dvl Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 I was just at the DMV to get my temporary VIN (TIN) and pay my taxes, in preparation to be issued an SB100 number on Jan 3rd. The DMV clerk told me I needed to bring the vehicle in, so they could issue a VIN; as opposed to a TIN form and a CHP issued VIN. My kit is not fully assembled, so bringing it to the DMV today is out of the question. Having the DMV issue a VIN is inconsistent with everything I've read about registering a specially constructed vehicle in CA. It may be fine, but there is no way I will have the car completed today for a DMV inspection. I was just at the Pasadena DMV. Is there a DMV around LA that people have had good experiences with, for SPCNS? Thanks, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 No, the CHP is to issue the VIN#, sounds like the clerk didn't know how to handle an SB100 (most don't as it is an unusual procedure) You really needed to be doing this weeks/months ago, you might be boned as the time it takes to straighten out your paperwork will be time lost for the DMV to call into Sacramento for your sequence number, when I did mine all the numbers were gone by 10am. That said, I heard that they didn't sell out the sequence numbers this year, so you may still have a chance, apparently the economy slowed people down. I highly recommend the the Thousand Oaks DMV, they have a lot of experience with the process but word has got out about them, so get there really early. I started my process months in advance and and even with the TO DMV's experience the first clerk I had didn't know about it and messed it up (and I didn't catch it), so I had to go back a second time and got the manager to sort it out. I then went back a couple of weeks before just to have them double check my paperwork and they still found some mistakes. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvl Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share Posted December 31, 2010 Thanks for the info. I'm going to try the West Hollywood DMV and maybe drive out to TO if that doesn't work. I know I should have started earlier (aquiring parts, life, and a loooong jury duty appointment got in the way). Anyway, thanks again for your advice. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notakit Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 No advise here, jut an observation; Have you ever noticed asking ten DMV employees the same question yields ten completely different answers?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvl Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share Posted December 31, 2010 The clerks at the West Hollywood DMV are my new best friends. They only do registration, are friendly and helpful, just had exhaustive training in SPCNS and SB100, they had all their SPCNS memos and training aids on hand, and the place was nearly empty. They even said they would be happy to see me Monday morning for SB100. I half expect them to serve breakfast... I highly recommend this place. It's 10000X better than Pasadena. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 (edited) dvl, Congratulations on finding a workable DMV - it can be harder than one might think. This is probably the most important step of all! I understand the last of the 500 SPCNS numbers for 2010 was not issued until mid-October, but for a few years there they were all being issued on day one. Who knows what will happen in 2011. Best to plan for the worst and hope for the best. Here is a quick checklist of what you will need: MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin) receipt for chassis receipt for engine receipt for gearbox completed DMV form REG 343 - Application for Title or Registration completed DMV form REG 5036 - Statement of Construction checkbook or piggy bank As MoPho pointed out, it is best to get as much done ahead of time as possible (which in your case means this afternoon!). There is also a registration entry in the Wiki section of the California Caterham Club forum that you may find useful. Best of luck. Edited December 31, 2010 by Sean needed editing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvl Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share Posted December 31, 2010 Thanks again for the advice. It's all taken care of now. I had all the necessary paperwork in order this morning. I was in and out of the WeHo DMV in 20 minutes, with a correctly generated TIN in their system, a form to take to the CHP, and temporary registration. I'll be back there again Monday at 4am... Now I just have to finish assembling the car... Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Yeah, I had the first DMV wanting to see my car. I think there was concern about people with built cars not getting a cert while other cars weren't even close to being done. Went to a different DMV as car wasn't ready but I actually didn't make the cut in 2008 as they went in a couple hours and drove on temps that year. I found another DMV (Shafter) that took all my paperwork in advance and told me to not bother coming in, they'd call me (a little scary). Luckily I was the first and on top of the numbered the pile. Got the call mid-morning. They were very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 One more thing - be sure to double-check that the VIN on the paperwork returned to you by the DMV is the same VIN that is on the paperwork you submitted to them and on the car. Somebody at DMV fat-fingered my car's VIN into the computer with two digits of the VIN incorrect, and it turned into a nightmare trying to get it corrected. Not fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Read this to the end because the problem I had could be yours. I had the San Mateo DMV totally screw it up when I went in just to get any paperwork I would need for SB100. Half a dozen clerks and supervisors, all saying to do something different and then once they had my check for sales tax they started paperwork I told them I knew was wrong from what I had printed from the web. Don't say "web" to a DMV clerk, just makes then do something stupid just to not follow what was actually the right way I had printed in my hand. They told me to bring in my car, which I trailered over and once there they discovered it didn't have a VIN, which I had already told them several times. Off to the CHP, which was actually very helpful and quickly had me "vinned". A CHP officer pointed out that the SM DMV was doing it all wrong and told me to go to a Cobra Kit Car site and download the correct info. Showed him I already had it and was told by the SM DMV it was wrong. The info from Cobra site and this one both pointed me to the Los Gatos DMV "kit car" lady. She was GREAT! We spent a half hour on the phone with Sacramento un-doing everything SM DMV had sent in. I was standing there with her listening in. She set me up for my SB100 on the first day of the new year, six long months away. PROBLEM! Just before the end of the year I got a DMV "reminder" letter that I hadn't completed my registration. Went back to Los Gatos with the notice and she went up on line to find that all of what was supposed to have been deleted six months ago was still on the computer and I would have not been able to apply for my SB100 with another application in place. Took us nearly an hour but we got it all out of the computer system, waited while she helped someone else and than she double checked to make sure it had actually been deleted this time. Thank your lucky stars you found a good DMV but have them DOUBLE CHECK that any paperwork done at the first DMV isn't in the computer or you are going to have a problem until they delete it. GOOD NEWS, in one way anyhow, is that the economy is so slow that the past rush for SB100's is not happening now. Most of the old pre-SB100 kits have done the SB100 re-registration by now and being sold and re-registering an SB100 doesn't count as a new one. I was at the Los Gatos DMV at 5:30 AM first open DMV day of 2010 and there were only five of us there for SB100 when it opened. Clerk said it used to be standing room only but had been going seriously down for three years and hadn't had a "too late" for four years. All five of us were done in 45 minutes because the Sacramento phone line they all have to call into just wasn't that busy. Good Luck and get that kit on the road! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Did everything go well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvl Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 Yes. I was the first person in line and I was issued SB100 number 130 at 8:10am this morning. There was a mistake on the perviously generated paperwork as well (year was listed as 2010, not 0000), but the clerk fixed it before calling Sacramento. From what I could tell, I was the only person at the WeHo DMV for an SB100 sequence #. Thanks again for everyone's help and comments. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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