Why is it such a racket to register an out-of-state vehicle in California?

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I'm frustrated w/ the CA DMV's website: I read their instruction sheet for out-of-state vehicles -- however, it doesn't say whether you need to make an appoinment or not.

I have my Oregon title, completed form, smog test form... but car VIN needs to be verified by a real person: To be acceptable by DMV, this form must be legible, hand printed in black or blue ink, and completed IN FULL by an authorized DMV representative, California licensed vehicle verifier, authorized auto club employee, or peace officer who has been properly trained to perform vehicle verifications, while PHYSICALLY inspecting complete and assembled vehicles.

Of course there's no way to talk w/ a real person, either.... plus, all the locations are closed on the weekends.... I can't take time off from work,  as a new employee.

Doesn't seem like they are truly a "public service" organization. 

So, I call a DMV service partner, as they are agents of the DMV and can do that VIN verification and are open on weekends. 

Turns out they charge an additional $100 !!!  

What. a. RACKET.

Not sure what I'm going to do.  It's certainly not incentive to do it w/in the required 22-day timeframe.

Tips and funny comments welcome.

go to the auto club, need to be a member...

i moved a car from AZ before. i think it cost me $200?

 

Thanks Turtle!   I was thinking of joining AAA just to get the towing, since I live 20 minutes from, well, everything.

I'll look into that. 

I think you just have to go to the DMV  person and have the VIN number verified. Our kid brought his vehicle from Oregon to California a few years ago and tried to do that at AAA, but was directed to DMV. Maybe some of the larger AAA service centers in San Jose will do it for you? Worth a call.

Racket indeed. Welcome To CA! LOL. Just Kidding.

It can be/is cumbersome and appointments work really well but are oftentimes only available quite into the future. I have no real tips but keep trying to make it work for you. Unless your existing registration is soon to expire, I would try to get an appointment that may work for you but, yes, it is difficult if you cannot do that during regular daytime workweek hours. FYI, in-person CA DMV experiences do generally seem to be about as shitty as anywhere but there are some really helpful folks working there if you get lucky. Once established in the system, however, things seem much smoother but that initial transition is a real pain in the ass. I sold a car in CA that I transferred from another state and and drove in CA for a while and that official process is easy and all done via e or snail mail, in case you may be wondering for the future.  

The particular piece that I find to be extra foul is that one has to maintain some level of registration even if said car is being restored, is fully inoperable in the driveway, permanently garaged, etc.

ha! Strawbud! 

Yeah the guy who charges $100 told me the next appointment is in October!

I hate that the system favors the wealthy -- they don't mind paying those extra fees.....

 

I blame Racket.

gavin new-scum?!

>>>>go to the auto club, need to be a member...

Yup, put the $100 to AAA membership

 

I'm just as shocker to find their is gov racket in CA as Claude Raines was to find gambling in Casablanca

im my state car dealerships can verify VINs. It was free I think

Many people get frustrated with the dmv.

The DMV is a micro scale version of government that most have to deal with.

why people think government works better than the dmv at a macro level, is a puzzling thought

mikey get off your knees.

It's a total pain in the ass. My sympathies.

The Invisible Man 

Racket, what are your favorite businesses? Honest question. 

 

I like Safeway and Trader Joe's. 

People are moving to Cali!? I thought they were leaving in droves. 

 

 

C, your original post indicated that the authorization can be provided by a ... peace officer who has been properly trained to perform vehicle verifications...

about 7 or 8 years ago I acquired a used vehicle in NorCal which had no license plates, and I went to the closest CHP station and one of the officers there was able to provide the proper verification needed to get new plates... so maybe try calling CHP (or other law enforcement??) to see if they can do the inspection on a weekend, or before/after your work hours

just a thought

Leslies is a favorite.

 I loaded up the car and moved to Beverly

Hills that is

Even paradise has a price

Buddy had a California Airstream trailer which he brought to Oregon,  however it was Extremely difficult to get it registered in OR.

Basically it had not been registered in CA for several years.... He could not work it out in OR without paying all the back tax.

There was just no simple way to Deal with it, and he ended up scrapping the Airstream.

Yeah it would have cost Thousands of $$$ to get it legal,  no Easy fix. He had already spent many Hours remodeling the thing before realizing the legal Doom. Too bad.

Garyfish! Love your story. 

I joined AAA today because it was already on my list of things to do for my old car, the Mystery Machine.... will be able to finish up with them before the deadline. Going to order the old-school California plates, too.

Was telling my new supervisor this story -- she's really cool.  In a Zoom meeting this morning that was a training for hosting virtual events, we were talking about appropriate backgrounds when hosting online events for the public. She told someone in jest: "Hey << name>, move your bong out of the way."