking him to renew his vehicle's registration by 7/28.However, the notice instructs him to complete a manufacturer recall and then return the proof with the registration "by mail only." The man was frustrated that he was not allowed to go online and pay for the registration of his 2024 model year vehicle.Leaving him with no choice, he approached the Honda dealership, where he was told his vehicle had four outstanding recalls. He said:AdvertisementAdvertisement"The state of California's working with the car dealers. I'm like, 'Since when did you have to do a recall before you can register your freakin car, man?' "I go to the freakin Honda dealer that they're like, 'It's a 2024 Honda.' They're like, 'You got one, two, three, four recalls, but we can get all that done today if you wanna leave the car, and by the way, if you want to do this, that and the other, we can do that too.'"Disappointed with the ordeal the man went through, he said before ending the video:"Good job, state of California. Unbelievable."American has a new 2024 vehicle and is trying to renew his registration in CaliforniaHe got a letter informing him he's not allowed to renew his registration until he takes his car into the dealership and handles all the recalls on the vehicleThe vehicle has 4 manufacturer… pic.twitter.com/2HbtgHFTpD— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) July 21, 2026A Process Filled With HasslesIt appears the owner has several steps to complete before he can renew his vehicle's registration. The caption in the video states that he "must go in, do the recalls, get proof, mail everything in, wait, then pay…. All this just to register a car"AdvertisementAdvertisementThe process could be much simpler if it were more streamlined and handled online, sparing owners from having to mail in paperwork. There may be reasons for the current system, but making it more efficient could help this owner and others who find themselves in the same situation.After the video ends, another man explains that California may withhold registration renewal for vehicles with certain unresolved emissions-related recalls that require proof of correction. Since February 2024, the California DMV has also begun including open safety recall information on vehicle registration renewal notices.A user in the comments section of the post on X revealed something similar. They wrote:"Yes, you can still pay your registration fees. However, if your car has an active emissions (smog) recall,STAR smog the California DMV will block your registration until you get the car fixed. Standard safety recalls usually will not prevent you from getting your tags."AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, another user revealed what played out when they had to wait for several months to get the recall fixed:"Better yet while I was in California the wait for a recall fix on my jeep was 3-6 months at all dealerships in the area due to parts being backordered. So the reg would expire while on a recall wait list then they charge huge penalties if you can't renew it on time and eventually it won't be a renew it will be a penalty fine and a new registration process. Fkn nightmare."