Hi there!
I got my coach in Washington back in October and moved it to California where we live.
It's registered in Washington 'til next summer and I got a temporary license in California until end of December.
I have an appointment with the CHP (California Highway Patrol) to get it checked out since the DMV lady couldn't find all the VIN numbers and any odometer and wasn't sure how to register that bus.
I told her that it's registered as a motorhome in WA and that's what I wanted to do in California. She insisted in having it checked out by the CHP.
So, here are the questions: What is the minimum that needs to be in the bus to get it trough the CHP inspections and register it as a motorhome in California?
I was told it needs a bed and a functioning toilet. ;D
Has someone registered there 1961 GMC as a vintage car? Is there any advantage in that?
We are remodeling the whole bus and I wanted to start demolition before the CHP inspection but I wanted to know what should be in the bus when I show it to them in a few weeks....
Thanks!
First thing you may want to do is stop calling it a "Bus" because that make them think Commercial. If it was registered as a Motorhome or MH then it should be transfered as the same here if that is what it says on the title. If you went in and told them you wanted to register your "Bus" as a motorhome in California they get this glaze over their eyes and don't know what to do. The CHP will look at a regular DOT inspection as if you were a BUS in Livery and want to see your Commercial insurance and CDL license.
If they look at it as a Motorhome by some strange chance they will want a Brake inspection and see inside a living area that you can sleep in and cook a meal (could be an ice chest and a Microwave or Stove top to cook on) and a working toilet. And see your regular California Driver's License Class "C". They may want a weight certification also.
Good Luck
You will also find that your 06 does not have a :vin" number,,it predates the "vin" designations..Look under in the left front bay(in front of the left front wheel) under the drivers seat and look at the frame for the chassis number (stamped on the frame)for the registration number that has been a matter of record since 1961.>>>Dan I had my 62 registered there for 15 years as a motorhome) Contact: westerngmcoach.com for info on the western gm chapter of the FMCA,,we have a dozen or so members that have 06s registered in that state.>>>Dan
NAME?? -
1) Cancel your CHP appointment. You don't own a commercial bus, you own a 35' diesel pusher motorhome. You don't want a commercial inspection, all you need is a VIN verification, which can be done by a DMV employee (that's who did mine).
2) Go to a different DMV office, taking the bus and it's WA registration with you (BEFORE you start demolishing the current interior!!), along with your bill of sale and other related paperwork.
3) Tell the DMV technician that you need to transfer your "motorhome's" registration from WA to CA. As was previously mentioned, DO NOT USE THE WORD "BUS" or you'll be back in the rat hole you already are in. CA does have a classification as "MH" for motorhome - that's how my MCI is listed on the registration/pink slip. Always use the words "motorhome", "diesel pusher," or "coach" as you talk about your '06.
4) GMC put the VIN in two different places - on the dash plaque riveted to the dash above the handrail and fire extinguisher door in the entryway, and, as was previously mentioned, inside the exterior compartment underneath the driver on the side of the spare tire well. My MCI also has a short VIN, and I had to remind the DMV employee who was verifying the number that my coach was built before the mandatory 17-digit VIN program began in 1980 - you probably will have to do the same. The correct VIN for your coach will be PD4106-XXXX (with the "Xs" representing the last digits of your coach's VIN - which is actually the sequential production number, btw.) If the dash plaque is missing, you'll have to convince whomever's doing the verification that the one downstairs is the only one that's on this coach. (I've heard that the VIN is also stamped inside the tunnel in the first baggage bin, but I've never been able to confirm this rumor.)
5) GMC did not provide their buses with odometers until the 1977 FMVSS went into effect. Since you bus predates 1977, it never had one unless someone replaced the OEM speedometer. Most bus companies used a hubometer on the RR wheel to track mileage of their units, but even those often got swapped out, sometimes due to tire size changes, sometimes to correspond to the installation of a new powertrain. So the mileage on your coach is "unknown", unless, of course, you do have a working odometer.
