CA registration

[nic]

Hello
my Morris (1971 8 LCV van ) is on the way here & will arrive in Long Beach next month..
Seems that there are newer laws that will come into play with registeration
here in
California.( not DMV & Somg, but Air Resources Board)
Has anyone registered a vehicle with manufacture dates 1968 -1972 in Ca within
the last
18 months that did not have a title from another US state?
Please let me know your experiences. Also any other sites where I could also
post this
question.
Thanks,
Nic
nbarile@yahoo.com

 

[Basil]

Moving to "Other British Cars".

 

[mikeyr]

Brought in a 1934 Singer that had been imported into the U.S. about 15 years ago but had never been registered, person I purchased the car from could not even tell me what state the car had entered the U.S. in, no papers whatsoever. CA DMV needed to verify serial number on the car (easy, once I knew what they wanted, I had to tell them what the serial number was to begin with, but they wanted something besides the screwed aluminium plate on the firewall, they claim it had to be stamped on the frame somewhere, so I stamped it where they could see it and made it look "original") All I had was a handwritten bill of sale from the seller, I was pretty scared but it was all done very quickly at the DMV. Teller explained that since the car was not in the computer, it was a new car to the system and easy to create. Of course that is not 1968-1972, but since that is smog exempt I would think same rules apply. Bill of sale is all you need.

 

[Ken G]

When I imported my 1925 Rover from England to California, it was not quite as simple as that. First of all, you cannot register the car without insurance, the insurance company will not ensure without evidence of value (which the DMV needs too, but for their purposes the bill of sale is probably adequate), and if you want an agreed value for insurance purposes, they insist on an appraisal. Then as you say, the DMV people wanted to see the VIN (which of course didn't exist on a 1925 car) and the odometer reading even though the odometer only goes up to 9999 so it had been round an unknown number of times. They wouldn't take my word for these things but insisted on seeing for themselves, so in fear and trembling since I hadn't learned to drive it yet, I took it to the DMV (with an appointment, which meant waiting only an hour). Then they lost the papers, and it took nine months, during which time the engine died so I couldn't take it to the DMV again to re-confirm the serial number and odometer reading. Ultimately I sent them a short and sweet (well, sour, actually) letter with photographs of the serial number plate and odometer, and about four weeks later, with no comment, the pink slip and registration arrived, just about in time to renew for the next year.

Where are you with your Singer? I would love to see it. In this country at least, that is probably just about as rare as my Rover.

Ken G, 1925 Rover 16/50 (San Francisco)

 

[als]

I'm pondering purchasing an 1949 LBC from England and shipping over to the West Coast. Would you be willing to tell me what shipping company you used and what the cost was? You can send me a private message if that would suit you better.

Thanks
Al

 

[kennypinkerton]

I agree - we want some pictures. And I hope yuo've been able to jump the DMV's hurdles.

 

[tdskip]

The DMV web site has lots of good info, and if you call a regional center (aka one that isn't too busy) you can usually get good advice over the phone.

CA DMV is actualy easy to deal with, especially compared to the East Coast.

Good luck!

 

[mikeyr]

[ QUOTE ]
When I imported my 1925 Rover from England to California, it was not quite as simple as that. First of all, you cannot register the car without insurance, the insurance company will not ensure without evidence of value


[/ QUOTE ]
Wow that was a lot of work, perhaps in my case it was simpler since the car did not run and would not run for several years, that was easily seen in the sad shape it was in, several members in the club actually tried to talk me out of the purchase as they viewed the car as a parts car only. Since I was titling only, I did not have to have insurance and 3 years later I just walked into the DMV and registered it, it was easy. Sorry to hear about the troubles you having.
[ QUOTE ]

Where are you with your Singer? I would love to see it. In this country at least, that is probably just about as rare as my Rover.

Ken G, 1925 Rover 16/50 (San Francisco)

[/ QUOTE ]
I am in Santa Barbara and yes, they are very rare. My 53 Singer is almost common in comparison to my 34's, one of my 34's is the only one known in the U.S. and there are a dozen of the other 34 in the U.S. and Canada. I am right off the 101, barely a mile from the on/off ramps, stop and visit.

Sorry, I took so long to reply, I was on vacation and also frustrated with the slowness of this server so I did not check as often as I should have. A LOT better now.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

You have been given good advice by the previous posts...but be aware that they will be after your log book. Do not give it to the DMV! You will, or should have been given a perminent export paper with the car at the time of sale. To make shipment easy, I hope that you have a broker? Do not even take the log book with you to the DMV! The last one took me 2 1/2 hours. PM me if you require further info.
Cheers, David. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thirsty.gif

 

[Ken G]

Als,

I'm sorry. I don't think I responded (I was away for a week) and your profile doesn't contain an email address. My 1925 Rover was shipped by Exel, see below, who ship fragile racing cars round the world. The service was excellent. That was of course more than four years ago, so this information may be out of date.

Ken G, 1925 Rover 16/50 (San Francisco)

Bob Brewster
Sales Executive - Motorsport Division
Exel Freight Management U.K.
Tel: 44 1753-287600
Fax: 44 1753-687396
e-mail: bob.brewster@exel.com
Website: www.exel.com
Unit 8, Newlands Drive
Poyle, Colnbrook
Slough, Berks.
SL3 0DX, England