California DMV Title and Registration after 26 years - Need Advice Options

[Jonathan Livesay]

Agree !

It was given to me by Grandpa just before he died and it didn't run. Grandma couldn't find the paperwork. I had it towed to my house.

Careful don't say "towed" if it is not registered it's tires can not touch pavement. Flatbed only. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Tom_T]

Agree !

It was given to me by Grandpa just before he died and it didn't run. Grandma couldn't find the paperwork. I had it towed to my house.

Careful don't say "towed" if it is not registered it's tires can not touch pavement. Flatbed only. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Except on private property "off the public roads".

There is also a 1 or 2 day temp permit you can get to move/tow a car from DMV when it it not registered, but you'll have to look at the DMV's website for that. Not sure it applies in this case, but possibly.

Good Luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[warpig]

In cases like this i always go to my lady at a local registration service. . 2 reasons. . she can get around the red tape and make things happen when DMV employees seem to do just the opposite. . and she figures the cheapest way to do it. . DMV does the opposite. . still all legal but with none of the BS. .
I've done numerous motorcycles with no titles, and a few with very old bills of sale. .
Plus she completes the paperwork the same day and i get the plates and final paperwork the next. . the last time she was now authorized to verify vins, so no special trip to DMV or CHP for that. .

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) This is sound advice...and also how I got my mini-bikes titled and plated here in CA several years back when the DMV and CHP flat out said "no" sight unseen (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
In San Diego I used these guys lots of times. Fast and knowledgeable. My car hadn't been registered in 19 years when I got it. No non-op or anything. Took 2 or 3 days had new plates and NO back reg fees of any kind (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) $25 bucks for the service charge and no DMV hassles (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif) Easily would have paid a hundred just for that. Not sure if they have a branch in your town but similar places are cropining up all over. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

California Registration Services
593 El Cajon Blvd El Cajon, CA 92020
(619) 441-8263
Ask for Nikki

[FL000]

Just about completed this process with my 62 Lincoln. CA car that was last registered in CA in 1981 (according to plates). No title and got the car from someone who was not the last reg owner. You need to complete CA DMV form REG 256 (statement of facts), and REG 343 (app for title or transfer). Take those along with bill of sale to DMV. I had to pay ~$139 for my Lincoln which I did last week. My next appt is to bring the vehicle down for a VIN verification, which it sounds like you plan to do at the same time. After that you should be good to go. I was nervous too but it turned out to be a pretty simple process (go figure!). Good luck.

[r_towle]

seems like a weird set of laws to buy an old car, restore it, then pay a penalty for not having it registered for 20 years....cause it was junk....

Question.
Could you sell the car out if state, then buy it back months later, then register it with that paperwork just as if you bought it off ebay that day?

rich

[Joe Bob]

U can do anything as long you doan get caught.....

[Tom_T]

Just about completed this process with my 62 Lincoln. CA car that was last registered in CA in 1981 (according to plates). No title and got the car from someone who was not the last reg owner. You need to complete CA DMV form REG 256 (statement of facts), and REG 343 (app for title or transfer). Take those along with bill of sale to DMV. I had to pay ~$139 for my Lincoln which I did last week. My next appt is to bring the vehicle down for a VIN verification, which it sounds like you plan to do at the same time. After that you should be good to go. I was nervous too but it turned out to be a pretty simple process (go figure!). Good luck.

Sometimes it's the luck of the draw on who you get at the DMV counter!

When I did the YOM plate for our 1960 Avion T20 (sim. to Airstream) which did have current plates, it sailed through. But I've talked to lotsa other trailer owners at the vintage rallies & they have had nightmares lasting months or years when they got somebody who didn't know what they're doing.

And then my son's renewals from out-of-state in the Army & therefore exempt from smog checks (military exemption when you maintain a CA address) always seem to take 3-4 months to actually get the tags/stickers!!!!

Imagine all that from state employees at DMV!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Hopefully he'll get a good clerk! Otherwise, leave & use one of the services!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[Tom_T]

seems like a weird set of laws to buy an old car, restore it, then pay a penalty for not having it registered for 20 years....cause it was junk....

Question.
Could you sell the car out if state, then buy it back months later, then register it with that paperwork just as if you bought it off ebay that day?

rich

Rich - it's nothing more than a governmental money making scam, as I'm sure you have similar in Taxachusettes! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

makes NO sense whatsoever - whether you've owned sitting in your garage or on your property, or if you bought it from someone else who did. It's just Cali BS!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

If push came to shove - one could take the car out of state & register it there themselves, then come to CA & just do a transferred title & reg from that state to CA - assuming that AZ, NV, OR or wherever is easier to register one off the books for a while!

