Registering in CA

[chopsueyboi]

As long as CA DMV received the purchase paperwork (finance or not) from CO dealer by the time you visit DMV, you would not have to make second visit to complete registration. If dealer is able to send ASAP, great.

DMV website does not allow online appointment for auto registration, just go to local office and there should be signup table outside.

Yes good point, your mileage may vary. I purchased in the end of June I believe on 6/28 and wasn't able to pick up until this past weekend on 7/10 and went to the DMV today 7/12. You must register the car to the state of CA when bringing the vehicle in the state within 20 days. Lucky for me, since I took delivery after more than one week since my purchase, the DMV may very well had the time to receive the information. I was quoted ~60 days according to my sales guy at i25 KIA, for the DMV to receive the titling information so it was actually pretty quick for the DMV to receive the docs.

 

[sactownbwoy]

Yes good point, your mileage may vary. I purchased in the end of June I believe on 6/28 and wasn't able to pick up until this past weekend on 7/10 and went to the DMV today 7/12. You must register the car to the state of CA when bringing the vehicle in the state within 20 days. Lucky for me, since I took delivery after more than one week since my purchase, the DMV may very well had the time to receive the information. I was quoted ~60 days according to my sales guy at i25 KIA, for the DMV to receive the titling information so it was actually pretty quick for the DMV to receive the docs.

How will CA DMV know when you brought it into the state unless you tell them?

 

[SLPV]

Yes, you do tell DMV when you bring the vehicle into CA, otherwise, they will use the date of purchase from the paperwork.

 

[Amati5]

Yes good point, your mileage may vary. I purchased in the end of June I believe on 6/28 and wasn't able to pick up until this past weekend on 7/10 and went to the DMV today 7/12. You must register the car to the state of CA when bringing the vehicle in the state within 20 days. Lucky for me, since I took delivery after more than one week since my purchase, the DMV may very well had the time to receive the information. I was quoted ~60 days according to my sales guy at i25 KIA, for the DMV to receive the titling information so it was actually pretty quick for the DMV to receive the docs.

Mind telling which DMV you went to? I might as well go there if it’s not far from me. I don’t trust the policy consistency of DMV. Planning to get it done tomorrow.

thx

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[chopsueyboi]

Mind telling which DMV you went to? I might as well go there if it’s not far from me. I don’t trust the policy consistency of DMV. Planning to get it done tomorrow.

thx

Costa Mesa, CA DMV

 

[Amati5]

Just got back from the CA DMV after my purchase from i25 KIA this past weekend. Thanks to @Zulyish for his write up, I modified his write up based on my experience. I was in and out of the DMV, with no appointment in about an hour with CA tags and plates in hand. FYI I couldn't find any way to make an appointments online for this out of state vehicle registration transaction.

Here's my experience from a purchase not lease and financed not paid with cash via KIA Motors America.

Before heading to DMV, have
1. Registration form REG 343 filled up. Both pages.
2. Smog test done ($43 for me)
3. Have registration card from Colorado (since vehicle was sold there)
4. Also have the bill of sales or sales contract as they will need to verify that the tax was indeed paid for. They will need a physical sheet, your digital .PDF documents will NOT work here.

Went to DMV
5. Got sent to do vehicle verification
6. Completed verification, went back to office
7. Paid registration around $620, bring a check book (otherwise ~2% credit/debit card fee). Instead of receiving any temporary documents/permits, I actually walked out of the DMV with new CA Plates and tags in hand.

I was concerned since my sales guy at i25 KIA had told me it could take up to 60 days for the DMV to receive titling information because financing was longer than cash purchase on top of that they send it out in the order you purchased a vehicle there and apparently they're pretty backed up. My concern was that CA requires that you register within 20 days otherwise there's a big penalty.

I did inquire to the DMV rep that was helping me, if they needed me to come back or If they needed the titling information from either KIA Motors America or i25 KIA and they said nope, take the paper work to the front desk to get your plates and tags. Not sure why some other have to return back or have to receiving the titling information in order to get plates or tags. I didn't have to reach out further to i25 KIA nor KIA Motors America for any tracking numbers or paperwork either.

Again, I think your DMV visit or outcome may vary if you outright purchased your vehicle with cash, or maybe even leased instead of purchase. I financed our Telluride and through KIA Motors America.

I hope I am wrong but I’m afraid we, or at least I, have to come back when we get the title doc from the dealer.

Everything went smooth, the rep seemed to know what he was doing and processed all the paper work. He did ask if the dealer collected CA sale tax and I told him, yes, it’s on the purchase agreement (not bill of sales). Just before I was leaving he asked if I have the title. Told him dealer will send. He said to come back once i have it. He said something like changing to CA title, and i can come back whenever, no deadline. I think It kind of makes sense to me.