6) If you do get static from the clerk, politely ask to speak to a supervisor. Continue to be polite, but firm. Since the coach is already registered as a MH (which is should show on the WA title), there shouldn't be an issue, but if there is, keep escalating your request for a supervisor right up to that particular office's manager if you have to. If they say you have to get the VIN verified by law enforcement, politely remind them that the DMV is also authorized to verify VINS, so please ask for the individual in the office who's been assigned that task to accompany you outside to complete that requirement. They may balk, or try to pass it off with some excuses, but again, be polite, but firm and escalate up the supervision ladder.
7) When you do complete the registration, be sure to thank the DMV employees for their help, especially since this was one of the more unusual transactions which required additional steps to complete.
I had to go thru the same hoops when I registered my MCI in CA after buying it in NH. In my case, the office (Clovis, CA) was very accommodating, and the employee who verified the VIN was so excited to do so, he asked for a tour of the inside - then wanted to know how he could find one for himself and his family! Had to chuckle at that one!
One other tip - next year handle your renewal either by mail, internet or at a Triple A office! (Unfortunately you can't initially register an out-of-state vehicle with AAA. . .) >:(
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
PS: Here's a little-known thing you can do when registering a vehicle in CA if you'd like to have it go to another family member should you pass away, without them having to go thru a huge hassle transferring ownership. Simply add their name to the registration/title under yours with "TOD" in front of their name. "TOD" means "Time Of Death" and is completely legal and simplifies the ownership transfer immensely. This was shared with me by a Triple A DMV technician, and he even showed me the place in the internal handbook where the instructions on how to do it were found. It's one of the things the DMV's done right, but hardly anyone knows anything about it!
Good Luck!
Ok. Sounds good. Thanks for all the hints.
I let you know what happens...
Hi RJ
You guys have to physically take the bus to the DMV even though it was registered as MH in another state previously? They won't do a simple title transfer with the same designation? I don't get the VIN verification either. Do they waste time verifying every pre-1980 vehicle? Wow I thought things were bad here! Got to love it right. Take care
Tom
Tom, many times a VIN verification is required when transferring from out of state
I've had to do it in IN, KY and AR before and ONCE in TN.
But the time in TN was because I was titling a p/u I bought out of CA.
I asked the lady at the DMV why I needed a VIN verification on this truck but never ever needed one before and she told me it was because it was from CA and there is a lot of stolen vehicles from there shipped out of state and re-titled in other states. ( I didn't necessarily buy what she was telling me, but went along w/it merely to get my truck titled in TN.)
She was also very leery of the fact that I only wanted to transfer the title and not register it.
But since CA made dad register it for a year with our TN address instead of issuing him a "TEMP" tag to drive it home on I insisted on getting my yrs worth out of those CA plates!
OH and I won't get into the story where Cody an I got pulled over in it w/expired CA tags (yes I forgot to transfer)
and Cody just happens to say to me in front of the cop "What couldn't you at least steal an out of state truck with good tags?"
;D BK ;D
Quote from: pd4501-771 on November 30, 2016, 05:27:31 PM
You guys have to physically take the bus to the DMV even though it was registered as MH in another state previously?
Californication requires a VIN verification when registering an out-of-state vehicle for the first time. Most DMV offices hand you a form (which you can also download from their site if you know where to look) and tell you to have a police officer inspect/verify the VIN, then make another appointment to continue the process. Oh, and don't forget to get it smogged or you'll be making another trip to the DMV...
In my case, one of my customers is a CHP officer, and he's the one who told me about just taking the coach directly to DMV. They don't really want the word to get out about the fact they can verify VINs, which is the primary reason for handing you a form, thus making it inconvenient for you, not for them... I also found the form online and filled out as much as I could in advance, which, btw, surprised the clerk, but helped speed up the process... She started to become adamant about having a LEO finish filling out the form until I told her the CHP instructed me to have the DMV do the verification, at which time a supervisor then became involved. It was all quite comical, actually! But I walked out 20 minutes later with new plates and a "MH" designation on my title.
One other tip: Small rural offices are often a lot easier to deal with than large metropolitan ones!
FWIW & HTH...
;)
Get the form. Don't confuse the ding bats at DMV.
There are people that can do the vin check for you. Anybody with a resale license in CA can fill out that form. Know where the vin number is located before they show up and point to it for them. LOL If you have a permit you can drive it to them. It cost us $100 for somebody to come out. Well worth the price.
