California Code, Vehicle Code - VEH § 42235

Whenever the department collects any fee which is excessive or not legally due and application for the refund of the fee is not filed within the time prescribed by law because the applicant failed to receive from the department a certificate of registration for the vehicle upon which the refund of fee is sought, the director shall have the power to authorize the payment of a refund in such a case upon a proper showing by the applicant that the delay in applying for the refund was due to the failure to receive the certificate of registration within the statutory period allowed for making application for refund of fees.