What I learned about the DMV (ca only)
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 85
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
What I learned about the DMV (ca only)
Tips and tricks thread about the CA DMV. Figured I'd make a thread about this because a lot of back and forth at the CA DMV
In my past years of dealing with the DMV I learned ....
that when I got my trailer, I need plates, I have to get it inspected FIRST then wait in line for my paper work to be finished not the other way around.
If I just bought a car in January and it required smog to be done at the time of purchase and the registration is due in August. I am required to do the smog at time of purchase and smog it again at time of registration renewal if it has been 2 years since it was originally smogged.
If I don't pay for insurance, DMV suspends my registration and my vehicle can be towed from any public place even my driveway.
When I do get insurance, I have to call a special phone number and pay a fee to reinstate my registration. This usually takes 3 days to clear
If I sell a vehicle, I can do my release of liability at the CA DMV site.
One branch manager might say No and a different branch manager might say Yes. (This is due to power of attorney paperwork)
AAA insurance offers membership to use their in-house DMV site (45 dollars and you don't need to buy insurance just the membership)
AAA offers free towing during holidays so you can drive to a location, drink your *** off, call them to tow you and your car home for freeeeeee
If you can't do the motorcycle riding test at the DMV, you really shouldn't be riding at all. <--my 2 cents
Thats all i can think of off the top of my head but there is probably more.
Contribute....
In my past years of dealing with the DMV I learned ....
that when I got my trailer, I need plates, I have to get it inspected FIRST then wait in line for my paper work to be finished not the other way around.
If I just bought a car in January and it required smog to be done at the time of purchase and the registration is due in August. I am required to do the smog at time of purchase and smog it again at time of registration renewal if it has been 2 years since it was originally smogged.
If I don't pay for insurance, DMV suspends my registration and my vehicle can be towed from any public place even my driveway.
When I do get insurance, I have to call a special phone number and pay a fee to reinstate my registration. This usually takes 3 days to clear
If I sell a vehicle, I can do my release of liability at the CA DMV site.
One branch manager might say No and a different branch manager might say Yes. (This is due to power of attorney paperwork)
AAA insurance offers membership to use their in-house DMV site (45 dollars and you don't need to buy insurance just the membership)
AAA offers free towing during holidays so you can drive to a location, drink your *** off, call them to tow you and your car home for freeeeeee
If you can't do the motorcycle riding test at the DMV, you really shouldn't be riding at all. <--my 2 cents
Thats all i can think of off the top of my head but there is probably more.
Contribute....
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 847
From: Milpitas
Car Info: 05 WRX Wagon and 08 Civic Si
here is a little bonus, normally the DMV lines are long you wait for long periods of time even with a appointment, so get a sew on patch that says US BORDER PATROL put it on your shirt and when you walk in the line will suddenly shorten very quickly
Churro Aficionado
iTrader: (38)
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 54,661
From: IG - @thomas.teammoist
Car Info: IG - @TEAMMOISTOFFICIAL
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 85
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,030
From: In Mother Russia...
Car Info: ...zeh car drives you!
Good post, my contribution...
If you ever move and/or register your car out of CA, you need to let DMV know in writing your intentions to do so. Otherwise they will think you are just skipping on your registration and will have to pay all those back charges plus fines if you ever decide to come back.
If you bring in anything other than a US passport for any ID or correction purposes, be prepared to be very frustrated and not be able to accomplish what you need. I had a DMV manager reject my 7 year old green card (they're issued for 10 years) and a "white" (instead of the "blue") passport given to permanent residents because because he has never seen the latter (which obviously makes it invalid
) and the former was a "very likely fake" (I still had hair in the pic and the card design has changed since), so I was told come back with one that was more recently renewed.
Nah, too inconspicuous...Get one of those official looking jackets with "INS" on the back, wear it over a nice suit and watch the place clear out in seconds
If you ever move and/or register your car out of CA, you need to let DMV know in writing your intentions to do so. Otherwise they will think you are just skipping on your registration and will have to pay all those back charges plus fines if you ever decide to come back.
If you bring in anything other than a US passport for any ID or correction purposes, be prepared to be very frustrated and not be able to accomplish what you need. I had a DMV manager reject my 7 year old green card (they're issued for 10 years) and a "white" (instead of the "blue") passport given to permanent residents because because he has never seen the latter (which obviously makes it invalid
) and the former was a "very likely fake" (I still had hair in the pic and the card design has changed since), so I was told come back with one that was more recently renewed. Nah, too inconspicuous...Get one of those official looking jackets with "INS" on the back, wear it over a nice suit and watch the place clear out in seconds
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 529
From: Santa Rosa
Car Info: 06 STi 293hp/310tq / 2.5 FLI tune
Driveway is private property, not public. You can have a 1932 Ford in your driveway with no ins or tags since 1933 and it wont / cannot be towed.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 160
From: Bay Area
Good post, my contribution...
