Registering in CA

[SLPV]

So in my case, after the car was delivered i-25 went radio silent when it came to anything about DMV. I text'ed, emailed and they never replied if they sent the paperwork or any ETA. After a while of waiting, I decided to get smog and go into the DMV

Get inspect and go inside and they say first they cant find my paperwork and the lady tells me I need to come back, and just fuge the dates if things go past 20 days. I push on her and mention I have the bill of sale from i-25 so she says let me take that and check some more. She tells me the process has already started and then informs me the paperwork came in less than a week ago and I should get the forum and everything in the mail from DMV and since I already got inspected I should be able to just mail it back. Well, the next day in the mail is a letter from the DMV saying I need to come in and finish the forum, bring smog and inspect and pay around $500 in fees but no option to mail it back. I cant find any appt so I plan sometime next week to try and show up early morning and get it all done.

All in all not bad, just wish i-25 would have replied saying "Hey we sent everything x day" so I could do some basic math to figure out when it would get to the DMV. Not sure if they knew my DMV would already process it and just mail it to me later, that seems to be something unique to my location vs what I read in this forum.

The only thing unique is DMV screwed up. If they received the paperwork and started the registration process, they should have completed the process when you show up (as in my case). Information is already in their system, so with your inspection and smog (also, in their system) and payment, registration should have been done. There is no online appointment setup for out of state new car registration, all walk ins. Make sure date is when car enters CA, not date when paperwork is signed. Bring checkbook.

 

[INTEL40]

So I finally finished the registration process yesterday and wanted to share some information that might be helpful to you. When I received my vehicle from I-25 a couple of weeks ago, I called DMV customer service line and made an appointment for vehicle registration for a date that was a day or two before my 20th day in California. I did my smog check earlier this week and showed up at the DMV yesterday morning for my appointment. I went inside, walked up to the window when it was my turn, and told the clerk that my dealership sent the paperwork to them directly. She went to a locked cabinet, pulled out a stack of UPS and Fedex packages and looked for my package. Initially she could not find it and asked for my tracking number. I had a printed UPS confirmation of delivery so she continued to look around. She finally found it. Using the documents I-25 sent, she calculated my tax plus registration, subtracted the check amount sent by I-25, and told me I owed appx. 600 bucks to register the vehicle. I paid via check. She gave me all the paperwork, told me to go outside and line up for the vehicle inspection. After inspection, the inspector gave me REG31 form and told me to go back inside. I got an expedited number and sat down for about 15 minutes before my number was called. A different clerk looked at my paperwork and gave me the plates and stickers. Done. It took about 1.5 hours total. Here's what I learned:

1. Smog check: the clerk never asked me for it, even though I told her I had one it (cost me 60 bucks). The smog certificate was never part of the paperwork she put together. So maybe the computer system told her I had already done it or she didn't care for it.
2. It took I-25 about 20 days to sent the paperwork to DMV even though my salesman said it could take up to 6 weeks. I called my salesman a few days before my DMV appointment and he texted me the UPS confirmation number. Have the delivery confirmation info ready at the DMV.
3. DMV did not ask me for any documents even though I had brough the sales contract, CO temp registration, proof of insurance, etc. Glancing at the paperwork I-25 sent, the only document I did not have was the Certificate of Origin (only paper printed in color). She said this document was essential to register an out-of-state vehicle.
4. The clerk was constantly checking with her supervisor in the back about what to do next. It seems out-of-state vehicle registration is not the most common transaction so you may need to be patient with the DMV clerk.

Overall, it was a positive experience. DMV gets a bad rep as being horrible in customer service but everyone was professional and competent. Maybe it was the holiday spirits. The second clerk from whom I picked up the plates looked at my paperwork and said, "So you got a Telluride, huh!?" She said she had been waiting for the prices to go down to buy one. I told her to check out this forum and order one from Colorado or Indiana and she wrote down web address. So we may have a new forum member who could be our resident CA DMV expert.

Thank you all in this forum for the guidance I received throughout this process. Merry Christmas everyone.

 

[druidv1]

So I finally finished the registration process yesterday and wanted to share some information that might be helpful to you. When I received my vehicle from I-25 a couple of weeks ago, I called DMV customer service line and made an appointment for vehicle registration for a date that was a day or two before my 20th day in California. I did my smog check earlier this week and showed up at the DMV yesterday morning for my appointment. I went inside, walked up to the window when it was my turn, and told the clerk that my dealership sent the paperwork to them directly. She went to a locked cabinet, pulled out a stack of UPS and Fedex packages and looked for my package. Initially she could not find it and asked for my tracking number. I had a printed UPS confirmation of delivery so she continued to look around. She finally found it. Using the documents I-25 sent, she calculated my tax plus registration, subtracted the check amount sent by I-25, and told me I owed appx. 600 bucks to register the vehicle. I paid via check. She gave me all the paperwork, told me to go outside and line up for the vehicle inspection. After inspection, the inspector gave me REG31 form and told me to go back inside. I got an expedited number and sat down for about 15 minutes before my number was called. A different clerk looked at my paperwork and gave me the plates and stickers. Done. It took about 1.5 hours total. Here's what I learned:

