Key facts
- Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate for California governor, vowed to abolish the state's DMV.
- Hilton proposed a flat $73 annual registration fee for vehicles.
- The California legislature, with a Democratic supermajority, would need to pass legislation to abolish the DMV.
- Hilton is trailing his Democratic rival, Xavier Becerra, in polls.
- The legislature allocated $1.46 billion to the DMV for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Longshot California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has pledged to abolish the state's Department of Motor Vehicles if elected, proposing a flat annual registration fee of $73 per car. Hilton, a Trump-backed former conservative pundit, described the DMV as a "bloated bureaucracy" during a campaign event in West Hollywood. He suggested repurposing DMV buildings for community use and shifting some functions online or to local county offices.