If you ever move and/or register your car out of CA, you need to let DMV know in writing your intentions to do so. Otherwise they will think you are just skipping on your registration and will have to pay all those back charges plus fines if you ever decide to come back.
If you bring in anything other than a US passport for any ID or correction purposes, be prepared to be very frustrated and not be able to accomplish what you need. I had a DMV manager reject my 7 year old green card (they're issued for 10 years) and a "white" (instead of the "blue") passport given to permanent residents because because he has never seen the latter (which obviously makes it invalid) and the former was a "very likely fake" (I still had hair in the pic and the card design has changed since), so I was told come back with one that was more recently renewed.
Nah, too inconspicuous...Get one of those official looking jackets with "INS" on the back, wear it over a nice suit and watch the place clear out in seconds
If you ever move and/or register your car out of CA, you need to let DMV know in writing your intentions to do so. Otherwise they will think you are just skipping on your registration and will have to pay all those back charges plus fines if you ever decide to come back.
If you bring in anything other than a US passport for any ID or correction purposes, be prepared to be very frustrated and not be able to accomplish what you need. I had a DMV manager reject my 7 year old green card (they're issued for 10 years) and a "white" (instead of the "blue") passport given to permanent residents because because he has never seen the latter (which obviously makes it invalid
) and the former was a "very likely fake" (I still had hair in the pic and the card design has changed since), so I was told come back with one that was more recently renewed. Nah, too inconspicuous...Get one of those official looking jackets with "INS" on the back, wear it over a nice suit and watch the place clear out in seconds
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6
From: DE
Car Info: WRX
+1. This is why you don't see cops sitting in people's driveways catching speeders. They can only legally be on public roads/parking lots.
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 974
From: Bay Area
Car Info: 07 black piggy STI, 1996 Integra LS
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3
From: Cali
Car Info: 1995 2.5RS
Well, if they're on your driveway, I'd imagine you can nicely tell them to get the hell outta there. But if they're on someone else's driveway and they gave permission... I guess there's nothing to do about it.
Registered User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2
From: WA
Car Info: Honda City Turbo
If I just bought a car in January and it required smog to be done at the time of purchase and the registration is due in August. I am required to do the smog at time of purchase and smog it again at time of registration renewal if it has been 2 years since it was originally smogged.
Good post, my contribution...
If you ever move and/or register your car out of CA, you need to let DMV know in writing your intentions to do so. Otherwise they will think you are just skipping on your registration and will have to pay all those back charges plus fines if you ever decide to come back.
If you bring in anything other than a US passport for any ID or correction purposes, be prepared to be very frustrated and not be able to accomplish what you need. I had a DMV manager reject my 7 year old green card (they're issued for 10 years) and a "white" (instead of the "blue") passport given to permanent residents because because he has never seen the latter (which obviously makes it invalid) and the former was a "very likely fake" (I still had hair in the pic and the card design has changed since), so I was told come back with one that was more recently renewed.
Nah, too inconspicuous...Get one of those official looking jackets with "INS" on the back, wear it over a nice suit and watch the place clear out in seconds
If you ever move and/or register your car out of CA, you need to let DMV know in writing your intentions to do so. Otherwise they will think you are just skipping on your registration and will have to pay all those back charges plus fines if you ever decide to come back.
If you bring in anything other than a US passport for any ID or correction purposes, be prepared to be very frustrated and not be able to accomplish what you need. I had a DMV manager reject my 7 year old green card (they're issued for 10 years) and a "white" (instead of the "blue") passport given to permanent residents because because he has never seen the latter (which obviously makes it invalid
) and the former was a "very likely fake" (I still had hair in the pic and the card design has changed since), so I was told come back with one that was more recently renewed. Nah, too inconspicuous...Get one of those official looking jackets with "INS" on the back, wear it over a nice suit and watch the place clear out in seconds
I did not have any issue with my car going from one state to another.I moved to Kansas for a few years never told DMV anything and when i returned to cali all i had to do was smog,and a inspection check my vin # and DMV gave me new plates.
Also on that note with moving out of state and back,If you purchase a new car you do not have to smog for 5 years unless you move the car out of state and then return back to Cali..It voids your smog for Cali
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