1. Smog check: the clerk never asked me for it, even though I told her I had one it (cost me 60 bucks). The smog certificate was never part of the paperwork she put together. So maybe the computer system told her I had already done it or she didn't care for it.
2. It took I-25 about 20 days to sent the paperwork to DMV even though my salesman said it could take up to 6 weeks. I called my salesman a few days before my DMV appointment and he texted me the UPS confirmation number. Have the delivery confirmation info ready at the DMV.
3. DMV did not ask me for any documents even though I had brough the sales contract, CO temp registration, proof of insurance, etc. Glancing at the paperwork I-25 sent, the only document I did not have was the Certificate of Origin (only paper printed in color). She said this document was essential to register an out-of-state vehicle.
4. The clerk was constantly checking with her supervisor in the back about what to do next. It seems out-of-state vehicle registration is not the most common transaction so you may need to be patient with the DMV clerk.

Overall, it was a positive experience. DMV gets a bad rep as being horrible in customer service but everyone was professional and competent. Maybe it was the holiday spirits. The second clerk from whom I picked up the plates looked at my paperwork and said, "So you got a Telluride, huh!?" She said she had been waiting for the prices to go down to buy one. I told her to check out this forum and order one from Colorado or Indiana and she wrote down web address. So we may have a new forum member who could be our resident CA DMV expert.

Thank you all in this forum for the guidance I received throughout this process. Merry Christmas everyone.

smog results are sent electronically to the dmv

 

[xin4lyfe]

Has anybody else experienced the same situation that I am currently dealing with?

Got my car shipped and arrived in California on 12/24. Got a smog the following week, but failed because the car was too new. Decided to go to dmv anyways and they gave me a temporary paper plate saying I needed a smog check first. The following week, I got another smog test done and this time it passed and I went to dmv and officially got my registration and plates. Paid about $865.

About 2 weeks ago, so early Feb, I received a packet from i25 kia including the original documents that I had signed and sent back to them with a check made out to dmv for about $5k. I contacted their finance dept and they were also confused as how I was able to register and not having to pay tax. They instructed me to go to dmv and give them that check. That is what I just did right now, but the clerk was confused and asked me to sit so they can call Sacramento. I had to explain the whole situation to 2 different clerks and after waiting 1.5hrs, they gave the check back to me and told me to call a specific number and explain the situation to them because the dmv location that I went to cannot accept or collect the check. The only thing they provided me with a new registration slip stating that it is not transferrable whereas the previous registration was transferrable.

Is anybody familiar with this situation?

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[Amati5]

I also went to dmv to register without documents from I25 because I didn’t know when the docs will come and wanted to start the process ahead before the 20 days deadline. The DMV clerk mistakenly gave me plates and tags. When I came back with the docs sent from i25 it was a big confusion for the clerk and he had to get 2 supervisors involved. But they took care of everything after a long wait.

Seems like in your case you have to take care of it yourself. I assume you haven’t got your ownership certificate yet? If you did, consider yourself lucky for not paying tax,

 

[tioneb]

Just wanted to write a quick thank you note to everyone here who provided info on how to register a car (purchased from i25) in CA. Got my car about 10 days ago, did the smog check this morning, went to the DMV right after, and left 2h later with my license plates and registration in hand!

 

[JRebel]

Congrats and don’t forget to share a few pictures!

 

[rainismine]

Wanted to express my appreciation for this thread as it helped make my registration process in CA pretty smooth.

Quick summary:

• Purchased my car through i25 Fowler. Overall, process was pretty smooth and got my car delivered on 6/20. But getting the necessary paperwork from Fowler's finance department was a bit of a pain. I was told a certain date and it was delayed a few times. Getting a response from them wasn't easy either. Ultimately, they UPS'd the packet of paperwork directly to me this morning just in time for my DMV appt this afternoon.
• Packet contained the Bill of Sale, Certificate of Origin (which is essentially the temp title), REG31 form with some info filled out but not all, and the purchase order
• Waited about 20 mins (despite having an appt), DMV lady processed the paperwork (I had to complete missing fields on REG31), wrote a check for about $5k (CA taxes + registration), then was asked to pull my car into the area for vehicle verification. Back in line for another 10 mins, finished the process and got my new plates! Was in and out of DMV in 90 mins. They didn't take my temp Colorado plate.

Note that I did pay for the vehicle in cash and opted not to pay any CA taxes with Fowler. Seemed simpler to just pay that when registering with DMV like I did today. It also seemed simpler that Fowler mailed me all the paperwork instead of directly to a particular DMV branch.

