DOES THE DONATIONS, CAR REGISTRATIONS AND PROPERTY TAXES REDUCE STATE TAX IN CALIFORNIA?

[DawnC]

You can, if you itemize your deductions.   If you claimed the Standard Deduction on your federal return, you can still itemize your deductions on the California return.  You must enter your Itemized Deductions on the federal return if you intend to use them on the California return.   

You can include some things as itemized deductions for California that you're not able to include in your federal itemized deductions, such as unreimbursed employee expenses, tax preparation fees, and certain mortgage interest, or points above the limits on a federal return.

But this means there are some things that are allowed as an itemized deduction on your federal tax return that aren't allowed on your California return, such as state tax withheld, mortgage insurance premiums, and certain charitable donations over a certain amount.