OP
@yanobobano avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
GTS 250ie, GT 200 (cannonball scoot)
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Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
 
Molto Verboso
@yanobobano avatar
GTS 250ie, GT 200 (cannonball scoot)
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Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
UTC quote
I bought a scooter off of a member here in the San Diego area, but I would like to register and title it here in Hawaii without shipping it over.
All the CHP places have denied the requested VIN verification, even though I have all the paperwork they need (hell, my DMV even said they'd take the CA equivalent) and all they'd need to do is look at the VIN and sign off on it. They just said they won't do it and gave pretty much no reason other than it's "just their policy." Pretty vague and unexplanitory to me. There isn't even a requirement that it has to be CHP on my form. They (HI DMV) said any LEO could do it. I just want my HI license plate for the SCBR....

Does anyone in CA know why they're saying this? Does anyone know who I could call to get a straight answer? I can't find any sort of law or code or anything that supports the statements given by these places in CA.

Most importantly, can anyone help me get this done? Crying or Very sad emoticon
@socalguy avatar
UTC

bodgemaster
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
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bodgemaster
@socalguy avatar
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UTC quote
Why do you want to register it in Hawaii if you are going to leave it here in California?
@multiscootguy avatar
UTC

Hooked
'07 BV 500 '10 Keeway Outlook 150 '07 Keeway Matrix 50 '95 Suzuki Savage 650
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UTC quote
Does the scooter have a current valid registration, plate and sticker for operation in California? Are you saying that you have someone who's wiling to legally ride it or take it on a carrier to the DMV or CHP location? Or are you trying to get them to go the scooter's current location? (they usually won't do that).

What happens when you attempt to run the VIN on the transfer calculator?

There's lots of reasons for them to deny your request, and most of them are green with Benjamin Franklin or dead presidents on one side. California requires that past due registrations fees, penalties, and "use tax" to be paid in order to allow title transfer. Registering in another state prevents California from collecting this money.

If the registration is current, then you need to pay the transfer fees and use tax (same as the sales tax rate). This is money they want too.

It gets more complicated if the owner has lost the title, since duplicate title won't be issued until all the past due amounts are paid. If you have the title, then you can register it in another state, but if that state requires physical verification, then the current registration status matters.

You may have to have someone register it for you in California first, and failing that, in Nevada or Arizona, if you have the title and want to avoid paying any registration fees and the use tax. Or you could have someone put it in storage for you until you're ready to pick it up, but then you would have to get it registered somewhere outside of California because you'll have the additional registration fees and penalties added on to it, since you can't file it as non-operational status until you transfer the title.
OP
@yanobobano avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
GTS 250ie, GT 200 (cannonball scoot)
Joined: UTC
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Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
 
Molto Verboso
@yanobobano avatar
GTS 250ie, GT 200 (cannonball scoot)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1057
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
UTC quote
SoCalGuy wrote:
Why do you want to register it in Hawaii if you are going to leave it here in California?
Well, because it doesn't cost as much here as it does in CA. I'm using it for the Cannonball in June this year, and will eventually be shipping it back to Hawaii, so in the end, I'll already be most of the way there as far as registration goes.
OP
@yanobobano avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
GTS 250ie, GT 200 (cannonball scoot)
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Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
 
Molto Verboso
@yanobobano avatar
GTS 250ie, GT 200 (cannonball scoot)
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Posts: 1057
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
UTC quote
multiscootguy wrote:
Does the scooter have a current valid registration, plate and sticker for operation in California? Are you saying that you have someone who's wiling to legally ride it or take it on a carrier to the DMV or CHP location? Or are you trying to get them to go the scooter's current location? (they usually won't do that).

What happens when you attempt to run the VIN on the transfer calculator?

There's lots of reasons for them to deny your request, and most of them are green with Benjamin Franklin or dead presidents on one side. California requires that past due registrations fees, penalties, and "use tax" to be paid in order to allow title transfer. Registering in another state prevents California from collecting this money.

If the registration is current, then you need to pay the transfer fees and use tax (same as the sales tax rate). This is money they want too.

It gets more complicated if the owner has lost the title, since duplicate title won't be issued until all the past due amounts are paid. If you have the title, then you can register it in another state, but if that state requires physical verification, then the current registration status matters.

