california registration

glimmertwin · #1 (**permalink**) 05-07-2011, 09:47 PM

Brothers,

I am in need of some help with registering a Florida Cobra in California. The car is currently registered in FL and in is being prepared for transport to CA.

THANKS!
Diesel

sg7025 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-07-2011, 10:08 PM

I just completed the process, bringing in an out of state registered cobra into California. Its not too bad, just a lot of red tape to get through. I can help guide you through the process, its not bad, but definitely a process. There are plenty of SB100 numbers left, I got number 190 in April of this year. What do you have questions on?

glimmertwin · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2011, 07:46 AM

Hello and thank you for responding.
Rather than just showing up at the DMV I would like to be prepared on what to look out for.
First: how does one get a temporary permit in order to drive the car home and back and forth to the DMV if necessary?
Your recent experience with this process will come in handy and I very much appreciate your guidance.

glimmertwin · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2011, 07:53 AM

Hello and thank you for responding.
Rather than just showing up at the DMV I would like to be prepared on what to look out for.
First: how does one get a temporary permit in order to drive the car home and back and forth to the DMV if necessary?
Your recent experience with this process will come in handy and I very much appreciate your guidance.

SkipB · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2011, 09:54 AM

sg7025,

Tell me. Did you get an SB100 number for a previously (out of state) registered car? I thought it came under SB1578. Just curious?

SkipB

BRYCE · #6 (**permalink**) 05-08-2011, 10:27 AM

You will need a brake and light inspection, a CHP verification and all the paperwork from your previous state. Go to the DMV and they can give you a temporary operation permit, so you can drive. the car. As stated in the previous posts there are many SB 100's available. Good luck and enjoy.

sg7025 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-08-2011, 11:34 AM

So here is my recent experience. You can't get a temporary before you get the car, but your bill of sale paperwork should be sufficient should you get pulled over. Within a few days of getting your car go to DMV and pay your fees and get your temporary.

This is where patience will pay off. DMV won't know what to do most of the time because its an out of state kit car. Ask for the manager. There going to try and make you do all kinds of stupid things because they really don't know. After a few trips back and forth I think I got it all figured out.

Anytime you bring a kit car into CA that was already registered somewhere else, CA considers it a new car, no matter what. The key words that you want to keep saying is that you are trying to register " a specialty constructed vehicle". Kit car or other terms mean something different. Most likely saying SB100 won't mean anything to them either, its called something different in DMV speak.

After paying fees and getting temp. DMV will make you get an appt for VIN verification by CHP and possibly brake and light inspection. Once you get that, you bring it back to DMV and then they call Sacramento and get you a "number of sequence", this is your SB100 application. After a few weeks (2-4) you get some stuff in the mail with your sequence number. Then and only then can you make an appt with the local BAR referee to get your smog exemption. They won't smog it, just look at it to say yep, its smog exempt. They'll give you a vehicle build date of 2000, thats just a generic year, they'll place a sticker on your car.......Go back to DMV and finally get your plates!!!! Your done.

The process took about 3 months, multiple DMV visits, and a lot of patience. Its not hard, but a lot of process. Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck!

-Greg

kurtmart · #8 (**permalink**) 05-08-2011, 11:54 AM

sg7025 described the process perfectly. Don't get seduced into registering it as a 1965 Ford or anything similar. You haven't said how it's titled in FLA. Some states you can get away with 65 Ford or 66 Cobra etc. But if you use that designation when you reregister In CA that's considered fraud.

glimmertwin · #9 (**permalink**) 05-08-2011, 08:48 PM

Thank you all for taking the time to respond and a very speacial nod of appreciation to Greg for the details on his "recent CA DMV experience". I'll do as instructed and report on the progress.
Can't wait to introduce this machine to the Los Angeles Crest Highway....
Diesel

G-Pete · #10 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 07:09 AM

more info here...

Registration Requirements for Home Made Specially Constructed or Kit Vehicles

G-Pete · #11 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 07:22 AM

However - last fall at a SEMA conference I heart to the grapevine California is working on to remove SB100 and A.B. 1700 and replace with a different emission law. For specialty constructed vehicles no more exceptions - they have to pass the emissions test for that year registered. The applies also for out of state registrations.