Registering in CA

[Zulyish]

Got my Black Copper SX AWD w/Prestige and Tow from I-25 Kia today. I had a look at the DMV website and would appreciate some help with understanding how this process works.

I can do the smog test done, regarding the "Title for Registration (REG 343) form", I-25 Kia told me that this is sent directly to CA DMV. Do I need to bring out this form, re-fill and take it with me?.

Do I need to wait for some correspondence from CA DMV that they got the paperwork from the dealer before going in?

Any help will be appreciated!

 

[Husker Soze]

Congrats! .... but first things first....post some pics!

Sorry...I won't be able to help you with your question though.

 

[Zulyish]

Congrats! .... but first things first....post some pics!

Sorry...I won't be able to help you with your question though.

LoL! 'twas the plan, but mother nature had other thoughts . Tomorrow!

 

[qwikhit]

I thought new vehicles were smog exempt for a certain number of years in California

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[swayze]

I thought new vehicles were smog exempt for a certain number of years in California

New vehicles in CA don't need a smog check the first few years. But since the Telluride was purchased out of state, he'll need to show that it is 50 state certified since CA has stricter standards. I don't know the answer to the OP's question, but here's a pdf I found for those interested.

 

[qwikhit]

Gotta love California; left there and never looked back

 

[ernysan]

DMV Procedures iuuuuck LOL

 

[Zulyish]

New vehicles in CA don't need a smog check the first few years. But since the Telluride was purchased out of state, he'll need to show that it is 50 state certified since CA has stricter standards. I don't know the answer to the OP's question, but here's a pdf I found for those interested.

@swayze - thanks! I did check this, and called the DMV. The DMV guy mentioned I would need a smog test (and I'll get it done just because I can) and since I25 collected the CA sales tax and it shows up in the itemized retail contract, all I need is to fill in the registration form and head over to an office with the form + smog test + retail contract. Let's see how this unfolds

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[rkj001]

Sounds like you got the paper work figured out and, yes, a smog check is required for vehicles purchased out of state even though it makes no sense for a new vehicle that meets CA smog requirements. California requires you to pay all of the additional various other registration fees, etc. within 20 days of the vehicle arriving in the state. If it is going to take longer than that for I-25 Kia to send the title, make sure you request a non-title (goldenrod) registration:

12.120 Nontitle (Goldenrod) Registration - California DMV

Also, expect a DMV employee to inspect the vehicle during your visit and they will fill out a Reg31 form. In my case, I did not know about the non-title registration option and they instead just issued a one-time 30 day temporary operating permit even though I told them that it would take at least 6 weeks before I would get the title. So now I will likely have to make a total of three trips to the DMV before all is said and done (initial visit, go back to get a non-title registration if title not received before temp permit expires, go back once I receive the title).

 

[Zulyish]

@rkj001 I didn’t get the part about I25 sending the title. I assumed you didn’t finance or lease? The title should be with Kia Finance till I finish paying my loan

Also, did you have to fill out the ELT information in the registration form? I assume I can use the information from https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/uploads/2021/01/4th-Quarter-Alpha-Listing.pdf?

 

[Wootang00]

@Zulyish any updates on how registering in CA went? I am looking to buy out of state as well..

 

[Zulyish]

@Zulyish any updates on how registering in CA went? I am looking to buy out of state as well..

Based on what @rkj001 said, I plan on getting the smog test done in the next few days and will hit up DMV for getting temporary operating permit. I will update by end of this week.

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[rkj001]

I had a cash deal with a brand new dealership in AZ, so I did not have to deal with the various finance related issues. It is my understanding that I-25 KIa will be sending title related docs directly to the CA DMV office of your choosing? I had previously talked to another CA forum member that purchased a vehicle from Amanda @ I-25 Kia (@Heshan4G63) who said that the I-25 title team sent docs directly to the DMV office of their choosing. Contact your I-25 sales person if there are any questions regarding the DMV title docs.

 

[Zulyish]

Just to recap my experience, many thanks to @rkj001 for the pointers!

Before heading to DMV, have
1. Registration form REG343 filled up.
2. Smog test done
3. Have registration card from Colorado (since vehicle was sold there)

Went to DMV
4. Got sent to do vehicle verification
5. Completed verification, went back to office
6. Paid registration, got temporary operating permit for 30 days along with documents to bring back when title documents are sent from I-25 Kia.

I did 6 since my purchase was financed through Kia Finance. The CA state tax was collected as part of the purchase, and no tax was paid to CO. I spoke to my I-25 salesperson and told him to make sure the title documents would be sent to the DMV office I visited.

It is important to make sure that your title documents are sent to the DMV office you visit, so make sure you provide your local DMV office (or preferred office) to I-25 Kia salesperson.

After visiting DMV
7. Called I-25 Kia, and spoke to Mike @ Title. He mentioned that he will be sending the title documents over and would send the tracking # through my salesperson.

So really,

1. Get REG343 filled up
2. Get Smog test done
3. Make sure your dealer mails title documents to the DMV office of your choosing. This is valid if you pay CA tax as part of the sales contract.

 

[rkj001]

The rest will depend on the particular employee you deal with at DMV and possibility their managers. Here is an example of an extra hassle I just ran into. I just went back to DMV with the Arizona title I just received which is only in my name since I traveled to Arizona by myself to purchase the vehicle and drive it back to California. The DMV employee and her manager, who did not seem like they were very confident in what they were doing, decided that they wanted me to fill out the back of the Arizona title as if I am selling the vehicle back to myself and my wife which, of course, requires yet another signature from my wife who was not with me at DMV at the time (I had filled out the Reg343 with the owner as me "OR" my wife as we have done with previous vehicles). Needless to say, my wife will be going with me to the DMV for what will be my 3rd trip just in case they come up with anything else that requires her signature. Hopefully 3rd time's a charm?

 

[Wootang00]

Any chance this stuff can be taken care of at AAA as opposed to the dmv?

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[qwikhit]

Doubtful

 

[SLPV]

I checked with AAA, they can process title change for private sales and not for new car sales from out of state dealers.

 

[Zulyish]

The rest will depend on the particular employee you deal with at DMV and possibility their managers. Here is an example of an extra hassle I just ran into. I just went back to DMV with the Arizona title I just received which is only in my name since I traveled to Arizona by myself to purchase the vehicle and drive it back to California. The DMV employee and her manager, who did not seem like they were very confident in what they were doing, decided that they wanted me to fill out the back of the Arizona title as if I am selling the vehicle back to myself and my wife which, of course, requires yet another signature from my wife who was not with me at DMV at the time (I had filled out the Reg343 with the owner as me "OR" my wife as we have done with previous vehicles). Needless to say, my wife will be going with me to the DMV for what will be my 3rd trip just in case they come up with anything else that requires her signature. Hopefully 3rd time's a charm?

Damn dude. I had the same issue. Original DMV employee refused to even give me a temporary operating permit if I paid registration.
Took a bit of talking to get her to check with her manager, after which I got my permit.

Good luck with the next visit!

 

[Zulyish]

To wrap this up - went in for my second visit yesterday. Title documents from I-25 Kia were delivered last week, walked out with plates + registration in hand! Thanks again to @rkj001!