You may have to have someone register it for you in California first, and failing that, in Nevada or Arizona, if you have the title and want to avoid paying any registration fees and the use tax. Or you could have someone put it in storage for you until you're ready to pick it up, but then you would have to get it registered somewhere outside of California because you'll have the additional registration fees and penalties added on to it, since you can't file it as non-operational status until you transfer the title.
Yes I have someone that can take it to get the VIN verified. Everything is current.

I figured it's probably got something to do with $$.
@dooglas avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GTS 300ABS, Buddy 125, Buddy Kick 125
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Location: Oregon City, OR
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@dooglas avatar
GTS 300ABS, Buddy 125, Buddy Kick 125
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UTC quote
yanobobano wrote:
Yes I have someone that can take it to get the VIN verified. Everything is current.
I must be missing something, or Hawaii motor vehicle rules are quite unusual. If the bike has a current valid CA title, why does HI need anything more than that title with the signature of the previous owner to issue a new title and registration? Usually VIN inspections and the like are for lost titles, untitled vehicles, and so on. (at least that is true here, and was true in FL when I recently retitled a vehicle there)
@judy avatar
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World Traveler
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
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World Traveler
@judy avatar
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
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UTC quote
Yano have you tried another place. Wahiawa is good. Their clueless. Laughing emoticon Seriously you should be able to do it. Ah,maybe because you don't have a current inspection (Hawaii one). You need that before you can do anything. The new idiot ipad inspection stuff is buggering it up i think. If we had the old way you could get one easy. DOOG they are unusual. Not once do you need to show your DL to get anything registered. You need to get an inspection done (they don't need a DL just insurance papers). Then you take the inspection sticker to the DMV where they give you your registration after you show them the sticker (still no DL shown). When a bike or car hits here they do a VIN check. 76 had to have the LX weighed and a whole bunch of stuff. I'd still try Wahiawa because every station is different. You might get lucky. Vermont is easy to get things done a swell. Check with Matty he'd know how to get around it. 8)
@caschnd1 avatar
UTC

Grumpy Biker
1980 Vespa P200e (sold), 2002 Vespa ET4 (sold), 1949 Harley-Davidson FL
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@caschnd1 avatar
1980 Vespa P200e (sold), 2002 Vespa ET4 (sold), 1949 Harley-Davidson FL
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UTC quote
yanobobano wrote:
SoCalGuy wrote:
Why do you want to register it in Hawaii if you are going to leave it here in California?
Well, because it doesn't cost as much here as it does in CA. I'm using it for the Cannonball in June this year, and will eventually be shipping it back to Hawaii, so in the end, I'll already be most of the way there as far as registration goes.
Dealing with DMVs can be a pain. Anything I want to register in Arizona that is coming from out of state must be inspected by an AZ DMV inspector and signed off on before I can get a title and registration in AZ. I suspect this is the same type of policy you are running into in Hawaii. You will likely save yourself a ton of trouble by simply biting the bullet and registering the scooter in CA and then reregistering it and doing the title transfer when you get it back to Hawaii. Of course, you will need a address of residence in CA in order to register it there.

Good luck.

-Craig
@socalguy avatar
UTC

bodgemaster
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
Joined: UTC
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Location: So Cal
 
bodgemaster
@socalguy avatar
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
Joined: UTC
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Location: So Cal
UTC quote
yanobobano wrote:
SoCalGuy wrote:
Why do you want to register it in Hawaii if you are going to leave it here in California?
Well, because it doesn't cost as much here as it does in CA. I'm using it for the Cannonball in June this year, and will eventually be shipping it back to Hawaii, so in the end, I'll already be most of the way there as far as registration goes.
Well there's your answer. California CHP is only required to verify VINs so vehicles can be titled and registered in California. Not surprising they won't help you since you're basically trying to avoid paying California sales tax and license fees.
@cdwise avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GTS 300, Buddy 125
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Location: Knoxville, TN
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@cdwise avatar
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UTC quote
judy wrote:
DOOG they are unusual. Not once do you need to show your DL to get anything registered. You need to get an inspection done (they don't need a DL just insurance papers). Then you take the inspection sticker to the DMV where they give you your registration after you show them the sticker (still no DL shown). When a bike or car hits here they do a VIN check. 76 had to have the LX weighed and a whole bunch of stuff. I'd still try Wahiawa because every station is different. You might get lucky. Vermont is easy to get things done a swell. Check with Matty he'd know how to get around it. 8)
Colorado require VIN and mileage verification if the used bike is being registered for the first time in the state. As for getting the VIN verification done check with PD around Camp Pendleton. There are a lot of soldiers there that are residents of other states so they maybe more used to getting requests for registering vehicles outside of California.
@tball avatar
UTC

