I've had this happen before on a car, I had replaced the battery and then took it to get smogged. Station told me to drive it around a few hundred miles and bring it back. I did, and it had enough data at that point to pass smog. So its normal, car has to be driven a while to get the data.
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Registering in CA
- Thread author Zulyish
- Start date
arossteven
New member
I just want to thank everyone here who had some input. It made the impossible, possible and this process (1st time buyer out of state) was very seamless thanks to this thread and everyone’s contributions, so thank you!
I live in the SF Bay Area, payed cash for vehicle. After receiving the vehicle, I got it smogged for $60 (11miles on the odometer) and passed.
I-25 sent me all paperwork via certified USPS Mail. Included in the paperwork was a check (approx $5,300) which was the tax I paid (10.75% here in alameda county) and I deposited that into my bank account prior to going to DMV.
I went to DMV (no appointment), with my Drivers License, paperwork provided by I-25 (Purchase agreement, certificate of origin, DMV 343 form, etc), blank check, proof of insurance, temporary registration from CO, and CO temp tag.
When I got to DMV, the vehicle and VIN were inspected, took approximately 10min. Inspector provided me a DMV form that he filled out on the spot and was told to go inside to get vehicle registered. Once inside, took about 15min to be seen. I owed approx $300 for registration and approx $5,300 for taxes. Glad I had a check, otherwise the fee would have been approx $125.
I received my CA registration, tags, and CA License Plates all while there at the DMV. I was told I would be mailed the title and “Due to Covid, to expect a delay.”
All in all, I was in and out of the DMV in about 1 hour.
I live in the SF Bay Area, payed cash for vehicle. After receiving the vehicle, I got it smogged for $60 (11miles on the odometer) and passed.
I-25 sent me all paperwork via certified USPS Mail. Included in the paperwork was a check (approx $5,300) which was the tax I paid (10.75% here in alameda county) and I deposited that into my bank account prior to going to DMV.
I went to DMV (no appointment), with my Drivers License, paperwork provided by I-25 (Purchase agreement, certificate of origin, DMV 343 form, etc), blank check, proof of insurance, temporary registration from CO, and CO temp tag.
When I got to DMV, the vehicle and VIN were inspected, took approximately 10min. Inspector provided me a DMV form that he filled out on the spot and was told to go inside to get vehicle registered. Once inside, took about 15min to be seen. I owed approx $300 for registration and approx $5,300 for taxes. Glad I had a check, otherwise the fee would have been approx $125.
I received my CA registration, tags, and CA License Plates all while there at the DMV. I was told I would be mailed the title and “Due to Covid, to expect a delay.”
All in all, I was in and out of the DMV in about 1 hour.
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Wow, an hour for DMV, glad to hear things work out. Minor question on the tax and registration fees. Seems like i25 collected the wrong amount of sales tax. And CA registration fees should be about $600. DMV calculated correctly and applied extra tax to the registration fees. LA county tax is just a little higher than Alameda. Just information for other out of state buyers.
About 170, it was probably overkill but it worked.
Yippie!
1. When you go to DMV start with the vehicle verification line. Usually pull up next to the driver’s test line.
2. Proof of insurance. Your carrier should have it online for you to download or call and ask them to email it. If you have a loan make sure they provide notice to the Lender that they are listed on the policy.
I was never even asked to provide proof of insurance by DMV.
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Telluride90803
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Is this process the same if I end up leasing from an out of state dealer (i25)?
If anyone has gone through the CA registration process as a lessee please share. Thanks!
If anyone has gone through the CA registration process as a lessee please share. Thanks!
Someone else can verify, but I think as a CA resident, the state wants you to register the car you drive whether it’s bought, finance, or lease.
Telluride90803
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I’ll definitely need to register the car. I’m more curious about i) the potential differences in the documentation process at the dmv, and ii) how taxes are handled, as I believe a lessee pays taxes monthly.
Thanks all.
Congrats!
I also live in California and ordered from Colorado. I just went to DMV this week this is what I took:
•Form 343, completed
•Proof of insurance.
•Purchase agreement (shows price & tax)
•Smog inspection
Registration $ (622)
DMV had not yet received the title from Kia, so I have to go back once that is received and they will issue my plates.
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Congrats!
Here is my experience:
Worked with Shannon Nicolletti from Peak Kia, CO.
7/31/21: Ordered
8/17/21: Kia accepted allocation, given 11/11/21 arrival date
9/3/21: Updated, still on time
11/11/21: Car arrived
11/13/21: Wired money on a Saturday
11/15/21: Wire went through, Shannon connected me with their transportation service MARVEL, $1150 from CO to near SF Bay Area; called MARVEL, some charge up front and the rest after arrival. Also worked with Rocco over the phone on an e-sign document, took 15minutes.
11/15/21: Documents UPS overnighted
11/17/21: Received documents, filled out, finished at a notary at UPS and sent back in a provided express envelope a the same location
11/18/21: Transport picked up car before final cleaning detail, was told by Shannon maybe the 22nd or 23rd.
