Update on CA: SPCN Registration

[Randy Rosenberg]

Woodz, I used TU in order to get a 1965 title for SPF, since my 460 is not smog compliant for year of block. If I had a relative/friend in a Replica Friendly state, then I could have sold him my SPF, had him title it, and then sell it back to me, and I take the out-of-state title and my check book to the CA DMV to get the title transfered into my name, while paying the taxes (let's not confuse the tax issue with the smog issue...ok). In a nutshell, that is exactly what TU did - no change in VIN, no 1965 VIN. When I sold my SPF to TU, I listed it as a 1965 Ford. What I received was a Bill of Sale (selling to me a 1965 Ford from TU) and a Registration from Alabama for a 1965 Ford - CA recognized these two documents as title from Alabama, so with these two documents I applied for a CA title (and I paid taxes on the dollar amount listed in the Bill of Sale). I'm suggesting that this process is no different than selling a vehicle to an out-of-state contact, retitling it out-of-state, and selling it back to the CA resident for CA titling.

Looks like TU may have changed their name to Broadway Title (at least the process and web pages look the same), but I could be wrong...

Here's how the process works: http://www.broadwaytitle.com/how.htm
And here's how you fill in the paperwork to make it happen: http://www.broadwaytitle.com/form.htm

They obviously state that they do not do kit cars and that the individual is responsible for all taxes, inspections, etc... but the process is same.

[rokndad]

There's one more little "caveat" for Calif registration. What you have presented will most likely get you through the DMV registration process if you have more than 7,500 mi on the transferred vehicle. If you don't, I think, and I may be all wet on this, California treats it as a new vehicle anyway and makes you go through the smog stuff. Newly minted Cobras would have a hard time getting over the minimum mileage requirement bar. You may want to ferret that out as well.

[Rick Parker]

rockindad: SPCN is the key here. In Calif there used to be what was called in "Impact Fee" for an out of state (Non Calif Smog Compiant) vehicle that was brought into California and was collected by DMV or dealers when the car was initially registered in California, 1 time fee $300 plus any and all other fees required to license the vehicle. This was repealled several years ago and the monies were refunded to the people who had paid, but it was in force for several years. For years California had its own set of rules for accepted emission output levels for Production vehicles (Chevy, Dodge,Ford etc), 49 State emissions and then California emission systems.
At one point people were buying cars out of state (Oregon, Nevada, Arizona) without paying for the California Emissions systems that were required on the cars sold by the dealers within the state, bringing them in and licensing them. It was a loophole that was closed when it became a requirement to have 7500 miles on a production car/truck before it could be registered here, there is no flexability in this whatsoever.
In 2001 the New Car Dealer I was employed by received 3 new Domestic High Line Vehicles that did not have Calif emissions on them. They were shipped as part of an allocation and we did not realize they lacked the required emission systems, they were shipped in error. We sold one and did not realize the error until about 6 weeks later. Apparently there was some sort of "Checks & Balances" in place because it was my understanding the registration application was bounced by DMV because the car did not have Calif Emissions. We ended up replacing the vehicle for the customer and sold the original car as used to to a Dealer in Oregon. It was an expensive lesson.

[RodKnock]

xlr8or, 20/20 hindsight. We were close though.

Hopefully, on January 2nd, I'll have this feeling... and it won't matter anymore.