Hooked
300GTS, 06 Honda Big Ruckus, 06/08 Morphesty and a 13 650 Burgman
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Hooked
@tball avatar
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UTC quote
I just had my MP3 registered in Ca from Nevada. It had low miles so I had to get the VIN inspected as well as the Ca acceptance for DOT or some BS like that. Took three visits. It is a pain in the buttocks to deal with CHP, DMV and I will never do it again. Well maybe if the deal is right:) I wish you luck but do not think you can get it registered in Hi while it is in Ca. Although I hope you do. Good luck.
UTC

Enthusiast
08 Piaggio MP3 400ie
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Location: CA
 
Enthusiast
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UTC quote
Re: Help! CA VIN Verification
yanobobano wrote:
I bought a scooter off of a member here in the San Diego area, but I would like to register and title it here in Hawaii without shipping it over.
All the CHP places have denied the requested VIN verification, even though I have all the paperwork they need (hell, my DMV even said they'd take the CA equivalent) and all they'd need to do is look at the VIN and sign off on it. They just said they won't do it and gave pretty much no reason other than it's "just their policy." Pretty vague and unexplanitory to me. There isn't even a requirement that it has to be CHP on my form. They (HI DMV) said any LEO could do it. I just want my HI license plate for the SCBR....

Does anyone in CA know why they're saying this? Does anyone know who I could call to get a straight answer? I can't find any sort of law or code or anything that supports the statements given by these places in CA.

Most importantly, can anyone help me get this done? Crying or Very sad emoticon
You don't need to go to the CHP. Some DMV locations have the personnel to do vehicle verification, and any sworn in CA police officers can fill out that form as well.
@socalguy avatar
UTC

bodgemaster
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
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bodgemaster
@socalguy avatar
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Joined: UTC
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UTC quote
Re: Help! CA VIN Verification
felix168 wrote:
You don't need to go to the CHP. Some DMV locations have the personnel to do vehicle verification, and any sworn in CA police officers can fill out that form as well.
True, but again, they only do this so vehicles can be registered in the State of California. As soon as yano hands them a form showing it's for the purpose of registering the scooter in Hawaii, they'll decline because it's a different state.

He needs to find someone here in California with legal authority to sign off on a Hawaiian vehicle verification. A vacationing Hawaiian DMV officer maybe? Good luck!
@motovista avatar
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GT 200
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GT 200
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UTC quote
Dooglas wrote:
I must be missing something, or Hawaii motor vehicle rules are quite unusual. If the bike has a current valid CA title, why does HI need anything more than that title with the signature of the previous owner to issue a new title and registration? Usually VIN inspections and the like are for lost titles, untitled vehicles, and so on. (at least that is true here, and was true in FL when I recently retitled a vehicle there)
Every State I'm familiar with requires some Govt. official verify the vin if you are transfering ownership of a vehicle you bought out of State into your Name. If you move and take your vehicles that are already in your name with you, most states don't require a VIN inspection.
If the vehicle is currently registered in California, you should be able to transfer the title and registration into your name, with your Hawaii address, unless the rules have changed in the last 10 years.
If the Hawaii DMV will take the CA equivalent, the person willing to help you could probably take the bike and both the HI and CA forms to any local police station or sherrif and get someone to do it, especially in the small towns around San Diego.
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UTC quote
In California I've used a private VIN verifier that is licensed by the state. Costs about $75 but often worth it in situations like these.
@socalguy avatar
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bodgemaster
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
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bodgemaster
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UTC quote
Motovista wrote:
If the Hawaii DMV will take the CA equivalent, the person willing to help you could probably take the bike and both the HI and CA forms to any local police station or sherrif and get someone to do it, especially in the small towns around San Diego.
The seller might be able to get a California verification form signed by a California sheriff. But I'd be surprised if Hawaii accepted that. The problem is there's no legal requirement that a California sheriff or police office sign off on an VIN verification form from another state, so they won't do it.

