How To Buy And Register Used Car In Califronia

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Yous may have recently moved to California from another state. Or, y'all may already live in California, only you bought a car in another state. In either instance, yous'll demand to follow California'due south process for registering an out-of-land car. There are a few additional steps to registering an out-of-country motorcar that don't employ to cars bought in the state of California.^[i]

1
Bank check the car'southward emissions label. Y'all motorcar will have an emissions label under the hood. If it's certified in California, it will include a statement that it conforms to California state regulations. If information technology doesn't include that statement, you may non exist able to annals the car in California.^[2]
- If you're a California resident and you're looking at buying a car out of state, you might want to check this before you buy the car. If you lot're unable to annals your car in California, you may not be able to go your coin back.
- You don't need to worry about California'south emissions laws if your car was congenital before 1976.^[3]
2
Evaluate exemptions if your car isn't California certified. If your machine doesn't conform to California state regulations, it'due south considered a "49-state car." California law provides a few exemptions that will allow yous to annals a 49-state car. Y'all will demand to show the DMV proof that your auto falls into i of these exemptions.^[4]
- If y'all got the car as office of a divorce, inheritance, or legal settlement, you'll be able to register the car.
- If your California-registered vehicle was stolen or wrecked out of land, and you bought a 49-land car to replace it, you lot tin annals it.
- California also grants exemptions for emergency vehicles, or a car you purchased while you were stationed on active military machine duty.
- Cars built earlier 1976 also are subject to an exemption.^[5]
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3
Get the last issued out-of-state title or registration. To testify that you own the vehicle, you must present the championship or registration from the country the motorcar came from. You lot'll need to get the title unless the car is financed.^[6]
- Visit the California DMV website at world wide web.dmv.ca.gov to observe a list of out-of-country DMV offices where you can request a re-create of the championship or registration.
- If the out-of-country title has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, you typically will need to request a indistinguishable from the country that issued the title earlier yous tin can register your car and go a California title.
4
Complete the odometer disclosure. Your championship will have an odometer disclosure section that must be completed by the seller and acknowledged by y'all equally the buyer of the automobile. This disclosure isn't mandatory if the car is more than x years old, or is a make new car.^[7]
- If y'all're planning on registering and using the motorcar as a commercial vehicle, you lot also typically won't need to complete the odometer disclosure.
- If you don't accept the championship (such as if your car is financed and the lien holder has the title), you must make full out a REG 262 grade. You can't download this course online because it is printed on security paper. Phone call the California DMV at 1-800-777-0133 to have a class mailed to you.^[8]
v
Make a copy of your bill of sale. If you recently purchased the car from out of land and are registering it in California as a new owner, you will need to nowadays a copy of the bill of sale to establish the chain of buying.^[9]
- If you didn't become a document specifically titled "Nib of Sale," a finance understanding or other purchase understanding will suffice.
6
Calculate your registration fees. The California DMV has a fee reckoner available online that you can use to decide how much you'll have to pay to register your out-of-state car.^[10]
- Go to https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/portal/feecalculatorweb/index and click on the "nonresident vehicles" link.
- Y'all volition have to provide information about the type of vehicle and model year. Yous'll also enter the engagement you purchased the vehicle and the appointment yous offset drove it in California.
- If y'all paid whatever use or sales revenue enhancement in the other land, enter this information besides. Yous'll become a credit for it towards your California taxes.
vii
Certify your car at a California smog station. Nigh cars must have a smog certification before they can be registered in California. The only cars that don't require smog certification are diesel-powered cars of model year 1998 or newer.^[eleven]
- To find the smog station nearest you lot, visit https://www.smogcheck.ca.gov and click the "Discover a Station" button.
- Smog cheque prices aren't regulated, then you may want to store around at several stations to find the best toll.^[12]
8
Verify the car's weight if you're registering the car as a commercial vehicle. If your out-of-state car is for personal use, you won't need a weighmaster's certificate. All the same, y'all will need i if y'all plan to register the auto as a commercial vehicle and use it for business purposes.^[13]
- You can observe public scales by visiting the website of the California Department of Food and Agronomics at https://apps1.cdfa.ca.gov/publicscales/.
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1
Visit your local California DMV role. When you're ready to register your out-of-state car in California for the first time, y'all'll have to drive the car to the nearest DMV field office and submit an application along with all the required documents.^[fourteen]
- To find a field function virtually you, visit the DMV's website at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/dmv/offices.
- To shorten your expect time, you tin brand an appointment online or past calling 1-800-777-0133. Field offices are non open on weekends or holidays.
2
Consummate the application for title or registration. The application for title or registration asks for information well-nigh you lot and the auto you want to register in California. Y'all besides must provide data about the purchase of the car.^[fifteen]
- Yous tin can download the awarding from the California DMV's website and fill it out alee of fourth dimension. Y'all tin can as well get a copy of the application at the DMV and fill it out while you lot wait.
three
Accept your car verified at the DMV. You must take your out-of-state auto to your local DMV to verify the auto's vehicle identification number (VIN). This must exist washed past an authorized DMV employee, who will besides conduct a visual inspection of the car.^[16]
- The California DMV recommends that you make an appointment and then you don't take to await as long. If you take all of your required paperwork, you can register your auto at the same time you get the verification.
4
Submit your awarding along with certifications and proof of ownership. When you've finished filling out your application, you'll need to give it to the DMV clerk along with the championship or registration from the other state, your nib of sale, smog certification, and any other required documents.^[17]
- The clerk will verify your documents and requite your originals back to you.
5
Show your driver's license and proof of insurance. Before the DMV will process your registration, you must prove that yous accept motorcar insurance that meets the country minimum requirements.^[18]
- For individual passenger vehicles, you lot must have at least $15,000 coverage for the injury or decease of one person, $30,000 coverage for the injury or death of more than 1 person, and $five,000 coverage for damage to property.^[19]
vi
Pay the required fees. In one case the clerk has processed your awarding, they'll calculate the corporeality of fees you owe to register the car. If you've already calculated your fees online, you'll have an thought of how much this is going to exist. Yet, if your calculation differs from the clerk's calculation, the clerk'south adding is the one that y'all'll have to pay.^[20]
- DMV field offices accept cash, personal checks, and credit or debit cards.
- A portion of these fees may exist taxation deductible. Contact a California tax advisor or consultant for more information.
vii
Plow over your out-of-country license plates if required. In most cases, you'll have to requite the out-of-state license plates to the DMV to get your new California plates. There are exemptions, such as if the plates are expired.^[21]
- If the other state requires you lot to send the plates back to them, information technology's your responsibleness to turn the plates back in – the California DMV won't do this for yous.
8

Put your new plates on your car. One time your registration is complete, the clerk will issue your registration certificate and give yous new plates to put on your car. If yous ordered specialty or custom plates, you'll get a temporary plate to use until y'all get your plates in the postal service.^[22]

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Commodity Summary 10

To register your out-of-state car in California, start by locating your current championship or registration and nib of sale to prove that y'all ain your car. Next, drive the car to your nearest smog station to make certain it passes California'south emission regulations. If you don't know where your nearest smog station is, you tin can locate it at smogcheck.ca.gov. In one case you've washed that, drive to your local DMV role in California. Remember to bring all of your paperwork with you, including your driver'due south license and proof of insurance. After that, go an application class for championship or registration at the DMV and fill in the details. When you've finished the paperwork, pay the required fees. Then, turn over your out-of-state license plates if required, and switch them for your new California plates. For more tips, including how to check if your 49-state car is exempt from California regulations, read on!

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