11/24/21: Car arrived, it was dark outside when it came in, but in the end came in unscratched. MARVEL used a company called UZ Auto Transportation Inc. Contact with the driver was a little spotty, but in the end had the money order ready to go when he arrived.
11/30/21: Tried to smog but not enough miles (had 13 on it). Apparently this is common with new cars. TIP: to new car owners who ordered outside CA, drive that car around before smog! Probably get to at least 100, people on this thread stated smog worked at 20 and at 86, so maybe it has to do with data collected at freeway speeds and of course city driving, just drive it around for a while before smogging to be safe, at least 100miles and in different conditions (city/highway)
12/2/21: Car passes smog, I go to the DMV for VIN verification, verified (only took 20 minutes!) amazingly enough, no appointment. I must have gone at a dead time (Friday at 3pm). They didn't even look at my smog report. They just looked at my purchase agreement and filled out their own form 343 and gave that to me. There was no payment (no need to take a checkbook) because Peak Kia used CA taxes on the purchase agreement. So I didn't have to register as they took care of it in the payment.
I'm still waiting on a UPS envelope, but I'll be sending the smog + DMV 343 form to Peak Kia in Colorado. Then plates will come in the mail directly to me, not the DMV.
Only issue was the car was late by a day (worked out because I had work off) and came after dark, wish it was during the daytime. And the final detail, but the car was pretty clean anyways. I do gotta rub down the a couple pieces inside with some rub marks of dirt, but that is just normal maintenance anyways, also some plastic was wrapped around some edges inside of the car, but easy to take off anyways.
Glad I worked with Shannon Nicoletti, he answered the call/text any time I had one, even when he had a day off.
Worked with Shannon Nicolletti from Peak Kia, CO.
7/31/21: Ordered
8/17/21: Kia accepted allocation, given 11/11/21 arrival date
9/3/21: Updated, still on time
11/11/21: Car arrived
11/13/21: Wired money on a Saturday
11/15/21: Wire went through, Shannon connected me with their transportation service MARVEL, $1150 from CO to near SF Bay Area; called MARVEL, some charge up front and the rest after arrival. Also worked with Rocco over the phone on an e-sign document, took 15minutes.
11/15/21: Documents UPS overnighted
11/17/21: Received documents, filled out, finished at a notary at UPS and sent back in a provided express envelope a the same location
11/18/21: Transport picked up car before final cleaning detail, was told by Shannon maybe the 22nd or 23rd.
11/24/21: Car arrived, it was dark outside when it came in, but in the end came in unscratched. MARVEL used a company called UZ Auto Transportation Inc. Contact with the driver was a little spotty, but in the end had the money order ready to go when he arrived.
11/30/21: Tried to smog but not enough miles (had 13 on it). Apparently this is common with new cars. TIP: to new car owners who ordered outside CA, drive that car around before smog! Probably get to at least 100, people on this thread stated smog worked at 20 and at 86, so maybe it has to do with data collected at freeway speeds and of course city driving, just drive it around for a while before smogging to be safe, at least 100miles and in different conditions (city/highway)
12/2/21: Car passes smog, I go to the DMV for VIN verification, verified (only took 20 minutes!) amazingly enough, no appointment. I must have gone at a dead time (Friday at 3pm). They didn't even look at my smog report. They just looked at my purchase agreement and filled out their own form 343 and gave that to me. There was no payment (no need to take a checkbook) because Peak Kia used CA taxes on the purchase agreement. So I didn't have to register as they took care of it in the payment.
I'm still waiting on a UPS envelope, but I'll be sending the smog + DMV 343 form to Peak Kia in Colorado. Then plates will come in the mail directly to me, not the DMV.
Only issue was the car was late by a day (worked out because I had work off) and came after dark, wish it was during the daytime. And the final detail, but the car was pretty clean anyways. I do gotta rub down the a couple pieces inside with some rub marks of dirt, but that is just normal maintenance anyways, also some plastic was wrapped around some edges inside of the car, but easy to take off anyways.
Glad I worked with Shannon Nicoletti, he answered the call/text any time I had one, even when he had a day off.
I ordered my Telly mid-August from I-25 and finally received it here in Los Angeles yesterday. Thank you to all in this forum for guiding the process (found my salesperson/dealer through this forum, used the transport company referred by this forum). I have some more questions for those California owners who have purchased from I-25 and have gone through the registration process already:
1. I-25 sent me the signed copies of the purchase agreement (long pink paper) via regular mail. I thought I was going to have a Colorado temp registration paper taped to my windshield but vehicle came with no other paperwork. The only CO DMV paper I got was something called Dealer's Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle. Is this the temp registration I am supposed to carry around until I get CA registration?