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[LukeD]

Just about completed this process with my 62 Lincoln. CA car that was last registered in CA in 1981 (according to plates). No title and got the car from someone who was not the last reg owner. You need to complete CA DMV form REG 256 (statement of facts), and REG 343 (app for title or transfer). Take those along with bill of sale to DMV. I had to pay ~$139 for my Lincoln which I did last week. My next appt is to bring the vehicle down for a VIN verification, which it sounds like you plan to do at the same time. After that you should be good to go. I was nervous too but it turned out to be a pretty simple process (go figure!). Good luck.

Just got back from the second trip to the DMV this week, first appt was Monday and they added the car back into the system, gave me a statement of facts sheet and VIN verification form and charged me $110 for a list of things. Called a local place that does VIN verification and they came out the next day to my house, verified the VIN and filled out the form. My appointment today the lady took all my paper work, asked about the plates, I asked if I could reinstate them and she said no that I had to turn them in, she gave me new ones and stickers and said my title would arrive in a couple weeks.

I was grumpy about not being able to keep the original California plates on the car but oh well...overall not bad

[Tom_T]

Well at least you got yours registered!

But I too want to keep the original blue/yellow plates on my car - especially since I'm the 2nd owner. since 1975

I thought there was a way to keep those blue plates, even when out of renewal for awhile, but it's too late for you Luke. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Oh Well!
Tom
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[76-914]

Well at least you got yours registered!

But I too want to keep the original blue/yellow plates on my car - especially since I'm the 2nd owner. since 1975

I thought there was a way to keep those blue plates, even when out of renewal for awhile, but it's too late for you Luke. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Oh Well!
Tom
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IRRC, that is for cars "in" the system. They took my Blue Ghia plates years ago because of that but I got to keep them on the 73 because it was non-op't and in the system. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Tom_T]

IRRC, that is for cars "in" the system. They took my Blue Ghia plates years ago because of that but I got to keep them on the 73 because it was non-op't and in the system. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

I'll have to figure a way to keep them on the car one way or another. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[SLITS]

The only way I got to keep the plates that were on the car (blue/yellow) was to:

Have in my possession the last registration card.

Have in my possession the Pink Slip.

Have in my possession the Bill of Sale.

Fill out a "collector car form" and statement of facts and agree that the car would not be driven until approval came from Sackofpotatoes.

Waited 6 months for the DMV to decide that everything was ok.

Car had not been registered for 20 years. Also went through the VIN verification bullshit. The only question the DMV guy had was, "where are the emissions stickers?". My answer, "The car is 40 years old and you expect the stickers to still be on the engine/body?".

[Tom_T]

Thanx Ron, I think I have all that stuff, as noted inside your message below....

The only way I got to keep the plates that were on the car (blue/yellow) was to:

Have in my possession the last registration card. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Check ... in fact I have all since purchased Dec. `75 to 92 when Non-Op came 3 months late & they wanted $1000 + smog check on a non-running car to reissue![/b]

Have in my possession the Pink Slip. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) [b]Check

Have in my possession the Bill of Sale. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Not sure if I even got a BoS, since they just signed the pink slip & I went to DMV right away? ... but I do have my 1st reg card after purchase dated 12/26/75!

Fill out a "collector car form" and statement of facts and agree that the car would not be driven until approval came from Sackofpotatoes. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) Can do .... no problemo, but I'll wait until she's closer to 6 months before resto completed & ready for the road! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

Waited 6 months for the DMV to decide that everything was ok. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Why do the DMV folks feel extra time to do stuff = job security!!??

Car had not been registered for 20 years. Also went through the VIN verification bullshit. The only question the DMV guy had was, "where are the emissions stickers?". My answer, "The car is 40 years old and you expect the stickers to still be on the engine/body?". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Douche bag!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) OK - so maybe I DO have a chance of keeping my original plates - since I'm 2nd owner since Dec. `75, car is no longer in the system, I have pink slip, my loan papers, all reg cards/non-op `75 - `91 + the 92 Non-Op renewal that came 3 months late, insurance & service records since my day one, car has been in my garage or on my property continuously since after the ditzy sorority bimbo "forgot to turn left to go up the [parking structure] ramp" & slammed my then freshly resto'd 914 into the concrete wall/column & mashed both ends! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) in late May 1985 while I was in biz grad school at UCLA, blah, blah, blah.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

2 years ago I sent in the fee & request form to try to get any Reg info on PO/OO before me who bought it new 11/6/72, but they sent the check back with form saying no longer in records ... after almost a year of (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) for DMV to figure it wasn't in their microfilm files in some musty Sacratomato basement! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

No hurry to tackle DMV yet though, since she'll be trailered to all of the requisite mechanic & body shops for resto work!

I'll post a topic on that whenever I do it, so others may have the benefit of what I leard to do .... & not to do! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[SLITS]

From that point forward, I decided the DMV was a useless organization and use a title / lien sale service. Well worth the extra $35 it cost me.

