It looks like it must only apply to newer vehicles. 1n 1992 when I brought the car into CA (that I just paid the $74 for), it cost me $680 to register including some sort of tax. It was four months old so I guess CA thought they needed to collect sales tax or something.
I'd be semi-inclined to buy something newer and get rid of some of my junkers, but then maybe not if they think I'm going to pay $300, $400, $500 to register - I've played that game in the past.
Last year I paid $153 for my Chrysler 300M. This year they want $323. That's not near triple so it makes no sense to me. Sounds somewhat arbitrary, don't you think?