2. How long did it take for the dealer to send the paperwork to your local DMV? According to my salesperson, he said it may take around 45 days for the paperwork to be sent because they have to wait for the funding from Kia Finance. That seems odd since they released the vehicle with just an approval without waiting for funding.
3. Did you receive a notification letter from your local DMV telling you that the paperwork has arrived? Or do I have to just call the DMV every week to see if it has arrived?
I know that the process is not consistent (e,g., one forum member said he got the papers sent directly to him with a check for the tax; another forum member said he went to register as soon as he got the vehicle with just the sales contract without waiting for actual DMV package or the check for tax). I just want to make sure this last step goes smoothly. Thank you all.
1. I-25 sent me the signed copies of the purchase agreement (long pink paper) via regular mail. I thought I was going to have a Colorado temp registration paper taped to my windshield but vehicle came with no other paperwork. The only CO DMV paper I got was something called Dealer's Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle. Is this the temp registration I am supposed to carry around until I get CA registration?
2. How long did it take for the dealer to send the paperwork to your local DMV? According to my salesperson, he said it may take around 45 days for the paperwork to be sent because they have to wait for the funding from Kia Finance. That seems odd since they released the vehicle with just an approval without waiting for funding.
3. Did you receive a notification letter from your local DMV telling you that the paperwork has arrived? Or do I have to just call the DMV every week to see if it has arrived?
I know that the process is not consistent (e,g., one forum member said he got the papers sent directly to him with a check for the tax; another forum member said he went to register as soon as he got the vehicle with just the sales contract without waiting for actual DMV package or the check for tax). I just want to make sure this last step goes smoothly. Thank you all.
As in life and with people, processes and procedures are never exactly the same. However, things are not really that complicated and things will work out. Answers for your questions:
1. I picked up my car at i25 and drove around in CO, so I assume I would get something temporary to allow me to drive in CO. Seems like some buyers who have cars shipped did not get CO registration and temp paper license plates. I don't know what the rules are for those who ship and drive in CA.
2. In my case, i25 told me it could take up to 3 weeks for them to get my paperwork to my local DMV. It took just about 3 weeks from my pickup.
3. I don't think DMV usually would call you. Remember to go to DMV within 20 days of receiving your car, otherwise, there are registration fee penalties.
Please read the previous pages of this thread to see what others have been through, just to see what to expect. Basically, drive around a little for car to collect smog data before getting smog check. Don't go to DMV too soon and too late (20 days). DMV appointments are not available online for out of state new car purchase registration. Usually can get same day appointment by going to DMV office. Just before going to DMV, check with i25 to see whether they sent paperwork to you or DMV. If DMV receives paperwork first, they may already started the process and waiting for you. If you go to DMV before paperwork arrive, you start process and may have to make second visit. Depending on how much sales tax, if any, is collected by i25, DMV will calculate tax and registration fees (~$600). Bring insurance information and check book and car transport paperwork.
Good luck.
Update to answer 1. Cars purchased in CO should get CO registration and temp paper license plate for the rear whether it's picked up or shipped.
1. I picked up my car at i25 and drove around in CO, so I assume I would get something temporary to allow me to drive in CO. Seems like some buyers who have cars shipped did not get CO registration and temp paper license plates. I don't know what the rules are for those who ship and drive in CA.
2. In my case, i25 told me it could take up to 3 weeks for them to get my paperwork to my local DMV. It took just about 3 weeks from my pickup.
3. I don't think DMV usually would call you. Remember to go to DMV within 20 days of receiving your car, otherwise, there are registration fee penalties.
Please read the previous pages of this thread to see what others have been through, just to see what to expect. Basically, drive around a little for car to collect smog data before getting smog check. Don't go to DMV too soon and too late (20 days). DMV appointments are not available online for out of state new car purchase registration. Usually can get same day appointment by going to DMV office. Just before going to DMV, check with i25 to see whether they sent paperwork to you or DMV. If DMV receives paperwork first, they may already started the process and waiting for you. If you go to DMV before paperwork arrive, you start process and may have to make second visit. Depending on how much sales tax, if any, is collected by i25, DMV will calculate tax and registration fees (~$600). Bring insurance information and check book and car transport paperwork.
Good luck.
Update to answer 1. Cars purchased in CO should get CO registration and temp paper license plate for the rear whether it's picked up or shipped.
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I don’t think a dealer can sell a new car to a private individual without registering it in the state it was sold in. I know in California you still have to register a vehicle even if it’s non operational. So what happened? Did your Telly arrive without CO registration and temp tags?
Yes it arrived with no plates (front and back) and no registration papers. I called my salesperson today and he apologized - he said it was supposed to be in the glovebox. He emailed me a copy of the temp registration with a window decal and said a plastic temp plate will be sent this week via USPS. So yes, for those waiting for your vehicles to arrive, make sure your dealer sends you the temp registration documents.
So they did register it but just forgot to give it and the tags to you. Yeah I wouldn’t drive without those. Sorry that happened, very frustrating to have a new that you can’t play with!
