California registration for out of state purchase

[Gunner]

Okay, I really have a headache now.

The car might be here Thursday, meaning I'll have all the paperwork for DMV, so rather than wait for my appointment I might just show up bright and early Saturday or Monday morning. So I'm actually piling up the paperwork, only to discover that there are some huge contradictions between (1) registering a used vehicle from another state and (2) registering a specially-constructed vehicle. The latter completely assumes that I am the builder, or at least first owner, and I can't tell what DMV is going to want from me.

If I am registering a vehicle with a Massachusetts title and 5500 miles on the clock (thus obviously NOT being some half-constructed monstrosity)... how do I fill out the vehicle construction form 5036? I didn't buy the body, frame, tranny, engine etc. - so do I put down ERA for body and frame, DCE for the engine and whoever for the tranny as if I bought them myself? Or what?

The Registration form 343 also has a general inspection page - does this apply at all, or is it all waived and rolled into the mandatory CHP inspection?

Finally... If the vehicle is registered in Massachusetts, can I drive it here on that registration? If I'd moved here, I could (apparently), but as a resident buying a nonresident vehicle... am I barred from operating the vehicle at all before I have a valid CA registration and/or TOP?

I know this sounds like a repeat of questions already answered, but it's one of those cases where the actual letter of DMV form and website doesn't quite add up for this situation. Clarification from anyone who's done exactly this process would really be appreciated.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by Gunner

Okay, I really have a headache now.

The car might be here Thursday, meaning I'll have all the paperwork for DMV, so rather than wait for my appointment I might just show up bright and early Saturday or Monday morning. So I'm actually piling up the paperwork, only to discover that there are some huge contradictions between (1) registering a used vehicle from another state and (2) registering a specially-constructed vehicle. The latter completely assumes that I am the builder, or at least first owner, and I can't tell what DMV is going to want from me.

If I am registering a vehicle with a Massachusetts title and 5500 miles on the clock (thus obviously NOT being some half-constructed monstrosity)... how do I fill out the vehicle construction form 5036? I didn't buy the body, frame, tranny, engine etc. - so do I put down ERA for body and frame, DCE for the engine and whoever for the tranny as if I bought them myself? Or what?

The Registration form 343 also has a general inspection page - does this apply at all, or is it all waived and rolled into the mandatory CHP inspection?

Finally... If the vehicle is registered in Massachusetts, can I drive it here on that registration? If I'd moved here, I could (apparently), but as a resident buying a nonresident vehicle... am I barred from operating the vehicle at all before I have a valid CA registration and/or TOP?

I know this sounds like a repeat of questions already answered, but it's one of those cases where the actual letter of DMV form and website doesn't quite add up for this situation. Clarification from anyone who's done exactly this process would really be appreciated.

Since the car you are buying was previously and legally registered in another State, I do not believe you will need to complete form 5036. You will need to fill out page 1 of form 343. Page 2 will be completed by the CHP and the DMV.

Update: I missed the fact that the car only has 5,500 miles on it.

No idea whether you can drive the car on the MA registration until you get your TOP.

[decooney]

Gunner,
If you own the car now and it sounds like you do own it, and the motor truly is a Danbury motor, chances are it has a milder cam in it. They typically don't go too radical on their motor for longevity purposes.. There is a point to this, and it could be a good thing. I've done both vanilla SPCNS without SB100 for an out of state car AND another ground built SB100 Cobra along with others for myself. Also, have been through the whole corrective re-title process too, and tried making that car a vanilla SPCNS first (just to try it again) before going SB100; but it did not work that time due to a large cam but it just would not pass the idle test, but passed the 2500rpm test with flying colors; close but no cookie even with other tweaks. In any case, there is still a small chance of hope of getting the car titled to start as just a SPCNS (no SB100 yet). Its worth a try, and it gets the paperwork started before 2010, and in the system. If you want to try it, start the registration process as an out of state transfer / Special construction (SPCNS) soon, don't wait, providing all the SEPERATE receipts from the different places who provided the parts; follow me?; must be seperate. As others have indicated, it just can't be a mfg car from one place. It has to be a home constructed car, at one point of origin, not a real mfg. I hope they gave you the receipts for the parts with the car. This is key. You follow the same exact starting process of VIN/part receipt verification at CHP, then Brake/Lamp/Smog cert, and the BAR smog test. If the car is a 428 and tuned really well, you might be able to get it to pass with the right carb and tune on it. I've gotten through twice, but it was not easy. With a smaller cam, new motor, precise tuning you can squeak by on a milder 428 cam/car setup. It can be done. If you can get through the BAR smog check, just title it as SPCNS for now. Then, in January, just wait in line for your SB100 number, and they will reissue the title/reg again with the new exemption status. It may be hard to get the 30-day pass, some DMV locations/clerks are clamping down on that temporary permit now, and only issuing 1-2 day permits.

