• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

MGC VIN Verification in California

Share this page

69MGC

69MGC

Jedi Trainee
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Has anyone else gone through the DMV hoops to get an out of state purchase VIN verified?

I've heard conflicting statements about which Peace Officers branches are accepted as verifiers of VINs. One says CHP only, another is any Police agency, and another is Auto Clubs like AAA can have a trained verification person.

The DMV official statement on their site says CHP, Police, Auto Club or valid verification company. But I've heard stories of guys getting the police to verify and then taking the verification to the DMV and they reject it because it's not the CHP.

What's your thoughts?

Kev
69MGC
 
If it's driveable,take it to DMV,or any CHP office.
I take mine to DMV at the time of transfer.
 
Typical Cali crap. Trailer it to the DMV...do not drive it. Get you insurance in order pay your ransom and be done.
DO NOT leave any documents with them. If you have a problem, speak to a supervisor.
They are not your friend.
 
AAA can do it along with the registration. Other companies also do it. For my GT I had to have a service come out to my house to do the vin verification as it was no where near legal for the street. Plus no plates, registration from the early 80's and no title.

Once I had the vin inspected went to AAA gave them the inspection doc along with a bill of sale and statement of facts and had the car registered/plated that day and new title in mail a few weeks later.

California is one of the easier States to deal with especially if you don't have a title. AAA doesn't charge anything for the service if you're a member. No point in going to the dmv where you're going to wait even with an appointment and they are going to look to maximize issues/revenue.
 
I've always used AAA; the last time I registered and out-of-state car, the AAA person who did the registration was able to do the verification.

In my experience, the CA DMV has always done well by me. But I do know that the rules are fluid, and the person behind the counter will often be quite helpful if you are courteous and businesslike. If you come in with a chip on your shoulder, though, as many people do, the experience can be very different.
 
Back
Top