California Builds - Registration and Titles

[Chopped50Ford]

Okay, I was talking to a friend about this and we were sharing the nightmare stories about getting our roadster/rpu/pickup rods registered and titled.

I would like to know, for peace of mind, what am I looking forward to when I do this.

I have an original Model A frame w/ 27 roadster body...yadda yadda yadda and all parts for the project.

I dont have a title for the frame, I think the numbers are still visible.

What am I going to expect after im done and rolling, to get a title and registration.

There are so many nightmare stories out there...is it worth the build?

One way I thought would easy my curiosity, would buying a set of deuce rails or custom frame make it easier to acomplish this task?

Tell me your stories. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[296 V8]

This is what I have been told.
If you have a clear vin number, all you need to do is to show a bill of sale and apply for lost title.

[abe lugo]

Make sure you get a written bill of sale from whomever you bought the parts from. frame/body/engine.
If you go to the DMV you can get a stack of those "bill of sale" slip from them.
Then to register, you have to have the DMV and the CHP do a "vehicle verification" they check number and stuff on your project. To start the process you should have an engine/body/frame. CHP will assign you new numbers is none are found. Basically they all are just checking to see where you got your parts and that none are stolen. Also DMV wants to see basic sales slips to they can base how much to tax you for tax an lic. fees. I believe once the whole project is done you gotta get you lights checked, but I think you can have a "local autoshop" fill out a "statement of facts" means they checked your headlights/turnsignals/brakelights.

[burndup]

California DMV TECH:

I've TWICE registered motorcycles, that have either dropped off the system, WITH and WITHOUT a title... and a MC in california is more tricky than a car.

Do as abe said, get the bill of sale form. You CANNOT download these from the DMV website, as theres some sort of legal status that the odometer statement has, that makes these forms unable to be reproduceable. But you can easily get 5 at a time from either DMV or AAA if you are a member.

Call dmv (or AAA) and say you'd like to give them a VIN "of a vehicle you considering buying to see what registration cost or any fines would be." This is how you check out your "made up" Vin. They'll say its off the system, you'r home free. finish up the car, have a vin verifier verify the vin and give you paperwork, (or a service may do it ALL for you) take your forg- er, completely and properly filled out bill of sale to the DMV and get your bran spankin new 2004 plates, drive car.

Go thru hassle of YOM plates later.... someone should post a howto on that, I have a motorcycle i want to do that with...

I have th 800 number for dmv, but its not on my cell phone any more, I'll try to remember to post it when I am home.

I have forg----er, "filled out" forms either waiting in the DMV lobby, or at the window at the advice and counsel of the DMV lady even... as long as smog doesnt play an issue, the state gets its due $, its a pre 17 digit vin car (80 or older) and the thing is off the computer and not flagged as stolen, its pretty easy sailing.

Now, the CHP, when looking at motorcycles... are THOUROUGH... they go thru PAPER records looking at your vin and engine number back a DECADE looking for stolen reports.

On my 1969 AT-1, the officer was looking at the engine number pad in the case... "You see this irregularity? the vin pad is rounded, not perfectly flat... I wonder if the VIN has been ground off at one point!"

I had to counter with "Thats most likely a casting defect, this bike is not monetarily worth the effort to perform the machining and polishing to commit such an elaborate forgery. Look, and theres some casting flash on the one edge. Theres no recreating that if the pad was once ground."

"Yeah huh... made in 1968, I guess that COULD just be the way it was cast, ok...." And so he was happy with it. Crazy.

Now, when having a certified vin verifier look at your build, you WILL NOT be dealing with anyone with such a keen eye... most likely a housewife making extra$ part time at a used car dealership... or some guy so eager to go to lunch, you will need to doublecheck HIS work... make sure they write your VIN down right....


To recap... you need a free and clear number, and a buddy whose handwriting is different from yours to fill out a bill of sale. For added insurance, download the "statement of fact" form, have same buddy fill out one of the boxes and say that the vehicle has been sitting for 25 years or so on family property, and never recently registered.

bada bing.

Its only red tape, not red razor-wire. The state only truly cares about new, late model, and smoggable cars. Dont fuck with those.

[burndup]

Brake and lite certs are a NON issue at this point... only unless your busted for them later....