Any help appreciated! Shipping NY Car to SF (San Francisco, San Mateo: insurance, how much)

[walnut2505]

Hi all,

I'm planning on shipping a car from NY to SF. My issue is that the car is currently registered under my parents' business in NY. I made an appointment at the DMV, but want to get all of the paperwork together before heading over there in order to make everything go as smoothly as possible. Does anybody know anything about title transfers, etc., or perhaps a website with helpful contact info? (I called the DMV and was on hold for 30 minutes, before they told me they would call me back - still waiting to hear).

Thanks!

[Bulldogdad]

Cal DMV has a web site. You can get all the forms you need there.

[webzu]

Hey Walnut,

I shipped my car from Minnesota to SF in October. I used this company and they were awesome:

reindeer // real.personal.service.

We relocated here because of my wife's job so they paid so I don't know how much they charge but they did a great job.

As to the transfer. The DMV process sucked so be prepared to spend time on it. I recommend going to the DMV in San Mateo. Time stands still even worse at the San Francisco DMV.

You can make an appointment online at the DMV website so that save you some time.

You first need to get your car "smog" checked. There are a lot of places to do this at. I went to this place:

Clean Air Smog Check Test Only Center - SOMA - San Francisco, CA

Mention Yelp and you get $20 off. I paid around $40 for the smog test. Once you get your certificate then you can finish the transfer process.

You need to "verify" car which just means a DMV person checks your VIN, etc. Then you hand in the paperwork (the main form, the smog test car passed certification, and the vehicle verification). That cost was a little over $300. And I walked out with my CA plates and tags.

Make sure you bring two forms of ID to the DMV. Just your driver's license won't cut it. So I brought my passport.

And you'll also need proof of insurance. I missed this and no one at the DMV told me so about a month later I got a letter saying my registration would be suspended. I sent them the proof and all was well.

The process is a bit of a pain but DMV stuff usually is. For the drivers license I didn't have to take the driving exam with my MN drivers license just the written exam. Took them about 2 months to mail me my CA drivers license! Slow going on the front.