OP
@sdjohn avatar
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Johnny Two Tone
'15 GTS300, '86 PX125EFL, '66 VBB, '01 ET4
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9004
Location: San Diego, CA
 
Johnny Two Tone
@sdjohn avatar
'15 GTS300, '86 PX125EFL, '66 VBB, '01 ET4
Joined: UTC
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Location: San Diego, CA
UTC quote
OK, working a trade and included is a problem child which I'm planning to part out most likely, but I'm still curious if it can be salvaged. It's a early 2000's Stella that I'd rather save except for the title and back fees situation. Currently there is no title available (lost) and it was already a salvage title anyway. It has ~$850 in back fees with CA DMV (I checked). I'd save it if I could get a new title, even with the salvage designation, but the back fees are brutal. I can't use the Saints Cycle Works title solution because he doesn't do salvage titles. Even if I found a state to title it in, if I then turned around and tried to get a CA title, would DMV still want those back fees?

I'm not interested in permanently driving it on VT plates.

I'm not in angst over this, but just wondering if there is any way to get a CA title and avoid the 15 years of back fees that are currently sitting there on the bike. There's no way to justify that kind of dough to end up with a salvage title Stella. If I let the frame sit around, will it eventually drop out of the DMV system, or is that a thing of the past?

Is it destined for parts? As parts it already has plenty to offer (tuned engine, disc front brake fork, etc). My current plan is part it and offer the frame for near nothing to a local. It would probably make an excellent donor for someone needing a body section or whatnot.
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10895
Location: Nashville

287 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10895
Location: Nashville

287 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
I could probably do something with that title and frame here in Tennessee. If need to call the DMV to figure out what level of documentation is need to produce, though.

Just need to figure out when CM2 is taking his next road trip to get it here

Alternately, anyone ever checked a frame as baggage?
@christopher_55934 avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2007 Stella 225
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3547
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
 
Ossessionato
@christopher_55934 avatar
2007 Stella 225
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3547
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
UTC quote
I’m confused, if the CA DMV has it in its computer doesn’t it have a registered owner and isn’t it titled in that persons name?
OP
@sdjohn avatar
UTC

Johnny Two Tone
'15 GTS300, '86 PX125EFL, '66 VBB, '01 ET4
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9004
Location: San Diego, CA
 
Johnny Two Tone
@sdjohn avatar
'15 GTS300, '86 PX125EFL, '66 VBB, '01 ET4
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9004
Location: San Diego, CA
UTC quote
Friend of current owner gave or sold it to current owner but title is lost and hasn’t been registered since 2006. Bike is not stolen and shows up clean in nicb database.
@greasy125 avatar
UTC

Sergeant at Arms
Weird 80's Vespas & Cool Vintage Lambrettas
Joined: UTC
Posts: 15080
Location: The state of insanity, SoCal
 
Sergeant at Arms
@greasy125 avatar
Weird 80's Vespas & Cool Vintage Lambrettas
Joined: UTC
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Location: The state of insanity, SoCal
UTC quote
Current owner/steward of Stella is awaiting title via mail. Should be here in a few days.

*wink* *wink* *nod* *nod*
OP
@sdjohn avatar
UTC

Johnny Two Tone
'15 GTS300, '86 PX125EFL, '66 VBB, '01 ET4
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9004
Location: San Diego, CA
 
Johnny Two Tone
@sdjohn avatar
'15 GTS300, '86 PX125EFL, '66 VBB, '01 ET4
Joined: UTC
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Location: San Diego, CA
UTC quote
may not be destined for parts after all.....

at least the frame will be more marketable if I do
@oopsclunkthud avatar
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Banned
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UTC quote
Assuming it’s been off the road (of course it has) the back fees are the result of not filing and paying the non-op fee.

Don’t think the Stella qualifies, but the fee does not apply if the vehicle meets the requirements for historical plates, and is owned by a collector.

There is no way to tell the dmv up front that the fees don’t apply, so you have to rack them up, then request they wave them
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@sdjohn avatar
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Johnny Two Tone
'15 GTS300, '86 PX125EFL, '66 VBB, '01 ET4
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9004
Location: San Diego, CA
 
Johnny Two Tone
@sdjohn avatar
'15 GTS300, '86 PX125EFL, '66 VBB, '01 ET4
Joined: UTC
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Location: San Diego, CA
UTC quote
Yeah I think the Stella can’t meet the historic requirements. Probably end up parted as planned, that’s a lotta fees.
@christopher_55934 avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2007 Stella 225
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3547
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
 