I got everything plates, stickers and registration card. So basically I finished the registration process, but not the title’s. Will see once I receive the paper work from I25.

question: what exactly is the dealer sending (to me, since it’s a cash deal)? Colorado Title? I don’t even know if the titles are different from each state.

 

[oystercove]

My paperwork hasn't been sent out to the DMV yet (unrelated delay on Finance's end), but on the form I sent back to the dealer, I put down that initial date of delivery into california was July 6th. I need to go back to the DMV before July 26th to prevent a fee being charged, correct?

So I'm expecting I'll go in with the instructions above, but I'll have to go back once the dealer mails the paperwork, correct?

 

[chopsueyboi]

I hope I am wrong but I’m afraid we, or at least I, have to come back when we get the title doc from the dealer.

Everything went smooth, the rep seemed to know what he was doing and processed all the paper work. He did ask if the dealer collected CA sale tax and I told him, yes, it’s on the purchase agreement (not bill of sales). Just before I was leaving he asked if I have the title. Told him dealer will send. He said to come back once i have it. He said something like changing to CA title, and i can come back whenever, no deadline. I think It kind of makes sense to me.

I got everything plates, stickers and registration card. So basically I finished the registration process, but not the title’s. Will see once I receive the paper work from I25.

question: what exactly is the dealer sending (to me, since it’s a cash deal)? Colorado Title? I don’t even know if the titles are different from each state.

I was told by my sales guy that cash deals are different than finance deals, also that cash deals tend to be faster than finance deals for them to get the docs out to your final state's DMV.

Again my purchase date was 6/28 and the vehicle pick up date was 7/10 (12 days later). I then entered CA on 7/11 and then went to the DMV on 7/12. So with the time in between purchase to delivery and plus a day or two to drive back and show up at the DMV (14 days total) might have given KIA or i25 to send all the necessary paperwork and enough time for the DMV to receive all the docs in order for me not to have to return.

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[chopsueyboi]

My paperwork hasn't been sent out to the DMV yet (unrelated delay on Finance's end), but on the form I sent back to the dealer, I put down that initial date of delivery into california was July 6th. I need to go back to the DMV before July 26th to prevent a fee being charged, correct?

So I'm expecting I'll go in with the instructions above, but I'll have to go back once the dealer mails the paperwork, correct?

Do and bring what I laid out in my previous post prior to your 20 days limit, even if the DMV has yet to receive any documents. Your situation will end up similar to that of Amati5 (assuming the process of financing or cash purchase is the same) and you'll end up posting payment for the registration, receive your plates and tags during the same visit before you leave and orders from the DMV to come back once your docs are received. This will avoid any penalties as the law/rules state registration fees need to be posted within 20 days or arriving in the state of CA, NOT documents to be received within 20 days. At the very least you'll just have to make a second trip.

If you want to wait until the DMV receives your paperwork, assuming you're going off the tracking number and delivery date of docs sent by i25 KIA or KFA, you won't have to make a second visit however you're gambling a hefty fine if you don't post registration fee by the 20 day since arriving into CA. See attachment. Note that delivery date of vehicle and when you actually drive into the state can vary as in my case my purchase date was 6/28, delivery date was 7/10 and enter CA date of 7/11.

 

[oystercove]

Do and bring what I laid out in my previous post prior to your 20 days limit, even if the DMV has yet to receive any documents. Your situation will end up similar to that of Amati5 (assuming the process of financing or cash purchase is the same) and you'll end up posting payment for the registration, receive your plates and tags during the same visit before you leave and orders from the DMV to come back once your docs are received. This will avoid any penalties as the law/rules state registration fees need to be posted within 20 days or arriving in the state of CA, NOT documents to be received within 20 days. At the very least you'll just have to make a second trip.

If you want to wait until the DMV receives your paperwork, assuming you're going off the tracking number and delivery date of docs sent by i25 KIA or KFA, you won't have to make a second visit however you're gambling a hefty fine if you don't post registration fee by the 20 day since arriving into CA. See attachment. Note that delivery date of vehicle and when you actually drive into the state can vary as in my case my purchase date was 6/28, delivery date was 7/10 and enter CA date of 7/11.

thanks. Do you recommend I get my dealer to just mail the documents directly to me instead for my second visit?

 

[oystercove]

I just went in and got the registration and plates before i25 mailed in the paperwork. Received my registration and plates.

My vehicle is financed. No one told me I still have to go in for a second visit. Does anyone have any reco for next steps? Should I still go in after a couple weeks after I’ve confirmed that the DMV received the paperwork? Maybe it’s because I said I would come in for a second visit? But just not sure because I haven’t financed a vehicle in a while and dealt with the title process.

 

[chopsueyboi]

I just went in and got the registration and plates before i25 mailed in the paperwork. Received my registration and plates.

My vehicle is financed. No one told me I still have to go in for a second visit. Does anyone have any reco for next steps? Should I still go in after a couple weeks after I’ve confirmed that the DMV received the paperwork? Maybe it’s because I said I would come in for a second visit? But just not sure because I haven’t financed a vehicle in a while and dealt with the title process.