[Jonathan Livesay]

IRRC, that is for cars "in" the system. They took my Blue Ghia plates years ago because of that but I got to keep them on the 73 because it was non-op't and in the system. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

I'll have to figure a way to keep them on the car one way or another. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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What about just not turning them in? Get personalized plates with same letters/numbers (you will have to make up something for it to mean, favorite teachers initials and birthdate?). Then put the originals on when you want to be OG.*

*No idea if this would really work, and I assume no liability if they haul your (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif) off to jail.

[Tom_T]

What about just not turning them in? Get personalized plates with same letters/numbers (you will have to make up something for it to mean, favorite teachers initials and birthdate?). Then put the originals on when you want to be OG.*

*No idea if this would really work, and I assume no liability if they haul your (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif) off to jail.

DMV won't give you any new plates until & unless you turn in the old ones - whether in-state or out-of-state AFAIK. Even on new cars you turn in your prior numeric-order plates to get personalized ones.

As for the personalized route, well those are still new plates, & not the ones historically & originally on a collector car - so that defeats the purpose anyway.

I've also seen cars at events with their "modern plates" repainted in blue/yellow, black/yellow, yellow/black, etc. - which is totally illegal in CA .... but some folks do it for the vintage look - especially on cars past the `69 YOM eligibility ....

So for folks like us we either fight DMV's labyrinth personally or thru a service! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

IIRC - it only took DMV 2-3 months to confirm use of the YOM Yellow/Black 1956 series plate with 1960 sticker & issue the new month & year stickers with those little aluminum "flags" for our 1960 Avion Trailer + they took the old plate, issued a paper temp plate good for 90 days, & made me swear on their form that I wouldn't use the YOM plate until they gave permission or end up in a Gulag!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I did that one myself - after coaching by the ex-DMV Sacto HQ guy who used to do the verifications that they were not in use for YOM plates, who had sold me the lightly used 1960 sticker for my NOS 1956 plate (btw - trailers & motorcycles only require 1 plate, cars & trucks require 2 matching plates for the YOM program).

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[Tom_T]

From that point forward, I decided the DMV was a useless organization and use a title / lien sale service. Well worth the extra $35 it cost me.

Ron - why did it take that long for you to decide that!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

CalTrans is useless too - that's why they still haven't finished all the bridge & freeway overpass columns seismic upgrades to avoid the collapses in Oakland in the 1989 earthquake!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

.... & they've had the money since 1990!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

State employees like to ensure job security by foot dragging & doing other personal stuff & chit-chat at work - instead of the job at hand! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[toolguy]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
In San Diego I used these guys lots of times. Fast and knowledgeable. My car hadn't been registered in 19 years when I got it. No non-op or anything. Took 2 or 3 days had new plates and NO back reg fees of any kind (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) $25 bucks for the service charge and no DMV hassles (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif) Easily would have paid a hundred just for that. Not sure if they have a branch in your town but similar places are cropining up all over. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

California Registration Services
593 El Cajon Blvd El Cajon, CA 92020
(619) 441-8263
Ask for Nikki

Small world. . . That's who I use and she always comes through.

[mrholland2]

I thought California has new classic plates? But I see that the 1970s didn't get enough orders. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

What about just not turning them in? Get personalized plates with same letters/numbers (you will have to make up something for it to mean, favorite teachers initials and birthdate?). Then put the originals on when you want to be OG.*

*No idea if this would really work, and I assume no liability if they haul your (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif) off to jail.

DMV won't give you any new plates until & unless you turn in the old ones - whether in-state or out-of-state AFAIK. Even on new cars you turn in your prior numeric-order plates to get personalized ones.

As for the personalized route, well those are still new plates, & not the ones historically & originally on a collector car - so that defeats the purpose anyway.

I've also seen cars at events with their "modern plates" repainted in blue/yellow, black/yellow, yellow/black, etc. - which is totally illegal in CA .... but some folks do it for the vintage look - especially on cars past the `69 YOM eligibility ....

So for folks like us we either fight DMV's labyrinth personally or thru a service! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

IIRC - it only took DMV 2-3 months to confirm use of the YOM Yellow/Black 1956 series plate with 1960 sticker & issue the new month & year stickers with those little aluminum "flags" for our 1960 Avion Trailer + they took the old plate, issued a paper temp plate good for 90 days, & made me swear on their form that I wouldn't use the YOM plate until they gave permission or end up in a Gulag!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I did that one myself - after coaching by the ex-DMV Sacto HQ guy who used to do the verifications that they were not in use for YOM plates, who had sold me the lightly used 1960 sticker for my NOS 1956 plate (btw - trailers & motorcycles only require 1 plate, cars & trucks require 2 matching plates for the YOM program).

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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