CA DMV Visit Lessons Learned

[DonNewton]

Yesterday, I had opportunity (opportunity?) to visit a local DMV to title and register my 75 ex-racer and get the paperwork settled as the conversion progresses. Wow.

Once you get past the standing in a glacially moving line (2.5 hours) and finally get inside to process the paperwork, you need to take everything you will need; forms and all reference material from DMV to support your goals.

My car is a '75 and according to the CA DMV website, 75 and older gasoline vehicles are EXEMPT from the smog requirement. One of the nice gentlemen decided that I was completely incorrect that the law was actually "All vehicles 75 and NEWER require a smog certificate." Dialog follows:

Me: "No, the current law and even the DMV website states that 75 and OLDER do not require . . ."
Him: "Show me."
Me: (goddammit) (cell phone to CA DMV website)
Him: (rummage around the material on his desk, finds a smog brochure) "Wow, I guess you're right!"
ME: "YOU work here?"

Silence.

Him: "Ok, you don't have a VIN verification."
Me: "Yeah, the cars been in storage since 2003 and has not been run. How we going to do that?"
Him: "You could trailer it here."
Me: "Don't have a trailer (I do. . ), and AAA won't do this."
Him: "I can give you a temporary tag (60 days)."
Me: "Jeez, why didn't we say that at first? I'll take it."

BOTTOM LINE: Take everything you think you might need to bolster your case. Yes, you have to be own attorney and plead your case from a position of knowledge, because they'll just make stuff up.

[jess p]

I once had to deal with the DMV, ended up calling the director and at that point things went very very smoothly.

[Tobra]

It all depends on who you get when you go to the DMV

[larrym]

per recent Hagerty article on salvage titles

California recently deemed any post-1967 car (when the state adopted its first emissions controls) that wasn’t actually sold new with California-legal smog gear to be unworthy of a California title and license plate.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/retitling-a-salvage-is-not-a-walk-in-the-park/?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20_July_4_Newsletter_Weekend

if true that is a barrier to bringing in any 914 from out-of-state

[DonNewton]

Larry:
My saving grace in this whole saga was that I bought the car here in San Diego in 1988 and took it to VA in 1995. I had made a copy of my original CA title, but that didn't mean a thing to "those people" behind the counter.

[Robman]

I bought a new 2016 4Runner in Reno. Brought it to CA in its first 50 miles. Had to smog it, take it to the DMV for an inspection. The moron inspecting it noted it had 400 miles but asked if I had modified it. Does it look like it? No, but I have to ask. Well I passed smog. Mmmm. Other states have different regulations. Mmmmm, I haven’t heard of a special 2016 4Runner CA edition. Well it used to be that way. Let me know when you’re done. CA reg is a scam. A tax collecting, reg to vote scam.

[DonNewton]

Finally finished up with registration this week. Reason for delay: reconstruction surgery on my right shoulder (failed). Anyway, found a person who is a "partner" with DMV to do the VIN verification. Took all the paperwork to AAA, they logged on, checked the data in the DMV database, looked at the VIN Verification form, hit enter and gave me a "suspense" registration card. The suspense part is because I'm waiting for CA to send me license plates and and my new CA title. I now can breathe easier because it's DONE! Like Robman, I have my own thoughts of CA DMV, but will keep them to myself so I don't get banned. . .

[Mike80911]

Originally Posted by Tobra

It all depends on who you get when you go to the DMV

Exactly. I went in to register a motorcycle and the woman told me I needed additional paperwork even though I knew I had everything she did not want to here it. I went outside got back on line and got a different person. He took my paperwork and issued the registration without blinking an eye

[PCA7GGR]

I was able to get a new VIN number for a 914 racer that my partner and I built from swap meet parts. The young lady I got at DMV had a husband that raced speedboats. She took the one receipt I had for the tub (that hadn't registration in many years) and gave me a form that I took to the local CHP office when the officer lookout the car on the trailer and he issued a new VIN sticker using the old VIN stamped in the frunk.

"It all depends on who you get when you go to the DMV."

[spyerx]

Try a registration service or AAA. When I bought out of state cars both will do VIN verifications.
I've only stepped foot in the DMV 3x in the past 10+ years. ("real" ID, lost ID, and blue plate reg which required DMV visit... and that actually went well and the plates are on the car w/ 1 visit!)

[Piech]

I have been the lucky one able to take advantage of registering cars in 13 states over the last 25 years, and can vouch for CA DMV being the absolute worst... and, I confess, I now find AZ to be the best... although CT is a close second! (OK... of the 13 states I've tried!)

[Fly Mach .86]

It has been my experience in the past that the California Highway Patrol will give you better information. The DMV is just a money gathering organization. CHP knows more about the law.

[DonNewton]

The issue with CA DMV remains that all the information you need is on their website. The people behind the desks are completely unfamiliar with what is on DMV's website. I suspect that there is no training organization the prepares the "clerks" to work at DMV. If there is and the clerks are still this inept, then that organization needs to be eliminated and a new one built behind it. Maybe use AAA's set-up as a template?

[dr914]

they took the job to beat up on their fellow man, best way to handle them is with a bunch of sugar and honey and becoming their friend.

[Coondog]

Originally Posted by spyerx

Try a registration service or AAA. When I bought out of state cars both will do VIN verifications.
I've only stepped foot in the DMV 3x in the past 10+ years. ("real" ID, lost ID, and blue plate reg which required DMV visit... and that actually went well and the plates are on the car w/ 1 visit!)

I used a registration service for a out of state car coming into Calif. Best 45 dollar surcharge I ever spent in my life. In and out in about 15 minutes.