I asked before I left to go pick up my plates and tags, if I needed to come back in for a second visit and they told me "no, all good". I'm curious to as those who financed and DMV has yet to receive info from either KFA or i25 KIA AND were ordered to come back, if they received anything in writing such as a DMV print out stating they needed to come back or was it all just verbal.

If you @Sephghast didn't receive anything in writing nor weren't told/ordered you needed to go back, you might not need to go back then unless you receive something in the mail stating so. Regardless if you posted your reg payments, received your plates and tags maybe you're good to go?

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[SLPV]

I just went in and got the registration and plates before i25 mailed in the paperwork. Received my registration and plates.

My vehicle is financed. No one told me I still have to go in for a second visit. Does anyone have any reco for next steps? Should I still go in after a couple weeks after I’ve confirmed that the DMV received the paperwork? Maybe it’s because I said I would come in for a second visit? But just not sure because I haven’t financed a vehicle in a while and dealt with the title process.

DMV must have received something from i25. i25 collected sales tax and forwarded to DMV, probably with bill of sales or other paperwork. Once you get plates, tags, and registration certificate, you should be done.

 

[Amati5]

DMV must have received something from i25. i25 collected sales tax and forwarded to DMV, probably with bill of sales or other paperwork. Once you get plates, tags, and registration certificate, you should be done.

Does that mean DMV will send you a CA title then? What is I25 sending to me? (Still waiting).

 

[oystercove]

DMV must have received something from i25. i25 collected sales tax and forwarded to DMV, probably with bill of sales or other paperwork. Once you get plates, tags, and registration certificate, you should be done.

I had my purchase agreement on hand and it said how much tax I paid, so maybe that’s why they let me move forward. Like I said maybe since it’s financed, they know the title will technically go through the Lienholder. If anyone else knows please chime in! I might call the DMV for peace of mind.

 

[Amati5]

I had my purchase agreement on hand and it said how much tax I paid, so maybe that’s why they let me move forward. Like I said maybe since it’s financed, they know the title will technically go through the Lienholder. If anyone else knows please chime in! I might call the DMV for peace of mind.

I am thinking once DMV receive the docs from I25 and if you don’t need to sign anything then maybe you‘re good. If this is true, I should have asked I25 to send my docs to the DMV instead. If not, in my case (cash) I’d rather them send to me so I don’t have to guess when to come back in.

please update if you get any info from DMV. It really is not a big deal since I completed the registration and not worry about the penalties, just another trip back to DMV.

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[SLPV]

If you paid CA fees and CA DMV gives you plates, tags, and registration, process is complete. Taxes collected by i25 should be forwarded to CA, so if CA doesn’t get it, they’ll let you know so you can check with i25. No title if financed. If cash sales, ask i25 whether title comes from them or CO or CA? I assume i25.

On my visit, I also wanted to transfer personalize plates from old car to Telluride, but they said to do it by mail. As a AAA member I went to AAA to submit paperwork and new plates and paid fees to use my old plates. Most tasks can be handled by AAA except for out of state dealer purchase registration.

 

[Amati5]

Just to update: Got the papers from I25, 6 days before the 20 day deadline for registration. I could have waited and do the registration in one trip . Below is what they sent me:

- A check pay to me in the amount of CA sale tax that I paid them. On top, it says “use this check to pay for your tax when go to DMV to register your vehicle”. So they collected from me but didn’t pay CA DMV. Why? not sure but maybe I could have asked them not include the CA tax when picking up the car, and pay Dmv myself. Or maybe because they send me the docs directly.

-CO Application for Title and/or Registration (Filled). Probably don need it.

-CA REG 343 (filled). Probably don’t need it since I did fill out at DMV during registration.

-Purchace Agreement and Dealer’s Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle. They did give me a copy of each when picking up the car.

-Certification of Origin For A Vehicle. This is probably what they want me to bring back after registration so I can get my CA title.

Will update after my second trip to DMV, if anything unusual comes up.

 

[Amati5]

Update: went back to DMV with stuff sent from I25. I gave them everything except the CO application for title/registration. Oh boy, the rep was confused. I spent close to 45 mins standing at the widow waiting for the rep going back and forth working with his supervisors. They didn’t bother ask me any question. Before I left, I asked was was done wrong. He said i wasn’t supposed to be given the registration card (and probably plates and stickers) on my first visit until they have…he was pointing at the Certification of New Vehicle and the original Bill of Sale. Not sure which one he meant or both (I did give them the copy of Bill of Sale on my first visit).

They accepted the refunded check fine without me signing over to them even though it was paid to my name.

I should get the CA title sent from Sacramento and hope that will be the end of it.

 

[Jzone]

Okay I get my vehicle shipped from I-25 Kia next week and I’m curious to see how the process w DMV will go.