Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2003 11:54:04 -0800
Reply-To: Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@TSSGI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@TSSGI.COM>
Subject: Re: Going south again, to buy a Westy,
i need info on US/state law.
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2003122914273247@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Ben,
Here in California, every vehicle owner is issued a "Certificate of Title",
often called a pink slip. This is the piece of paper that establishes and
confirms ownership. The right to operate the vehicle on the highway is
established through the yearly "Vehicle Registration". This is the piece of
paper that comes every year after the owner/operator pays their yearly
registration fees (and bi-annual smog inspection). When you buy a car in
California, all you really need from the previous owner is the signed
Certificate of Title. Other states may require a bill of sale from the
previous owner before you can register the vehicle in your name.
If you buy a vehicle in California, you do not need a moving permit or
temporary registration unless the vehicle is not currently registered. I
think that some states require the previous owner to turn in the license
plates to DMV when a vehicle is sold, but California does not. So you can
drive the van back to Canada on the current plates and registration. Just
make sure you have insurance.
If you need any vans looked at in the Sacramento area, let me know and I'll
check it out for you.
Cheers and Good Luck,
Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Ben huot
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 11:27 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Going south again, to buy a Westy, i need info on US/state
law.
David, Thanks!
So the way i see it is we don't have "Title" here, well, maybe in other
Canadian province but not in Quebec. We only have what 1 paper to do both
(not exactly true!), it's call (well, there is no English word for it): but
it would translate something like: "certificate of registration", so that is
one paper that state that you own the vehicle and can drive this one, but!
This one can have different state of validity: park (if you don't use the
vehicle), collection, or simply a valid one.
But for vehicle older than 25 years and from another province or country, it
is imperative that you get a mechanical inspection & evaluation before you
can "register" it, you can't even register the vehicle if it doesn't pass
the mechanical inspection, after everything is done, you can chose to
register only, or register and get the driving licence plate (not the same
price). So if you decide to only register the vehicle, you cannot drive this
one. It will show "park / not valid for driving" on the certificate of
registration". If the vehicle is park for more than one year, it needs a new
mechanical inspection.
But, what you call "clear title", we have no real way of knowing if it's
stolen, fully paid by the PO, the only way is to write to the government
bureau, this can also be done with internet for a 6$ fee, but those
procedures and not mandatory!!! If you buy a vehicle without checking is
history ($$$) or state, you could be in deep shi*.
So the way I understand, in the US, you need a title! And on this one you
can see if it'd clear or not, may I ask if you can see on this paper (Title)
if a person didn't fully paid the vehicle???? Or if it as been in a
accident?
Here, you are fully responsible to do the verification yourself. Many people
forget this important step, as I said, it's optional to check if the vehicle
is clear of any debt, as been reconstructed (accident) or even, as been
stolen.
I will call/e-mail the CA DMV office, can someone direct me to the web-site?
Regards, Ben
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