Buying a old car not in the dmv system

[cb73]

Originally Posted by Christinaevans81

I have recently brought a 1957 chevy ,the person I brought from says it's not in his name ,and it's not in the dmv records anymore .how would I go about getting registrated ,there is no plates as well ,but has a vin number .what would be the steps to getting registrated and would you happen to know the fees

Did the person sign over the title to you? What titling documents do you have?

Assuming you have a properly endorsed title, you would need to have the vehicle verified at the DMV, pay the fees due from the date of sale and the Use Tax and that's it. The fees due would be based on the purchase price. You can go to the DMV website and use the "bringing in a vehicle from out of state" calculator to get a rough estimate--just use your purchase date as the date you brought it in.

Also--just in case--Google the VIN. A surprising number of vehicles are starting to come up on Google as they pass through various online sales sites and you might find an out of state record. Wouldn't hurt to try.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

We bought a boat from FL. The trailer came up as stolen and we got put through the ringer by CHP. It took a day to give them information and they took the trailer. It turns out a FL mixup. Trailer was registered as salvage and they never updated it once it was put back into the system. What a mess.

Nothing like getting treated like a criminal for a DMV mixup. We had to get another trailer until they figured this all out.

[latter]

I have a car I sold 5 years ago and they said they could not register it. I found it still in my name 4 months later after the sale and release was dropped off at dmv. the buyers say it just sat on the side of a barn because they could not register it. how long before it drops off the system?

[Ultrarunner]

All depends... an inquiry or ticket will put it right back in.

Vehicles never really go away... they just drop off the computer.

I've had to request archive searches to get tag for vehicles I own and in my name... at one time, all a person need do was park a car with no worries of fees or penalties... this was before Planned Non OP...

I have an old Mustang Convertible I bought in college... kept it in the barn 25 years and DMV was able to find my paper file...

One thing in California... the car always stays in your name unless the paperwork for destruction is filed... OR... another party puts the vehicle in their name... at least this is what I was told.

[cb73]

Originally Posted by latter

I have a car I sold 5 years ago and they said they could not register it. I found it still in my name 4 months later after the sale and release was dropped off at dmv. the buyers say it just sat on the side of a barn because they could not register it. how long before it drops off the system?

Normally it's around 5 years, but if there is a pending transaction--such as if they started a transfer application and never finished it--it can literally stay there for years.

I'd suggest calling DMV to see what the current status is. And no, just bringing up the vehicle record for an inquiry doesn't count towards keeping it in the system.

[Mars Lynch]

Ok so you found an old car and its not in the system: It has not been registered in many years. Make sure the vin is good by checking it with CHP. Then if you have an old title make sure you can tow the car or drive the car to the DMV to have the vin verified-you will need to get a permit for this to do it legally. There is one other way, have a certified vin company look at the vin and create a document accepted by the DMV. Cost 75-150 and is worth it to not have to go to the DMV twice.
List of stuff to make one trip to the DMV.

1-Make an appointment or go 30min before closing-its amazing how a spring in their step occurs at that time of day and you will get in and out in record time!!!

2-Title and a bill of sale document stating amount paid, prior owner and place/address the car has been stored for the period of time it has been off the road. The vin document certification

3-Any old license plates you have for the car

4-Money

5-A good attitude

[bigLarry]

The requirements for registering a vehicle that has not been registered within the four-year file record of the Department of Motor Vehicles are:
A California Certificate of Title (Pink Slip), if available or
A Completed Application for Title or Registration ([URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/forms/reg/reg343"]REG 343[/URL]).
The expired California Registration Card, if available and an Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title ([URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/forms/reg/reg227"]REG 227[/URL]), or
A copy of an expired California Registration Card for the vehicle and a Statement of Facts ([URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/forms/reg/reg256"]REG 256[/URL]) completed by the applicant stating how, when, and from whom the vehicle was acquired, what effort was made to contact the last owner to obtain evidence of ownership and why it was unobtainable, and the current value of the vehicle.
A Certificate of Non-Operation ([URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/forms/reg/reg102"]REG 102[/URL]).
An [URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/reg/odometer"]Odometer Disclosure Statement[/URL] (REG 262).
A vehicle verification by an authorized DMV employee. Bring your vehicle to a [URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/fo/offices/toc_fo"]DMV office[/URL] for verification.
A [URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/vr_info#BM2534"]weight certificate[/URL] from a California Certified Public Weighmaster, if it is a commercial vehicle weighing less than 10,001 pounds unladen. If the vehicle is operated over 10,000 pounds GVW or is a PTI trailer, the estimated weight may be shown on a Statement of Facts ([URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/forms/reg/reg256"]REG 256[/URL]).
A Declaration of Gross Vehicle Weight/Combined Gross Vehicle Weight ([URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/forms/reg/reg4008"]REG 4008[/URL]) for a commercial vehicle over 6,001 pounds unladen, except pickups.
A [URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/smogfaq#BM2535"]Smog certification[/URL], is required for all 1976 year model and newer vehicles except diesel-powered vehicles manufactured prior to 1998 or with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) of more than 14,000 lbs.
Any license plates on the vehicle.
[URL="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/fees/reg_fees"]Registration fees[/URL]
So It's four years, The girl at D.M.V said thats why there are only 5 different colored year stickers #5 starts anew