Well, I got the old girl registered, was pretty easy. Went to the DMV with no paperwork at all...just needed to file a Statement of Facts stating the car had not been registered or driven/parked the road and where/how I got it. I also filed the Application for ***le. VIN verified, everything golden. Being nice to the people at the office is key, I think. Total cost was $98, total wait time at the DMV, 10 minutes! Not bad... Hi y'all, another couple questions for the experts: OK, the original 4 banger is obviously out of the car and there is no other VIN in sight on my 1930 Model A. I have no ***le/pink slip and will be in the position to register this thing VERY soon. Here are a few options I am thinking about... -I can get a clean ***le from NY for a 1930 Model A roadster, and that is where my dad lives. I could have him take care of things out there and then transfer the ***le to me here in CA...should be no h***les there. ***le cost, $175. -I have a friend in a local police dept. that could sign off on something, or verify "something." I am leaning towards the old ***le. I like the idea of having an original do***ent for it. Has anyone on here done this, or known someone who has? I did a search and didn't find anything, but I am sure this has been covered before. Also, I would like to get a set of original, clear 1930 plates for CA. Is this easy to do and legally attach to this car and ***le? What do you guys do for insurance? Thanks a lot. Adam
move down to southern california here you dont need proof of registration a insurance or a license, probably wouldn't need plates either.
What frame are you using? You can ***le it legally in CA, but you'll end up with a Blue Tag VIN courtesy CHP. If you can have your dad do it in NY, that might work best. Just keep in mind that when you do go to transfer the ***le to CA, you'll probably have to do a VIN verification (that's where the cop "friend" comes in handy). Also, what company are you thinking of buying the ***le from? A few companies that sell old paperwork are red flagged by DMV now, so be careful. As for the plates, you can buy a set of 1930 CA plates (they're around $200+ for a "clear" set) and then have them YOM registered to your car through DMV.
you can go for a lost ***le, but you would need the person who sold it to you to sign it also. but if it hasn't been registered in 5 or more years it's off the books/computer. the vin # is under the body on the drivers frame rail (i think somewhere around the door, you can have your friend verify it on the dmv paperwork and go from there. sometimes if the car comes from out of state the dmv will want to verify it, my friend had to take his model A in when he bought it in santa ana with the ***le, i had to take one of my cars in when i bought it in L.A with a ***le (but wasn't registered since the 70's). you can either register it or do a ***le only change, i would do a register and no op if you not going to drive it right away that saves you any back fees. as for the plates you can get them from a license plate dealer, e-pay, swapmeet or anywhere as long as they are clear and you have a matched set. just fill out the Y.O.M (year of manufacture) paperwork, they might make you register it first, then apply for the plates....doing too many things at once will confuse them. i registered mine got new plates then after i got the ***le in the mail went back, put on the yom plates, then i non-oped it when i got the paperwork back for the plates. insurance i use my regular carrier (farmers) but on my cars i have liability and un insured motorist only. the '36 is going to get more like theft, those "cl***ic" car insurance companies have to many restrictions, you need to say secret words like "on a cruise" when you have a claim but you were really going to work and you can't leave it un attended in a parking lot. mine is a little more money a year but no restrictions but there is a difference between an "agreed" or "appraised" amount. there might be some problems with an agreed amount if your car gets totaled, if you get an appraisal then you have the paper work to back you up (your insurance might want to do it anyhow).
Have your Dad register it back in NY. You are going to have to get the vin #s off the ***le and get them on your frame so your cop buddy can fill out the VIN verification form. Take that and the ***le to the DMV and you shouldn't have any problem. I use Grundy cl***ic car insurance. You have an agreed price on value and there is no limitation on mileage. Got four cars insured through them and I think the total premiums are about $300. I bought a 46 Chevy truck from Kentucky. It had a funky vin tag on the firewall, but it did have an Indiana ***le for a 46 Chevy truck. Bought some stamps and stamped the vin#'s on a frame rail. Had a vin verifier come over and verify the numbers. Took everything to DMV and no problemo.
i took my 29 down to aaa no papers no plates i stamped the numbers from the 4 banger into the frame right below the motor so both sets of numbers were easy to read,filled out a statement of facts that all paperwork and plates were lost,filled out a non op form stating it was in my yard for the past 10 years never on the highway,,,,,,,,,,,,,52 dollars later i have plate and regis.............whatever numbers you are going to run maybe off a dead 4 banger,write them down and go to aaa tell them you want to regis a car cant find the paperwork could they run the numbers and see if its on file if not on file stamp those numbers and take it to them,,,,,,,bingo........
