California Code, Vehicle Code - VEH § 38247

(a) When a transferee or purchaser of a vehicle applies for transfer of identification, as provided in Section 38205, and it is determined by the department that penalties accrued prior to the purchase of the vehicle, and that the transferee or purchaser was not cognizant of the nonpayment of the fees for identification for the current or prior identification years, the department may waive the identification penalties upon payment of the fees for identification due.

(b) Other provisions of this code notwithstanding, the director may at his discretion investigate into the circumstances of any application for identification to ascertain if penalties had accrued through no fault or intent of the owner. Provided such circumstances prevail, the director may waive any penalties upon payment of the fees for identification then due.

(c) When a transferee or purchaser of a vehicle applies for transfer of identification of a vehicle, and it is determined by the department that fees for identification of the vehicle for any year are unpaid and due, that such fees became due prior to the purchase of the vehicle by the transferee or purchaser and that the transferee or purchaser was not cognizant of the fact that such fees were unpaid and due, the department may waive such fees and any penalty thereon when the identification fees due for the vehicle for the current year are paid.

(d) Upon the transfer of a vehicle for which fees for identification and any penalties thereon are unpaid and due, such fees and penalties are, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 9800) of this chapter, the personal debt of the transferor of the vehicle who did not pay such fees and penalties when they became due or accrued. Such fees and penalties may be collected by the department in an appropriate civil action if the department has waived such fees and penalties pursuant to subdivision (c).