I needed to get this done fast as I locked in a good rate with my credit union that expires at the end of July. They need the car registered and titled in CA before they can approve the loan. Happy to get it all done. Thank you all again for the info in this thread!

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[CaliTelly22AWDSXNTP]

Also dropping a note of thanks for all the great advice in this thread. Thanks!

I bought my Telluride through Fowler I-25 KIA of Longmont in Colorado and registered in California a couple of days ago. It was smooth sailing at the DMV because I came prepared.

I arrived without an appointment. I pulled right up to the vehicle inspection lane and got my vehicle verification form completed before going inside. Then I went inside with that, my smog certificate, my checkbook, and the packet of paperwork from the dealer that included the bill of sale, certificate of origin, a check for the CA sales tax, and a partially complete REG343 form that I finished myself with the required details (note: I made sure the date of entry into CA I wrote on the form was <20 days ago).

I took all my paperwork to the counter, wrote a check for ~$500 for the CA registration fees, and left with my new plates, on the spot. They didn't take my temp CO plate, either.

 

[Rustic]

I thought that like CaliTelly above that I too would give you my experience with the CA DMV.

It took a little over 3 weeks to get my paperwork package from Fowler (they warned me it could take up to 30 days for my package to arrive)

Once I got the paperwork, I made an appointment with the DMV for the next day (appts have been easy to get as of late). My local DMV is a busy one, so I didn't want to take a chance with a crowd.

I got my smog done the morning of and drove straight to the DMV. Arrived 20 mins before my appointment time and drove straight to the vehicle inspection area. Took 5 minutes for the inspection. Then went inside. Waited about 5 minutes for my number to be called.

Walked up to the counter and handed them my packet from Fowler that included a bill of sale, certificate of origin, the prefilled reg 343 that I, of course, added the date the car entered CA (and, you guessed it, it was within the 20 day limit that I self-stated . Because I paid cash for my Telluride, Fowler did not need to collect the sales tax from me. They told me I could pay the DMV direct instead of me paying the dealer and the dealer writing a check payable to the DMV and mailing it to me to hand to the DMV. Just seemed much simpler if I wrote the check to the DMV direct.

The lady at the DMV counter had never done a new car from out of state so she had to get her manager to show her how to do it. So took a few minutes longer as her manager walked her through the steps. Wrote the check for the taxes and fees calculated and walked out with my plates. Total time from start to finish 25 minutes. Easy Peasy!!!

 

[twothirds]

Picked up my car ~3 weeks ago and got the paperwork yesterday from Fowler. I just finished the registration at the redwood city DMV today and had to write a $5000+ check for registration and sales tax, but the process went smoothly. I spent ~70 minutes total at the DMV (check-in, inspection, reg work and finally plate pickup).

 

[kevin22]

Picked up my car ~3 weeks ago and got the paperwork yesterday from Fowler. I just finished the registration at the redwood city DMV today and had to write a $5000+ check for registration and sales tax, but the process went smoothly. I spent ~70 minutes total at the DMV (check-in, inspection, reg work and finally plate pickup).

Do we need the smog done?

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[SLPV]

Do we need the smog done?

Yes. Bringing a new out of state car into California still require smog test and a car inspection at DMV. Some people reported that there should be some miles driven so the smog check can get good data. Mainly for people who have car shipped instead of being driven into California.

 

[Rustic]

Do we need the smog done?

Yes, You have to have the smog done. I know it is ridiculous, but all cars being brought into CA from out of state and registered/titled in California for the first time have to have smog regardless of the age of the vehicle. Even my smog guy thought it was crazy, but that is CA for you.
Just make sure you put a hundred or so miles on the car before you take it for smog or it may not pass.

 

[kevin22]

Thanks. Smog passing shouldn't be an issue I already have 3k miles. The poster didn't mention anything about smog and also I see several posts mentioned where smog certificate was not asked. So was wondering if I can somehow avoid the smog test.

 

[twothirds]

Thanks. Smog passing shouldn't be an issue I already have 3k miles. The poster didn't mention anything about smog and also I see several posts mentioned where smog certificate was not asked. So was wondering if I can somehow avoid the smog test.

I did a smog test earlier in the day (bye bye $50). They did not check the paperwork, but I assume the info was submitted to a central database that referenced the VIN. If I recall correctly, some prior posts mentioned they could not get plates until they completed the smog.

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[arossteven]

Question for you Telly drivers in CA. My 1 year is almost up since receiving the vehicle in 11/2021, therefore CA DMV notified me that my registration is due soon.

I can’t believe how expensive it is:
Registration Fee $262
License Fee $290
Weight Fee $0
Special Plate Fee $40
County/District Fees $22
Owner Responibility Fee $0
Smog Abatement Fee $20

I’m located in the SF Bay Area, does this seem average/normal to you?

Thanks!

 

[SLPV]

Re-register in Feb, cost is right.