Help with Registration in California

[Dale M.]

Interesting, you are the only one that agreed with DMV that I need to go to the CHP. Still not sure what the CHP is going to look at or tell me.

The CHP inspection is to see that there is no existing VIN on trailer..... When doing my last frame "new drone" wanted me to go to CHP, my reaction was "why" mature drone next to her said it was not necessary and asked new drone if it was her first time to do a special construction trailer, and her answer was yes, mature drone slid my paper work over to her window and said I'll take care of it..... No visit to CHP...

CHP inspection is to verify existing VIN and to Issues a VIN if it is a previously recognized vehicle, if you are trying to register a recognizable CAR like a 36 Ford (at some point in its life had a VIN), they will validate its a 36 Ford and issues a VIN for your 36 Ford you take back to DMV, but a NEW trailer is just that, it is a "no name" and never had a VIN so DMV issues its first VIN (sort of a gray area here)...

Not all DMV offices are the same and not all drones are knowledgeable..... IF it gets really bad, find "state authorized " Licencing Agent... These people mostly do work for commercial operations like fleet owners and are much more knowledgeable than DMV (surprise-surprise) BUT there will be higher fees in getting a VIN issued.....

Agents like AAA can not help you here as they can only do a clean title transfer or a renewal....

Be careful and do not volunteer to much information to droned as it confuses them, but his can also be your bible as well as theirs...

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detai ... ctop/vc/vc

Dale

[Socal Tom]

I made an appt. Pulled it down to the appointment. I had to fill out some forms about the estimated costs/value. A guy came out and looked at it, put a VIN sticker on the tongue and I paid, got my plates and left. I put down the weight at 1000lbs, and it seemed reasonable so they took it. I think I put the value at $2500, which seemed reasonable so they took my word for it.
Tom

[dustboy]

Just wanted to throw in do not ever go to the DMV in Los Gatos to register a trailer.

Ha! But if you rolled in with a million dollar exotic car, they would have you registered in 10 minutes. Amiright?

[deleted]

Just wanted to throw in do not ever go to the DMV in Los Gatos to register a trailer.

Ha! But if you rolled in with a million dollar exotic car, they would have you registered in 10 minutes. Amiright?

LOL dustboy, possibly

Part of the problem was actually they couldn't wrap their heads around the trailer value and the trailer size. That's what led to a lot of the confusion. They tried to insist it should be a registered as an RV because of the value even though it didn't meet any of the requirements of what their website said constitutes an RV. If I'd come in with a utility or camping trailer and said it was worth $500 they probably wouldn't have made things so difficult. I had to work with two different agents and finally a manager to not be classified as an RV.

[Hennesseystealth]

Well, the DMV in Tracy, CA couldn't have been a more efficient operation if they tried. Got there 2 minutes before opening and stood in line with about 50 other poeple. Two employees came out and went through the line asking people what they needed done. They got to me and I told them my story and they said drive around to the inspection lane and start there.

I was first in line and the lady doing the work knew it was a camp trailer and qualified for PTI. Asked for a weight estimate and made a couple of measurements. 20 minutes later a VIN sticker was on my camper. Next, since I didn't have an appointment, I stood in line to verify my paperwork was in order and get on the waiting list. That process was about 20 minutes. The waiting was about 30 minutes. The longest part of the process was the registration as the lady looked at every single receipt to make sure I had paid CA sales tax. She found 2 that didn't and just added $4 to my bill. I was out the door with a shiny new perm plate from start to finish in 1:45. Not a single issue or problem.

Thanks for the discussion, as it had me ready for all the possible twists and turns.