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Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:09 pm

help

please

how to register a diesel vanagon in CA with no title.

thanks

al

Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:19 pm

Greatest thread title ever 8)

You could try the instructions here:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr14.htm

Why not just head to the local DMV and ask?

Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:35 pm

Very funny indeed. Might wanna change it though, or you'll just get the most curious of us !
As for the question asked, I have no idea, I live in Quebec. Good luck, anyway !

Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:47 pm

I knew exactly what the title said :) Hopefully you are not shiat up a well. Did you buy it without a title? Then you may not own it, could be liens, all kinds of scenarios. You don't give much detail but I'd say you'll have to handle it with authorities. Did you look up the VIN? Is it an original diesel or a conversion? What details. You'll need to be able to answer all questions asked of you. Good luck but I leave you with why would you buy a vehicle without a Title (we say ownership here) to begin with? Do you have a bill of sale?

Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:26 pm

Check out Nevada or Vermont.. .both very lack on registration to at least get a plate on it. I would also CALL dmv and ask a lot of questions. At the very least be sure you have bill of sale notarized and go ahead and try to get inspection so you are in the system. i live in NC which is fairly strict, i am sure CA is more so.

my experience is from motorcycles but what i can share is be prepared for a long hard fight...but know there is a way.

Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:52 pm

:bay_blue: Here in AZ. you would go to your insurance agent, place a bond take that and paper work you got at DMV fill it out take it all back to DMV and will have a title in 30 days or less. That is if it is not stolen! :D

Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:57 pm

Not sure in California, but in Washington you can get a three year registration only sans title. So long as that car is not reported stolen in three years the title is yours. Another option is international title service. I have used them for many motorcycles. They register the vehicle in a state that has looser regulations, then transfer title back to you.

Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:22 pm

Moderator note:

PLEASE NO *ILLEGAL* SUGGESTIONS.

I do not want to have to keep editing.

If it gets out of hand you know what will happen......

Tue May 01, 2012 3:40 am

In the motorcycle world it's common to get a bike without a title. In fact I have one, for that matter my van and one of my cars lacks one. In Maine the DMV says " that's nice, but you don't need that" when you present one for a vehicle over 20yrs old or so.
Unfortunately in selling I will probably have to get what's called a warranty title to provide the seller. That is a whole other process.
Many folks who want to register in CA, but can't due to no title, excessive fees, smog, etc etc. use VT as an alternative. There is no residency req, it IS legal as long as you leave the state once in a while and don't use it exclusively in CA

Tue May 01, 2012 3:43 am

Another alternative is to get a Michigan residency. I think it's Michigan. Many full time RVers pay a service to get a an address in a state that has cheap insurance rates and other benefits. If you are a resident there would be no need to meet CA req.

Tue May 01, 2012 5:57 am

The first post has the information you need for CA. Unless you know it's stolen or some such, I don't know why you'd go out of state to register it. I've bought a number of cars without titles. I always make sure I get a signed bill of sale from the seller so there's a record of where I got it, and I include that to the best of their knowledge they own the vehicle. I only take that risk if I can get the car CHEAP and it has a reasonable back story... 'cause with no title you can get burned.

In Utah you fill out an application for title. If the car was last registered in Utah it's not too big a hassle, but I bought one that came from MI. and another from WY. In those cases the state DMV waits for the out of state DMV to clear the vehicle. Utah issues a 30 day temporary permit, and in one case I went through 3 of those before I got clear title and plates. It didn't cost any extra, but I had to go in once a month to get my new temp. sticker.

My favorite VW Bug was a '62 that a friend bought from a trailer park in Wyoming where it had been abandoned. He paid $1 and was going to strip it for parts. I went with him to pick it up and drove it from Evanston to Salt Lake (about 100 mls). Other than a bad tie rod end the thing ran and drove perfectly. The body was straight and rust free. I gave him $50 for it, went through the hassle of getting the WY. cops to certify to the state DMV it was clean, pulled a tie rod end from a '63 parts Bus I had, and then drove it for several years. It was well worth the couple of months it took to get clear title. I've often regretted selling that car.

Paul

Tue May 01, 2012 7:16 am

Its called a lien sale... Do your reading and go for it.
You will be asked to pay back fees and taxes due in CA.

That can make an untitled, unregistered vehicle prohibitively expensive to put back on the road.
Other than that, follow the directions in the link above.

Its not difficult.. just a hair of risk if someone else claims ownership and has the proper documentation.

