OAN Staff Lillian Mann
2:00 PM – Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Standing outside the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in West Hollywood, California, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton announced his plan to eliminate the state agency entirely, cutting vehicle registration to a flat rate — that is, if he is elected governor.
Affordability remains the top priority of Hilton’s (R-Calif.) gubernatorial campaign, driven by the urgent need for relief as Californians struggle with a severe housing and cost-of-living crisis.
On Tuesday, Hilton proposed a flat $73 annual registration fee, noting it would cover the costs of shifting vehicle services to online platforms and local county offices.
“We are going to abolish the DMV,” Hilton declared on Tuesday. “And we are going to cut vehicle registration to the flat fee of $73 per vehicle per year, and we are going to shut down this bloated, nanny state, bureaucratic agency that treats Californians with complete contempt.”
Annual vehicle registration fees for most Californians typically range from $300 to $400, while high-value or newer automobiles can face costs exceeding $1,000.
While abolishing a state agency officially requires legislative approval, the former Fox News commentator maintains he could bypass uncooperative lawmakers by using his budget powers to severely slash the DMV’s operations, which has a $1.6 billion budget.
“Abolish the DMV. That’s what’s going to happen when I am your next governor,” Hilton stated.
When asked what other issues he would tackle if elected, Hilton replied, “This is step one in cutting the cost of living for Californians—simple, practical things to make life more ‘Cal-affordable.’”
The UK-born gubernatorial candidate went on to emphasize the logic behind his plan, arguing that lowering state spending would naturally pave the way for tax cuts. He called it the “quickest, simplest way to put more money into people’s pockets.”
“You’re being ripped off by your government,” Hilton emphasized during his speech. “They are gouging you with the DMV and vehicle registration. They charge the highest vehicle registration in the country for the worst roads in the country.”
Hilton noted that vehicle registration fees currently rake in $11 billion to $12 billion annually, but his cap would slash that revenue down to roughly $2.7 billion. To bridge this gap — along with his proposal to eliminate state income taxes on the first $150,000 of earnings — Hilton plans to trim the state workforce by 10% and cut agency budgets by 5%.
During his announcement, Hilton also acknowledged the state’s need to maintain “secure records, legitimate licenses and strong fraud prevention” — functions currently managed by the DMV.
Under the plan, the DMV would face a three-month audit before being dissolved as a standalone department. According to Hilton’s campaign, a leaner state operation would remain in place to oversee driver’s licenses, REAL IDs, fraud prevention and essential records and safety functions.
Enacting the proposal would require legislative approval, including the passage of what Hilton’s campaign calls the “No More DMV Act.” Hilton’s call to abolish the DMV comes on the heels of Xavier Becerra agreeing to face him in a live CNN televised general election debate.
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