Ossessionato
@christopher_55934 avatar
2007 Stella 225
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3547
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
UTC quote
What are these fees? Does the state of California assume you’ve ridden it since 2006 with expired plates and owe registration fees?
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@sdjohn avatar
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Johnny Two Tone
'15 GTS300, '86 PX125EFL, '66 VBB, '01 ET4
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9004
Location: San Diego, CA
 
Johnny Two Tone
@sdjohn avatar
'15 GTS300, '86 PX125EFL, '66 VBB, '01 ET4
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9004
Location: San Diego, CA
UTC quote
Yeah if you own a bike and don’t pay for years on registration, then sell it, the new owner has to pay up. You can put your bike on non-op if you don’t plan to ride it so this doesn’t happen. Then you pay something much smaller every year until you take it off and put it back on regular. But if things go unpaid and you or the new owner wants to put it on the road, these back fees are due in order to get a current registration.
@geeklion avatar
UTC

The Dude
Too Many piles of Junk that need too much work and too much money
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Posts: 2306
Location: PNW from LBC
 
The Dude
@geeklion avatar
Too Many piles of Junk that need too much work and too much money
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Location: PNW from LBC
UTC quote
My understanding, and the last time I dealt with a similar scenario; California vehicles that have not been registered or paid for in over 7 years time, 'fall out' of the system. After 7 years, the CA DMV has no record of it in their database. All those fee's that accrued during that time, disappear. However, the only way around that is to have zero paperwork, no title, registration, etc, and start the registration process over from scratch as if its a 'barn find'. In CA that means a CHP inspection, VIN inspection and multiple trips to both offices. Dont quote me on this, but that has been my experience; although it has been more than a few years since I've dealt with that ish

Good luck!
UTC

Molto Verboso
LXS 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1212
Location: The OTHER South Bay, CA
 
Molto Verboso
LXS 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1212
Location: The OTHER South Bay, CA
UTC quote
oopsclunkthud wrote:
Assuming it’s been off the road (of course it has) the back fees are the result of not filing and paying the non-op fee.

Don’t think the Stella qualifies, but the fee does not apply if the vehicle meets the requirements for historical plates, and is owned by a collector.

There is no way to tell the dmv up front that the fees don’t apply, so you have to rack them up, then request they wave them
Wait. It looks like you can take a vehicle from "historical plates" status to regular registration status at any time. For my personal case ('74 build, '75 registration 150 Super that's been off the road since 1991) the only hangup is whether it's "of historic interest".

I think I could get it to qualify.
" As used in this section, a vehicle is of historic interest if it is collected, restored, maintained, and operated by a collector or hobbyist principally for purposes of exhibition and historic vehicle club activities."

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=5004

Has anyone tried this successfully?
@oopsclunkthud avatar
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Location: San Francisco
 
Banned
@oopsclunkthud avatar
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UTC quote
Rusty J wrote:
Wait. It looks like you can take a vehicle from "historical plates" status to regular registration status at any time. For my personal case ('74 build, '75 registration 150 Super that's been off the road since 1991) the only hangup is whether it's "of historic interest".

I think I could get it to qualify.
" As used in this section, a vehicle is of historic interest if it is collected, restored, maintained, and operated by a collector or hobbyist principally for purposes of exhibition and historic vehicle club activities."

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=5004

Has anyone tried this successfully?
You don't actually need to have the historical plates, Just meet the definition, and they don't actually even issue the plates for motorcycles.

I've used this many times, links to more info:
https://modernvespa.com/forum/post1310404#1310404
https://modernvespa.com/forum/post2127580#2127580
https://modernvespa.com/forum/post769170#769170

maybe we should have a wiki section...
UTC

Molto Verboso
LXS 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1212
Location: The OTHER South Bay, CA
 
Molto Verboso
LXS 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1212
Location: The OTHER South Bay, CA
UTC quote
Thank you!
@popgunandy avatar
UTC

Hooked
61 VBB 76 Rally 200 79 P200 80 Sport 100
Joined: UTC
Posts: 288
Location: Folsom CA
 
Hooked
@popgunandy avatar
61 VBB 76 Rally 200 79 P200 80 Sport 100
Joined: UTC
Posts: 288
Location: Folsom CA
UTC quote
The best way to handle a complicated problem at the CA DMV is to write them at RODDDCustService@dmv.ca.gov for expedited service. Your case is routed to a specialist who can do amazing things to help you.
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10895
Location: Nashville

287 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10895
Location: Nashville

287 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
Despite their reputation as the worst government agency to deal with, I've had people at the Texas, Illinois, and now Tennessee DMV's all go the extra mile to work the system and help me out with my weird scooter-related issues over the years.

I can't speak to California, but I'm sure they're the same way.

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