C.A. DMV isues. help wanted!

it didnt go so smooth for me, i didnt pay the full 700 but i did still have to cough up 300.

 

300 total or back fees?

 

it was reduced down to 320 including new plates, and current registration. she wouldnt remove all the back fee's like i was hoping. but hey 320 is better than 700.

 

Look at license plates on semi trailers. MANY are registered in Maine. Maine will register vehicles in their state even when they are titled in other states.
Your state may not like that.

 

I just had the CHP VIN verifier come out (yes, the Santa Ana office still makes house calls!) just yesterday to inspect my '31. He did NOT consider roadworthiness at all. Cool guy, and a car guy to boot. Looked at the stamping on the dr rail, made sure it was clear, made a new State VIN label (using the original serial #) and mounted it. Took about 45 minutes total and finished the titling process at AAA. Titled as a '31 Ford Coupe, and the custom plates get affixed to it in a couple weeks.

 

BUMPITY BUMP BUMP

I just sold a vehicle I had sitting to a pal and told him it was on Non-Op status. Cal DMV told him nope, no non-op on file (so big $$$ back fees). Hmm, that's funny, I'm pretty good about that stuff but I can't find any paperwork proof. Then I got to thinking, last tag on it is 2003, did they even have planned non op back then? If not, it should revert back to the old method, you file your affidavit of non op when you go to get it registered again. Can't find the inception date of the planned non op on the innerweb.

 

Planned non op was in place long before 2003. Wifey's Cad has been on non op for, at least 20 years. I sent it to the crusher 10 years ago. I keep it on non op to save the personal plates in case I ever want to use them again

 

@blowby if you have AAA call their DMV services dept and ask them to run you through your options, if not, contact a titling service. stay as far away from the DMV as possible. they don't know their own jobs.

 

This is so true, it's worth it to pay the fee to the title company to weed through the bureaucracy.

 

Thanks. BTW I had the exact opposite situation. I let the reg on my '66 Vette lapse years ago, then when the penalties grew I figured I'd wait until it dropped out of the system (used to only take a few years). Year after year I checked and it was not dropping off. Then one time I asked, they said because it had personalized plates they kept it in the system.

 

as far as I know , ca. does not go out of computer anymore . the fines just keep adding .............

 

Getting AAA in California and using AAA for DMV services has been the way to go for me, for years now. My local AAA girl knows more than the DMV and she knows all the loopholes. I get titles and registrations within 2 weeks. I would suggest you take BLOWBY's info and get a AAA membership. No waiting in lines at the DMV and no dealing with the NAZIS there.
my .02

 

Wow! I have just been reading this and, I guess it has been said before "glad I don't line in Cal."
What are these "back fees"?

 

expired registration fees. they stay attached to the vehicle and accrue annually with penalties. UNLESS you file for a planned non-operational status. when you do decide to put it on the road, you just pay the current years fees and off you go.

 

AAA is your friend, work with them first . I bought bike off a guy, the bike was owned by his brother<< who was murdred . DMV wanted $775 and went up by the week for back fees and tags. I ended up getting another chassis Total with frame cost and tags was $325

 

That's crazy you don't use the car and don't renew your registration your still charged for all the time you didn't drive anywhere when you finally register the car again!
Makes no sense!
Here in CT all you need to do if you have not used your car for any length of time is show an old registration in your name proof of current insurance and register the car. its that easy.

 

I don't get all of this back fees crap. I have lived inn CA all my life. 67 years. I have registered many, many cars and bikes. Some had sat for years, some had no paper work at all. I have never paid one penny in back fees. Prior to the planned non op, all that was needed was a signed certificate of non operation. What many don't know is that you can fill it out and sign it yourself. The document states that the signor "has knowledge" that the car has not been operated, towed or parked on public streets. You don't have to be the registered or legal owner. I recently titled a bike that sat for years. No title, but I did know who the owner was. He signed the lost title form. I signed the non op since I forgot to send it to him. One CHP inspection and 80 bucks later I had a plate, temporary reg and a title coming in the mail. I still maintain that CA has some of the easiest DMVs to deal with in the nation. You just need to educate yourself and know your rights. CA is broke and they will skin you alive if you give them the opportunity. I can almost guarantee that I could have registered that Buick for a third of what he paid

 

well then Carl,
why not put together a "how to beat the CA DMV thread" as a help to the rest of the HAMB?

that would be awesome!

 

California is NOT broke, its tax system is broken. If you want an explanation, you will have to PM me, as political talk is not allowed on the board.