My friend is finally getting his 30 sedan to the point of actually rolling. He wants to start the ***le/registration process. He bought the car off a guy that had possession of the car since the early 70's but never never registered or ***led it in his name. As far as paperwork... he has what I believe is a ***le. It is a small paper that has printed on it California 1951 Automobile Certificate of Ownership It also has a Engine or Identification Number and a License Plate Number Is that Engine or Identification Number the number of the original engine? Or is it some original number that is stamped to the frame under the cab? OR could it be some new VIN that was ***igned in 1951? Is this pinkslip enough for him to get it ***led and registered in his name? What does he need to do next? Will he have to go through a vehicle inspection? THANKS
That is the ***le. Also, from what I understand the engine or ID number is the VIN. They have called the VIN everything from serial numbers to ID numbers over the years. Just take that to the DMV (Or Better yet an AAA with a DMV office, if your a member. They are much nicer and a little more forgiving) and they will register it for you. You will have to pay all the fees, plus penalties if it was bought over 30 days ago, plus taxes on what he paid for it. I don't know if they require a bill of sale, but I always provide one. Have one made up to be sure. Also check the CA DMV website, they call out exactly what you need. They don't verify that the Bill of sale is real, but the back of the ***le must have a signature of the seller on back before they will process it. HyFire
Thanks Hyfire. He took the ***le to AAA and they told him that he had to have CHP or DMV inspect it becuase the ID Number was not in thier computers? The other problem is that on the back it has a release of liability with the owners signature and it is dated back in 1958. It looklike that's when he sold it to the second owner... they guy that sold it to my friend.
As for having to go to the DMV for inspection, that is not right. But you know DMV employees, there is no convincing them. This is from the CA DMV website: "A vehicle verification. The vehicle must be inspected by an authorized DMV employee, law enforcement officer, or a licensed vehicle verifier employed by a registration service or dealership. These inspections require no additional fee and are most easily obtained by bringing the vehicle to the nearest DMV." Triple A is a licensed vehicle verifier. I just registered me Model A which was not in thier computers (Original Iowa Car), and AAA provided the inspection. I would try another AAA or the DMV. No way I would have the CHP look at it. With all the other issues you have, you may want to bite the bullet and go the DMV route. Just have everything with you, as they are keen on jerking you around and making you come back 2 or 3 times. Also, make sure a VIN number is on the car and in an obtainable spot. If it is not, make a vin plate and stick it on the door post. HyFire
Make a VIN plate. Never thought of that. Just stampsom piece of metal with the numbers and screwit to the door? WHat's acceptable..metal with stamped numbers... magic marker on tin foil???? THANKS AGAIN
I need to register my '52 buick, which i bought from out of state, so it needs a CA. inspection. AAA said they couldn't do this either, but there are authorized shops other than the DMV and CHP. By the way, does anyone know if they care about cracked gl*** in the door window?
AAA Told me the same thing on the phone (It is a central call center). But when I went to the Upland California office they had all the paperwork and inspection forms on-hand and did the inspection. Maybe I am special? At any rate AAA inspected... and my car has brand new "current" California plates.! Whooohoo!!!
what did you take in with you to get those plates??? I have a frame and a body when its gets runniong before paso I need to do this. I dont have a pink though??? what should I do? there are numbers on the frame though. Bigdaddy
I just got my car done. I built the frame from box tubing & the motor was a '71 Ford 460. So no numbers. I had bought some 1925 plates at the swap meet for it, but they had no history at the DMV. The DMV looked at it & the male inspector decided that since it chopped, channeled & had a new motor, they wouldn't call it a 1925 Ford. It was going to be a special constuction. I didn't want that, so when I went in to finish the paperwork, I was pleased to see that a lady in her mid 40's was going to do it. I smiled & explained that it was a 1925 Ford & was there any way I could register it like that. I turned on the charm & soon it was changed from a special const to a real Ford. I then had to take the car to the CHP to get a VIN stamped into the frame. Again, I had to tell him about how the car has been in the family for eons & belonged to my grandfather, but was sitting for so long there was no paperwork.;-) He even asked me how much of the original frame was there. I said something about having to add box tubing the the front (where you can see it) for the 1/4 elliptical front end. He also mentioned that my front end was going to give me problems in handling because of the ackerman effect stemming from my spindles being reversed. It made me nervous that he knew that, I was hoping he really didn't have a clue. He told me to bring the trailer to the back of the station & he'll inspect it & put in the VIN. That was the most nervous part of the whole thing. After about 30 minutes, he said I could go back & get the car.... he signed off on it & I now had a CHP & DMV approved VIN. Went back to the DMV & finished the paperwork, they took photocopies of the plates & soon I should get a letter from the DMV giving me the ok for the vintage plates. It was a drag to take the car in to the CHP & DMV, but it was worth it. I thought about stamping my own VIN into the frame, but I was concerned about it biting me in the *** someday. Maybe getting pulled over by a cop who really knows cars.... just a little paranoid. Hope this helps, TatMatt
No kidding on the consistency thing! I bought a '54 Chevy in Texas and brought it back. When I went to AAA they told me I had to have the vin verified. I explained that the car was in pieces and would not be running for a while. She said that the CHP would come out and check it. So, made an appointment with the CHP and was shocked when I got the conformation letter. They expected the vehicle finished, running, and all systems go for a full vehicle inspection. I called the CHP and explained the situation and he said to wait until the car was finished. To add to the confusion I bought vintage plates and plan to run them under the YOM law. I called DMV to make sure the plates were not in use and asked about the vin verify thing. They said I could trailer it to the local DMV office unfinished and have the VIN verified and complete the registration process and ***ign my vintage plates. However, they could not ***le it unless the engine was in cuz they need the block numbers. Now, I still don't know if it will need a vehicle inspection when I try and bring it out of the Non-Op status.
Just done this.Find your local friendly "Police Officer " and he can sign the paper-work off.Then take to DMV and collect your plates. Honest!!!
I just went through this with my 53 chevy pu, I had a pink with the vin number BUT the vin for the chevy truck is from the motor which I did not have, The vin on the door post did not mactch anything. I got a police officer friend veryify that I was changing the vin from the engine to the one on the door post no mention of not having the motor. went to the DMV and had it registered. Ed ke6bnl
If you are anywhere near Monrovia Calif. in So.Calif. go to Tony's DMV. You pay a fee and they work with you I did not say they do anything wrong but do not work against you Ed ke6bnl