Hi Joann, thank you for your question. Your registration is "official" as soon as your order is successfully completed. This means your DMV fees are paid and you will not be assessed late penalties for renewing late or be in danger of getting ticketed for an expired registation. The digital registation card, or eTag, provided by email can be printed and used as temporary proof of having renewed until your plate sticker arrives in the mail. In cases where your vehicle needs to be smogged before the sticker is shipped, the temporary "smog" eTag provided by email will be update to the official registation once the smog test is passed. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us directly by phone. Take Care and Drive Safely.