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but the reason they don't sign off on out-of-state VIN verifications here in CA is to keep people from doing exactly what yano is trying to do. The licensing fees in California are high, and if they did, everyone would be driving around with out-of-state registrations.
@cdwise avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GTS 300, Buddy 125
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@cdwise avatar
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UTC quote
SoCalGuy wrote:
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but the reason they don't sign off on out-of-state VIN verifications here in CA is to keep people from doing exactly what yano is trying to do. The licensing fees in California are high, and if they did, everyone would be driving around with out-of-state registrations.
California pulls people over for out of state plates especially in residential neighborhoods. My parents had that happen to them a few times since they kept their house in California when they moved to Texas. My mother's cancer treatments were in California since their Texas home was not near a major medical center while their house in California was.

California has become over reaching in its vehicle registration. My brother was visiting his in-laws who live in California. He left his truck with them along with his dog while they went on a cruise. While the truck was parked in his father-in-law's driveway and idiot ran a stop sign and hit the parked truck so hard it moved it sideways 8 feet totaling the truck. Good thing the truck was there because it stopped about a foot from the window his father-in-law was having breakfast in front of reading the paper. Otherwise he'd probably have been killed. Anyway, my brother needed to replace the truck so he could drive back to Texas with their 130lb great dane mix. California insisted that he had to pay all sales taxes, other taxes and fees if he bought it in California just to drive it back to Texas where he'd have to have it registered within 30 days since he IS a Texas resident. As a result he ended up flying to Utah where he bought a new truck and drove back to California to pick up his wife and dog. Then they all three drove back to Texas on the Utah issued temporary plates and first registration was in Texas.

Like my brother Yano is not a California resident. The scoot will not be staying in California since she and it will need to be in Alaska the end of may. After the cannonball Yano said it will be shipped to Hawaii where she lives. Sounds to me like the connection with California is slight.
@socalguy avatar
UTC

bodgemaster
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
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Location: So Cal
 
bodgemaster
@socalguy avatar
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7223
Location: So Cal
UTC quote
Completely agree that California registration laws are overreaching. They're a huge source of revenue for the State. Sales tax, use tax, license fees, transfer fees ... it's a money maker.

Even though yano isn't a resident of CA, and even though the scoot will only be in CA temporarily, if she drives it anywhere in CA she needs to have: (1) a current registration, and (2) proof of insurance. Not sure her insurance company would insure a scooter registered to someone else, but they might. If they will, and the tags are current, she may want to consider just keeping the registration in the seller's name, and wait until she gets back to Hawaii to transfer title.
OP
@yanobobano avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
GTS 250ie, GT 200 (cannonball scoot)
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Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
 
Molto Verboso
@yanobobano avatar
GTS 250ie, GT 200 (cannonball scoot)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1057
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
UTC quote
Wow... who knew this was so controversial? Laughing emoticon

I ended up finding one of those private VIN verifiers, and he will be doing it tomorrow. Yay! Going to cost me $125, but whatever. Just want to get it done.

The reason Hawaii requires the VIN verification is because it is done by our safety check people and no one else. So, being that the scoot is not on island and can't be checked as usual, I have to get a form filled out that says the VIN on the scoot matches what is on the title and that means I am not required to submit the yearly safety check info when it's time to renew the registration. Good news is that Hawaii will take pretty much anything. Written letter signed by any LEO, our CL22 form signed by any LEO, or CA REG 31 form. AND even better news is that they will even allow for a non LEO to do it as long as they show proof that they are licensed by the state of CA to do these verifications. (Wish I had known this from the beginning, or we all wouldn't be having this conversation and everything would have been done by now. But I guess that's my own fault for just going into the DMV and talking to the people there instead of calling the office that handles all this stuff like I did yesterday. Razz emoticon)

The scooter will pretty much be unused while in CA and will be going up to Alaska in the back of a truck, so I don't see much potential for getting pulled over. I'll have insurance and everything, so I'll be legit.

I just want to say thanks to everyone for their input. And even though you think you're being a wet blanket, you have given me a lot of insight SoCalGuy. I can't buy you a beer, so I will give you a good karma thumbs up!
@socalguy avatar
UTC

bodgemaster
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7223
Location: So Cal
 
bodgemaster
@socalguy avatar
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7223
Location: So Cal
UTC quote
Aw, thanks, glad it worked out for you. Good luck with the Cannonball.
@judy avatar
UTC

World Traveler
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
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World Traveler
@judy avatar
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
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UTC quote
Clap emoticon Clap emoticon Glad you got it sorted. Have you named it yet?
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