Changing an out of state license and registration to CA (insurance, loan)

[salilsurendran]

Hello Friends,
I moved from NC a couple of months ago. I just now realized that I had to change my licence and registration within an impossible gap of 20 days since moving. I had the following questions:

1. My car is of year 2008. Will I need a smog test?
2. What are the documents I need to register my car in CA. I have the registration, proof of insurance and my old driver's license. Don't have the title since it is held by the bank?
3. What are the penalties for registering outside the 20 day limit?

[jaijai]

Is it really only 20 days?
Are you sure about that?
I thought it was like 6 months.
I'm 99.9% sure that you have to get that title even if it's held by the bank (i don't know what that means but you need the title or proof of it).
And yeah, it doesn't matter what year your car is.
It needs to be smogged now and then every 3 years (i think it's 3 - i never can remember ... duh ).
I don't know about fines but it'll be more than you want to pay.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by jaijai

Is it really only 20 days?
Are you sure about that?
I thought it was like 6 months.
I'm 99.9% sure that you have to get that title even if it's held by the bank (i don't know what that means but you need the title or proof of it).
And yeah, it doesn't matter what year your car is.
It needs to be smogged now and then every 3 years (i think it's 3 - i never can remember ... duh ).
I don't know about fines but it'll be more than you want to pay.

I just moved here from the Southeast myself and underwent the whole DMV process.

It is only 20 days.

The driver will need to have an official title from NC. He needs to contact the NC DMV to have one mailed to his new address.

Smog check definitely mandatory. It's actually every two years for cars older than six years of ago. Six and fewer years are subject to an annual smog abatement fee, sometimes pretty hefty depending on the value of the car, to the DMV.

Be prepared to take a written test, 35 questions total, in order to obtain your driver's license. You have to get 28 correct to pass. If you don't pass (which you probably will, the test isn't that hard, but you can download the driver's manual from the DMV website if you want to study), you'll have two more chances at different times.

Lastly, go on to the CA DMV's website and sign up for an appointment. You'll be glad you did.

[cb73]

EDITED: The above two posts notwithstanding, the title is NOT required. It's called "Goldenrod" registration. Also the smog abatement fee is $8.

In order to register your vehicle in California, you'll need to turn in your registration card and fill out an application for registration. The title is NOT needed. You'll basically get a "registration only" in California until the loan is paid off. Make sure you have the correct spelling and address for your legal owner as legal owners get fussy about that.

No smog is due for vehicles less than 5 years old.

Penalties of 40% of the VLF are due for late applications. They will ask when the vehicle arrived in California.

The vehicle will need to be verified--this is free, and done at the DMV office.

There's a fee calculator at the DMV web site www.dmv.ca.gov that you can use to estimate your fees.

Make an appointment at 800-777-0133 for fastest service. You can also check on the website for your closest office and if you click on that office, it will tell you the current wait times for appointment and non-appointment.

[gone down south]

I registered our car about 4 months late (oops!) and they didn't bat an eyelash.
Also, the old tags had expired, and again no grief at all. Smog test, checked the registration, quick visual inspection, and we were out in a couple hours.

[salilsurendran]

What is vlf?

[radiojunkie2006]

VLF = Vehicle License Fee

[Sealtite]

I did mine at AAA. I didn't pay much attention, and let them handle it. The registration fee for my pickup was outrageous though. The smog test is nothing more than a standard emissions test. They do not have inspections on top of the emissions testing here like they did in PA. I got my CA plates, but I still haven't switched my license over. Still got my old PA one. Whatever.

[salilsurendran]

How much usually is the VLF? @Sealtite How much did you have to pay for registration? Why was it more expensive than usual?

[jaijai]

Oh yeah.
That reminds me ... i used AAA this summer to take care of everything. (i had a few issues).
It was so easy .... 1 person in front of me and i hardly had to wait at all and they were very friendly and alive (unlike the dmv folks , bless their hearts)