Since you have time between now and Jan, you might give this a try to get started. Did you get the parts receipts from the prior owner, or copies?

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by decooney

Gunner,
If you own the car now and it sounds like you do own it, and the motor truly is a Danbury motor, chances are it has a milder cam in it. They typically don't go too radical on their motor for longevity purposes.. There is a point to this, and it could be a good thing. I've done both vanilla SPCNS without SB100 for an out of state car AND another ground built SB100 Cobra along with others for myself. Also, have been through the whole corrective re-title process too, and tried making that car a vanilla SPCNS first (just to try it again) before going SB100; but it did not work that time due to a large cam but it just would not pass the idle test, but passed the 2500rpm test with flying colors; close but no cookie even with other tweaks. In any case, there is still a small chance of hope of getting the car titled to start as just a SPCNS (no SB100 yet). Its worth a try, and it gets the paperwork started before 2010, and in the system. If you want to try it, start the registration process as an out of state transfer / Special construction (SPCNS) soon, don't wait, providing all the SEPERATE receipts from the different places who provided the parts; follow me?; must be seperate. As others have indicated, it just can't be a mfg car from one place. It has to be a home constructed car, at one point of origin, not a real mfg. I hope they gave you the receipts for the parts with the car. This is key. You follow the same exact starting process of VIN/part receipt verification at CHP, then Brake/Lamp/Smog cert, and the BAR smog test. If the car is a 428 and tuned really well, you might be able to get it to pass with the right carb and tune on it. I've gotten through twice, but it was not easy. With a smaller cam, new motor, precise tuning you can squeak by on a milder 428 cam/car setup. It can be done. If you can get through the BAR smog check, just title it as SPCNS for now. Then, in January, just wait in line for your SB100 number, and they will reissue the title/reg again with the new exemption status. It may be hard to get the 30-day pass, some DMV locations/clerks are clamping down on that temporary permit now, and only issuing 1-2 day permits.

Since you have time between now and Jan, you might give this a try to get started. Did you get the parts receipts from the prior owner, or copies?

As far as I know, the State of CA no longer allows new SPCNS registrations based on smog. I could be wrong.

My understanding has always been that an out of state car that was legally registered could be brought into CA as a complete car and registered under SB100. The only caveat is that the car must have more than 7,500 miles on it (see this thread Daytona Coupe by Shell Valley for sale).

Gunner, you should validate this with the DMV. You may have to go back and get separate receipts and complete the statement of construction....or put some miles on the car quickly.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

As far as I know, the State of CA no longer allows new SPCNS registrations based on smog. I could be wrong.

I believe you're correct sir.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Gunner

Finally... If the vehicle is registered in Massachusetts, can I drive it here on that registration? If I'd moved here, I could (apparently), but as a resident buying a nonresident vehicle... am I barred from operating the vehicle at all before I have a valid CA registration and/or TOP?

It appears you have 20 days, if you're a CA resident.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr9.htm

Also, as for the forms, you can go to the DMV, a SB100-experienced one, and have them guide you through the forms that need filling out. Start the SB100 process immediately upon the car's arrival here in CA. Here's another morsel of info for you, if you haven't seen it already:

http://www.nckcc.com/referenceinfo.html

It appears that in your case, you would use SB-1578 process since your car is already titled and not your car's first title like mine or Doug's (Got The Bug). The process is exactly the same as the SB100 process, but instead of having to show all your separate receipts for engine, tranny, body, etc., the DMV should take the MA registration, along with your bill of sale from the dealership, which the DMV will use to set the value of your car and calculate fees and taxes on.