Tue May 01, 2012 8:30 am

j_dirge wrote: Its called a lien sale... Do your reading and go for it.
You will be asked to pay back fees and taxes due in CA.

That can make an untitled, unregistered vehicle prohibitively expensive to put back on the road.

This is exactly why many CA motorcyclists do the out of state registration thing. it's kind of a scam that CA makes you pay a prior owners fees.

Tue May 01, 2012 8:59 am

The Raven wrote: j_dirge wrote: Its called a lien sale... Do your reading and go for it.
You will be asked to pay back fees and taxes due in CA.

That can make an untitled, unregistered vehicle prohibitively expensive to put back on the road.

This is exactly why many CA motorcyclists do the out of state registration thing. it's kind of a scam that CA makes you pay a prior owners fees.
Its only a scam if you think you are entitled to free use of infrastructure. You know the stuff.. :wink: Its what was payed for by all those who willingly pay thier fair share.

What IS a scam is people who leave cars parked to avoid paying fees.. only to think they can just re-up when they feel like it.

The DMV has no way of knowing WHO has been sitting on the vehicle, whilst avoiding paying fees, etc. It could have been the so-called prospective buyer. How do you prove it was not you?

There's no free lunch, mi amigo.

And BTW.. it is illegal to run an out-of-state registration beyond a given period of time within the state of California.
Not only is it punishable by fine, you open yourself up to the fine print clauses in some/many insurance coverages.

I pay something like $40/yr in taxes on my van.. another $40 in fees.
The first 40 is tax deductable.. Whats that 1.5 tanks of gas?
Frankly, if you can't pay that, maybe one should avoid this state and all the miles of phenom HWY and byways we have.

However, in a lein sale situation, a prospective buyer/owner needs to find all liens on the real property. It may not be just back fees and taxes.
Somewhere in the history of that vehicle may be a bill collector or a disgruntled ex-spouse looking for unpaid child support.

Tue May 01, 2012 9:03 am

You gotta pay to play :!:

Tue May 01, 2012 9:10 am

FYI, since so many have exploited the great State of VT with this, you now need a permanant residence and VT drivers linsense to do so.

Thanks Guys. :roll:

Luckily I own property there.

Please do not try this in Vermont any longer :!:

Tue May 01, 2012 10:52 am

dirge!!

whats fair in paying taxes?

If i go to DMV with my pants down

first they will ask for smog even on an out of state truck

then i have to convince them that it has a diesel engine

then i have to swear in two languages,CA that it is not stolen.

then i have to pay the exorbitant taxes or fees if you like.

i was trying to get some expert advice before dropping my pants.

thanks for your help al

Tue May 01, 2012 11:28 am

Your choice to play games for no gain.. or buy the van you want. Its that simple.

Now.. use the situation to your advantage. Find out how much in back fees are owed. A call to DMV with the license plate no. will get you that info. Subtract that from asking price.
VIN is handy to have wrt "stolen".. call it into local police.

It can not be more "fair" than that.
Do the homework.

The seller had the opportunity to do just that.. someone pays, either way.
The fact that the seller has not made the vehicle current points to other problems. Find out what they are.. or offer less and assume associated risk.

Thats just business... and not a bad deal for some peace of mind.

Registering a factory diesel in CA is a no brainer. Do a search.

Don't like the red tape? Walk away. Plenty of other vehicles to choose from.

Tue May 01, 2012 11:32 am

You want something for nothing and potentially nothing but a felony may be what you get. I'd walk. Smelly situation.

Tue May 01, 2012 1:43 pm

j_dirge wrote: The Raven wrote: j_dirge wrote: Its called a lien sale... Do your reading and go for it.
You will be asked to pay back fees and taxes due in CA.

That can make an untitled, unregistered vehicle prohibitively expensive to put back on the road.

This is exactly why many CA motorcyclists do the out of state registration thing. it's kind of a scam that CA makes you pay a prior owners fees.
Its only a scam if you think you are entitled to free use of infrastructure. You know the stuff.. :wink: Its what was payed for by all those who willingly pay thier fair share.

What IS a scam is people who leave cars parked to avoid paying fees.. only to think they can just re-up when they feel like it.

The DMV has no way of knowing WHO has been sitting on the vehicle, whilst avoiding paying fees, etc. It could have been the so-called prospective buyer. How do you prove it was not you?

There's no free lunch, mi amigo.

Seems CA is the only state I've ever heard of that you still need to pay for the infrastructure even if you don't use the car. That to me is a scam. Thats like telling me I still need to pay for my neighbors electricity even if I use solar.