Dmv wants to inspect my rod to verify that its not worth over $5000,

I have a truck that has been out of the system for at least 30 years. I have done the vin verification thing, and dmv even gave me a temp registration...but they want to be sure its not worth more than 5 grand otherwise they want me to get a bond.. My worries are that they may see that its totally altered. Although im the only one who knows it was originally a 1.5 ton....or maybe they will just appraise it and walk away? Does anyone else have experience with this in CA?

 

Never heard of that.....I have done plenty of those in Cali and never had to deal with that....

 

Is this the whole lein sale thing? They said I had to do this on my personal truck and it had to be worth less than 5g. I take it you never got a title either

 

Your suppose to tell them you paid $500 or less for the thing.

 

Sounds like another scheme to fill the empty coffers of the state treasury.

 

If it is the truck in your avatar Stevie Wonder could tell it wasn't stock.

Used to be if you needed a hair cut and owned a certain kind of motor cycle even if you had an original title in your hand the state of Calif. wanted to pull it in and dismantle it to make sure that nothing was stolen. And all that had to be changed from stock was the paint job. Then even if they didn't find anything that they could say was stolen they still wanted to blue tag it.

But that was a long time ago.

Anyway getting back to it you should have licensed it before you built it.

 

I just knelt down and kissed the earth here in Florida. Gawd, what some of you guys have to go through is just NUTS !!!!

Don

 

Just did it last week for a 60 El Camino off the books since 1969 - told them it was worth 50 dollars - got a CHP VIN verification, weight slip and statement of fact -thats it, pink is on its way. Your offering to much info I would guess.... Go to a different DMV and start over with fresh paperwork would be my suggestion and hope for a better person at the counter. Ive had counter people ask for the world and not get it done and others just push it through with almost no paperwork... best of luck.

 

Not all states will let you do that. I have titled cars with no more than a body/frame, but I have had friends go in and they told them they want it "further along" and theirs were a roller, just needed an engine and trans.

 

this is exactly why i use a registration service EVERY time.

 

Get a AAA membership and do your paperwork at he DMV desk there. The cost of your membership is well worth it to speak to a human being who gives a shit. And don't give em any info they don't need, it'll confuse things.

 

I did tell em that I owned it in highschool but joined the army and since lost all the paperwork. And that the bumpers were stolen with the plates on em. And yes it is the one in my avatar.

 

These guys just gave you a lot of information so you can save yourself lots of grief...Just pay attention to what they said and you should be fine.

 

Can you pull the drivetrain out so it looks as though you have less money in it?

 

Bought my 37 in 1972 when I lived in Oregon. I even have the original title. (The truck didn't run when I bought it. Still isn't running, but I'm getting closer.) Fast forward to 2012. Finally decided to title the truck here in Tennessee and couldn't use the Orgon title because in 1972 I put my ex wifes name on the title. No problem. You simply fill out an affidavit, submit to Nashville and 2 weeks later I had new title. And you are required to also purchase registration for the vehicle which is okay because Antique car tags are issued for the life of the vehicle, no annual renewal.

 

The idea of starting over would be great...except that they put it in the system and even gave me a two month tag.

 

Im going to try the AAA thing. it cant hurt to try. Right after this big carshow.

 

AAA can do the basic stuff but once you are in the system they cant do much. Try a registration service...cheap and easy!

 

I call it DMV roulette. Calif is the worse.
Here in AZ, I just keep going back until I get someone friendly.
Lately I had to get a bonded title on my 1950 truck and the inspector made a bunch of comments about it being junky and gave a value of $500.(way less than I had told them it was worth). He looked at my chevy V8 and told me it was a 6 cylinder. I just nodded.

The nasty ole gestapo bitch at the window told me I was stupid for buying a car without a title. $4 for the title, $75 for the bond. I don't know what the registration will be on a $500 truck, but it shouldn't be too much. I will go to a contract station known to be friendly to hotrodders and register my YOM plate there.
Good luck to all who deal with the DMV! It may be worth it to some to title in another state, then transfer the title.

 

So you have a running and driving old truck? From the tiny picture it looks like it may not be worth $5k on the HAMB, but it looks like it would easily fetch that on ebay.

Maybe I am missing something, but you have a vehicle that is worth more than $5k and you are trying to scoot around the law to save some money on registration?

 

I absolutely LOVE the little DMV office around the corner from my house. The nice ladies working there don't know crap about old cars, I don't give them more information than they need, and we both like it that way. My paperwork is always in order when I go in, they verify my VIN number in the parking lot, I get my tags, and we both get on with our day. Lovely system.

 

I don't believe that story, and neither does the DMV counter person! They smell fraud a mile away! They've heard all those story's before. I just titled my '48 Diamond T here in MI. I bonded it thru Hagarty, had. Bill of sale, an appraisal for truck init's "as purchased" condition, and for 50 bucks walked out in 20 minutes with title in hand, along with a title for our '46 Spartan trailer, also purchased without paperwork. Do your homework first, and don't expect a break with a story they've head before...

 

So, is it, or isn't it?
.
.
If it isn't, no worries, if it is...do what's right.
.
.

 

Call this Lady. She's in Grass Valley. Tell her your story and she'll fix it for you. It'll be the best money you ever spent.
pro.reg.service@gmail.com

Then you can thank me with a beer.
Jim

 

Good point. I should find out what the bond costs. But this IS taxifornia

 

Ok thanks Jimmy!

 

From what I could tell, it would be 1 to 4 percent of the surety bond.
So on $5,000 that would be $50 to $200.

 

In Ca. It's all about the money. If they see a way to get more out of you they will go that route. BTW I have been using AAA for the last 17 years. But there are a few things they will send you to the DMV

 

A surety bond is obtained from an independent company. The state of California does not sell these bonds.

 

Cali. wants to know what your truck is worth for TAX purposes? Drive it across the scales, get its weight,and then tell the Tax nazi scrap price today is $xx.xx a pound today!