MGB Buying a MGB from California???

[mk2sprite]

Sorry to have to ask this here but Ca DMV is closed fridays.
Does anyone know if I were to purchase a MG that is Titled in Ca and then register it in another state, New York, is there any charges or back fees I should be aware of? Clear title. older '60's year. I just worry as Calif DMV can be funny.
Thanks

 

[Deleted member 8987]

If I recall (born and raised), they did get really funny a number of years ago......you leave a car sit for decades, to re-register it, they want every year's registration paid that it was laying fallow.....or at least they did.

The only way out of that conundrum was to take the car out of state.
That cleared the slate, so to speak.

Then, later, you could bring it back, no problems.

That's just my recollection.

 

[mk2sprite]

That is what I would figure. As long as you register it in another state, especially a new owner, it should be ok. It would be almost crazy to think they would try to collect back dues from a new owner.....but it's Calie.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Steve_S]

No fee that I'm aware of for removing a car from a state. The fees will only be charged by the state you are registering it in. You may want to inquire at your local DMV whether or not it will be a problem that the car is so far behind in its dues. It may turn out to be easier if you get it up to date before importing to your state.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

There are some states that have interesting laws.

I know a guy, ParaMedic and dispatch, moved from Connecticut to Nath Carolinah, turned in his plates as you would think was normal, everything fine, until he tried to renew his NC driver's license in NC.

Seems unless you personally returned the plates and registration to Connecticut, they put a national hold on your driver's license until you paid their "fees".

Gawd, I am so glad I only spent a year in Connecticut....

 

[tony barnhill]

I've bought cars from all over & the only thing I've had problems with is making sure the car was properly in the seller's name based on his state's rules....after that everything was based on Alabama's rules for me to title it.

One thing I always do is get a title & bill of sale & on the bill of sale have a statement that the car has been off the road for X number of years when I bought it.

 

[AngliaGT]

I picked up a Spitfire.The owner was moving & was going
to take it to the wrecking yard if it didn't sell.He gave to
me for $1 (if you pay even a dollar,your fees are as cheap as
they're going to get).There were back fees on the car (about-
$250).
Anyway,I gave the car to another Forum member (eejay)in
Oregon.He told me he didn't have to pay any back fees on it.
He got it for his Son.I figured out he had about $250 into it,
including my expenses to haul it up there.
I would go ahead & get it - just make sure you have at
least the rear license plate (the one with the month/year
stickers),title,registration & ID tag.

- Doug

 

[davester]

I live in California and you can probably register it as a "nonoperational vehicle" for the period in question. All they need is your signature on a form that says it hasn't been operational for whatever period is of concern. The nonop fee is pretty minimal. My GT was nonop for about 10 years and it was very simple to turn it back to operational status and register it for road use.

 

[AngliaGT]

I believe that it's still $10,& it covers the car until
it's reregistered for the street.

- Doug

 

[Steve_S]

You have to pay the non-op fee each year, but at least it's cheap.

 

[69MGC]

I have two cars on non-op status right now. I believe it cost me $17 each for non-op status and I don't have to pay each year for non-op status.

 

[Steve_S]

That's odd, I have to pay yearly to retain registration. I thought the rules would be the same state-wide.

 

[tdskip]

I have several registered but non-op cars and it doesn't cost anything Steve.

Sounds like something is off....

 

[Monark192]

I thought that the Planned Non Op status in California required an annual fee but I have no actual experience of that. Looking around on the DMV web site didn't reveal much information other than how to file the PNO initially. (see here ). It does say that personalized plates require an annual fee to maintain your right to them.

 

[PC]

Maybe they've played around with the rules since, but when I went to re-register a vehicle that had been non-op for a few years the DMV said I was supposed to have paid the non-op fee every year, even though they never send you a bill as they do with normally registered vehicles.

To re-register I had to pay all the back fees and IIRC a penalty too.

Here she is a block from the DMV reminding me the alternator was a Lucas.

pc.

 

[Steve P.]

If you are buying a car here in California and moving
it to NY (where you will be registering it), there are
no fees (in California). However if you will be using
a car dolly, where the rear wheels will be on the road,
you'll need to get a moving permit. Last time I got
one of these they were only for one day and cosy $15.

DO NOT register it in CA unless you need to. One thing
I'd suggest doing is call the CA DMV. Tell them you're
considering buying a car and give them the VIN. They
will tell you over the phone if its been stolen or if there
are any back fees in the state. The latter may be important
if the NY DMV checks with CA, but I doubt it. If its
stolen, it'll be on a national data base. Expect issues.

Non-op....look at the list of cars I have below. All
but 2 are on CA's non-op program. You pay a single
fee (which has gone up A LOT lately) to get your car
registered as non-op. It stays in their computer for
at least 10 years in that status THEN...it drops out
of the computer. Not a big deal....just present the last
2 non-op notices (which are mailed out every year)
and you can register your car.

If some of you are paying non-op fees every year, read
the non-op mailing. You're screwing youself!

Steve