California Registration Questions

[Adam R]

I have a 91 GS that I brought into CA from Arizona.  I'd like to register the bike here in CA, but I've never registered a vehicle in California (I'm from Maryland).  What am I in for?

- Do I need a state inspection before I can register the bike?  If so, is it a thorough inspection or a superficial affair like in VA or in some New England States.  Specifically my horn doesn't work, and I don't really want to try to fix it if I don't absolutely have to.

- Fees:  The DMV website wasn't very helpful here; I could only gather that I need to pay a set registration fee of $28, then some small administrative fees and then a percentage of my bikes value.  Is this based on purchase price or blue book?  Also, according to the web site it looks like 2%, but that seems way to low, I've been told to expect around 10 percent.

- Insurance:  Is proof of insurance needed before visiting the DMV?

Anything else I'm forgetting?

Thanks a lot California folks and I hope I'll see some of you out in the canyons this fall.

Adam R

[Linh]

I purchased my first bike from someone who was in the military and the bike was still registered in another state.

Here are fees that I paid on my '96 Savage in October.  Do not know if things have changed since then:

Reg Fee $28
CHP Fee $2
VLF $12
Other Misc Fees $19

The rest of what you pay will be taxes on what the purchase price was (not blue book).  If you put a really low purchase price down then you won't have to pay very much in taxes.  

For me, they did do an inspection.  A really basic one at the DMV.  You don't have to do it somewhere else beforehand.  When you go to the DMV to reg your bike, a DMV agent will go out and do a quick inspection.  I do not think they tested my horn or even checked turn signals.  I think the main purpose is just to check the VIN.

They don't require proof of insurance to register the bike.

We just renewed one of our bike reg's at AAA and it was so painless and took like 5 minutes (if that).  If you are a member at AAA you might call them and ask if you can register an out of state bike there.   I'm not sure they will do this type of reg since they have to check the bike for the VIN but it's worth a call to see if they'll do it if it means avoiding LONG LINES at the DMV!

Hope this helps and welcome to CALI!

[Adam R]

SInce my Arizona tags are expired, do I have to truck or trailer to bike to the DMV site in order for them to inspect the VIN?


Adam

[Kingleo75]

I bought my bike in Alaska in 96 and moved back to Cali. in 97,  the DMV never even verified the VIN on my bike.  I just took the registration from AK in and proof of insurance, paid the fee's and gave them my old plate, and they gave me the new plate and temp registration card right there on the spot.  I don't remember what I paid for everything but it wasn't that expensive, I think less than $80.

[Pkaaso]

SInce my Arizona tags are expired, do I have to truck or trailer to bike to the DMV site in order for them to inspect the VIN?


Adam

The DMV won't care if you ride it there or not.  But, the cops will.  If you can get it trailered, it would be best.  Otherwise, fly low and avoid the radar.

:mrgreen:

[The Buddha]

I bought my bike in Alaska in 96 and moved back to Cali. in 97,  the DMV never even verified the VIN on my bike.  I just took the registration from AK in and proof of insurance, paid the fee's and gave them my old plate, and they gave me the new plate and temp registration card right there on the spot.  I don't remember what I paid for everything but it wasn't that expensive, I think less than $80.

Only in CA can $80 to register a bike be considered "Not expensive" Just kidding a little...expired tags... I have been sent bills of over $300 for expired tags from the DMV...Of course you tell the seller to knock off his price by that amount and take it out of state and get it registered there...Washington state was my favorite...I took my 89 and 90 GS there and I also took my nitehawk there saving over $1000 in the process. With all the fleecing they still managed to go bankrupt??? Wonderful...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Adam R]

Well, I spent my morning at the Costa Mesa DMV and now have tags.  Total cost: $88.

But this is not as bad as I thought; having registered bikes in Maryland I'm used to paying $35-50 for a full safety inspection before even arriving at the MVA(DMV).  

Here in Costa Mesa they didn't even want to check my lights or horn (which I spent an hour fixing yesterday).  Just a cursory numbers check.

Oh well, now on to insurance ...