Model A's have the ID numbers stamped in more than one place. one is under the body on the drivers side near the cowl.the dmv knows the others. it would be good if they match. pogo
Not trying to dispute what you've said, becasue I've heard it too, but haven't ever seen material confirmation of "hidden numbers" I've heard this about cars in general for years but have yet to actually see or have anyone point out WHERE these hidden numbers are. I think if they in fact exist, then someone would have spilled the beans by now on the internet. On new cars the vin is on a tag on just about every body part you could possible remove from the car including the doors, trunk lid and plastic bumper covers, but I've looked for these hidden number on lots of frames and unless you have to cut them apart to find them I haven't found any.
i found 2 on the drivers rail on my '36, one by the steering box and one by the gas tank........ but they weren't too hidden.
This sounds like the best bet. I figured getting it registered and taken care of in NY would be easiest, but if the DMV is going to check all this **** anyway, I may as well go to AAA. I am going to DMV in the morning to ask a few questions. Thanks a lot for all the input. Adam
As for the VIN on Model A's, I have only ever seen them on the motor and frame, driver's side by the cowl. I have neither the original motor or the number on the frame anymore, so I guess I will be stamping some at some point soon...
Here's a couple things I have an opinion on or i've learned lately at the CA DMV that is relevant to what Adam's talking about (some of these things, the DMV witch told me is as of Jan 1 2006 1) I recommend using the clean ***le that matches the year of your car. I really would avoid registering your car as a new special construction at any cost. Being a special construction, the DMV will cl***ify your car as a 2006-- and you'll have to play by emission rules, smog checks, etc. 2) If you register as a 1930, you should have no problems transferring ***le to CA. If it was registered as new and brought in from out of state, you'd have to have an emission equipment inspection if it has under 7500 miles. BEWARE-- cause they could try to make you prove it has over 7500, by inspecting your odometer (did that to me)... 3) No matter the case, you'll have to do a VIN inspection at either the DMV window or the CHP (both work.) If you've got a cop who can help with that, great. Otherwise, be prepared to have two matching numbers on the car at the DMV, or the right ***hole will have a fit and refer you to the CHP. 4) Get your plates before you transfer ***le to CA, and do that as part of the process. When you find some plates, check the numbers with the DMV (they have a phone number to call) to be sure they are clear. For a 1930, all you need are matching year plates for the year car you have. Thus, to have 1930 plates, you have to have a 1930 car registered in CA. In addition to having clear plate numbers, be sure you have a pair of plates and that they are in good shape (DMV will insist on both.) 5) As far as insurance, you can go the route of registering it as a cl***ic car only used for "pleasure driving only" at a place like Haggarty (they are online.) At Haggerty, they let you use a declared value in insuring the car (I had a Caddy I insured through them, declared value $20k-- and it was about $100 per year if i remember.) I used to use this route, but now I just register through my normal car insurance. I daily drive only my old / custom built cars / bikes, so I have lots of experience both with the DMV, using old plates in CA, and with insurance. Generally all points are painful in multiple ways... Let me know if you have any particular questions. Hope this helps, -scott noteboom
Be sure to keep in mind that AAA is no longer (as of Jan 1) allowed to deal with out of state ***le transfers anymore. That said, tranfering a 1930 from out of state is pretty straight forward as long as you can get through the VIN inspection. Just keep the exhaust rumble low in the DMV inspection line. -scott
if you have some time to waste you could go to the dmv and ask them which would be better. just tell them your looking at buying a car one is from out of state and the other is missing a ***le and both haven't been on the road/registered for over 10 years (or so). then ask what you would need in both cases and what would be easier so you can decide on which car you want. one more thing............vehicle code book is now $7 i just bought one last week.
The only reason I know of this is my buddy Tyler's roadster had the original numbers ground off. when he took it to the DMV to register it the inspector said no problem and got it from the other spot. Tyler had no papers. pogo
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