Selling an out-of-state car in CA (insurance, transfer, buyer) - California - City-Data Forum

MegHall · 07-31-2009, 01:42 PM

I'm going to be selling my car in the next few weeks and was curious about the regulations in CA. I've looked at the DMV website but haven't been able to find any information.

My car currently has KY plates and a KY title. Will I need to transfer my registration and title to CA before I sell it? I know in other states you only need a drivers license from the state you are selling it in, but CA seems to have so many more rules than other states. Does anyone know how to go about doing this?

JTGJR · 07-31-2009, 02:13 PM

I can't say with 100% certainty, but I believe you only sign over the title. It is up to the person who buys it to register it under their name. They would be the ones who have the ying-yang to register it within the DMV timeline.

Latchkey Kid · 07-31-2009, 04:29 PM

By any chance to you belong to AAA? That might a good place to go for answers.

ferretkona · 07-31-2009, 04:37 PM

I bought a Jeep here, it was from Chicago.
I had to pay the registration current and pay transfer fees. It actually was cheaper than a local car as I only had to pay a single year of registration even thou it was 6 years behind. CA has a non-op program as Chicago does not.
As a seller you will need to legally smog it before or during transfer, at your cost.

LABornandRaised · 07-31-2009, 04:58 PM

My partner sold his car that had Iowa plates on it here in CA. The buyer will be the one stuck with the registration and smog check fees. Nothing else you need to do as the seller other than sign over the pink slip and collect the dough.

Boompa · 07-31-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MegHall

I'm going to be selling my car in the next few weeks and was curious about the regulations in CA. I've looked at the DMV website but haven't been able to find any information.

My car currently has KY plates and a KY title. Will I need to transfer my registration and title to CA before I sell it? I know in other states you only need a drivers license from the state you are selling it in, but CA seems to have so many more rules than other states. Does anyone know how to go about doing this?

Plates, Reg, insurance and title, you may need to smog it. Best deal is rush down and trade it in now as a Clunker get the money and leave the problems to the dealer.

SOON2BNSURPRISE · 08-01-2009, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boompa

Plates, Reg, insurance and title, you may need to smog it. Best deal is rush down and trade it in now as a Clunker get the money and leave the problems to the dealer.

Good luck with that. As long as the car fits the rules on what a clunker is. Seems that many cars the government thinks are clunkers you could get more for by selling to a privare party. Also unless that car gets less than 18 miles per gallon you are out of luck. I just see the entire thing as a joke. We have one car that would qualify and I could sell it for more than they are offering.

ferretkona · 08-02-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LABornandRaised

My partner sold his car that had Iowa plates on it here in CA. The buyer will be the one stuck with the registration and smog check fees. Nothing else you need to do as the seller other than sign over the pink slip and collect the dough.

By CA law the seller is responsible for smogging the car, you of course can pass on the price of smogging to the buyer - you just add it to the price.

My brother stole our dads truck and sold it for crack. The buyer had it smogged and returned with the bill which had to be reimbursed. Quite expensive as dear old dad had removed all smog off the truck. You can fight it, but the law is written.

It is funny to read the auto ads for northern CA. They will state a price then say "plus ad fees and smog". Here in So CA you just add it to your price and don't bring it up again.

MegHall · 08-03-2009, 11:43 AM

Thanks, everyone! How current does the smog test have to be? I had one done when I first moved here (last fall) and still have all the paperwork on it. I doubt my car would qualify for the CforC program. It's old, but in very good shape.

ferretkona · 08-03-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MegHall

Thanks, everyone! How current does the smog test have to be? I had one done when I first moved here (last fall) and still have all the paperwork on it. I doubt my car would qualify for the CforC program. It's old, but in very good shape.

You would have to check with the DMV or auto club, but I understand the smog is only good for 90 days or 120 days.

I understand the cash for clunkers is good as long as the car is registered in your name and running. You get $4500 toward trade in on a new auto and add any current rebates or deals. Not a bad deal if you are in the market for a new car. And you do not need a smog report!