Make sure they mark it as Diesel. Very Important. Ours was and despite all my yelling at the DMV personnel the title came back gas. What a mess. So, even if you are at DMV for three hours, do not leave with their paper work wrong. The old, "They will fix it before sending the title" is bull. Then you have to have it checked again.
If you go to the CHP they can check anything the want to. Like brakes, weight, lights, etc. etc.
Don and Cary
Is this form the Form 256 Statement Of Facts? https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/5a40cbcc-a9a9-4a42-ac43-a8564fa552c0/reg256.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CONVERT_TO=url&CACHEID=5a40cbcc-a9a9-4a42-ac43-a8564fa552c0 (https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/5a40cbcc-a9a9-4a42-ac43-a8564fa552c0/reg256.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CONVERT_TO=url&CACHEID=5a40cbcc-a9a9-4a42-ac43-a8564fa552c0) In Section E there is a box for Body Type change. Or is it a different form that has to be used?
As soon as I have something resembling an interior I'll get my bus, oops, my 40 foot diesel pusher motorhome, re-registered as a Housecar (or whatever California calls RVs) instead of its present Automobile with a Bus body. I plan on visiting some out-of-the-way DMV office to do this - when I first bought it the seller and I went to a small DMV office he knew of near Fresno at 4.45 on a Friday afternoon. Even after a slight "readjustment" of the original pink slip to make it acceptable to the clerk, I was out of there in ten minutes with my new plates.
John
No VIN verification here in Illinois. (yet anyway).
Haha. Fun stories.
So, go to the DMV website to get the forms and the process. If you can read it's not that difficult to figure out which form you need to fill in.
Also, you don't need a smog check/cert for a 1961 PD4106!
Knowing where the VINs are located and having a satisfactory answer to the missing odometer question are key to success. That's what I didn't know originally and they don't let you get by with "... there is only one VIN on the vehicle..."
Anyway, I was persistent today despite the big fat "Referred to CHP for verification" on the paperwork. Meaning I reminded the lady politely that they can do the verification and I have figured out where the VINs are since they referred me to CHP.
So, around the office she went... to another desk ... to the managers office and back she came ... got a board and some paperwork and off we went to the Bus (emmm motorhome :-) .
I reminded her that GMC didn't put odometers on my vehicle until 1977...
I didn't have to explain that the VIN is different.
But she wanted to write it as PD4I06... - with an "I".... ;)
and 10 minutes later I got license plates and tags.
Yay!!!
;D
Thanks to RJ for the script and encouragement!
Will cancel the CHP appointment tomorrow.
Now we can start demolition.
I will be back with more questions.... I am sure.
Matt
By the way.... We have COACHES. Busses are YELLOW and haul school kids. My dad drilled that fact into us for years and to anyone that referred his 4104 as a "nice bus".
Actually Buses are yellow....
If you google it Busses are kisses?....
Just saying ;D
Dave
My coach has yellow stripes!
:-)
Matt
When driving for Brewster's, and other companies, we always called buses buses, or cars, like train cars, trolley cars and elevator cars. To this day, I still call my bus "the bus". I suppose I should call it "coach", since it is for sleeping and dining, but old habits are hard to break. I should have a sign made up for below the driver's window: "private bus".
JC
BCM = ?
"USBUSIN" is the license plate I had on my "bus" err coach.
Quote from: usbusin on December 02, 2016, 05:05:27 PM
BCM = ?
"USBUSIN" is the license plate I had on my "bus" err coach.
In England a bus is only for urban or short-distance use, and a coach is for long-distance or express use. (Or if you live in Buckingham Palace your coach is gold-plated and pulled by horses.) You can have a bus with coach seats in it, or a coach with a folding power door so it can get the bus grant. And an RV is a caravan or a camper, which may or may not be coach-built. I used to work for a moving company that had coach-built pantechnicons, but they weren't juggernauts . . .
John
Quote from: RJ on November 29, 2016, 07:11:00 PM
NAME?? -
1) Cancel your CHP appointment. You don't own a commercial bus, you own a 35' diesel pusher motorhome. You don't want a commercial inspection, all you need is a VIN verification, which can be done by a DMV employee (that's who did mine).
2) Go to a different DMV office, taking the bus and it's WA registration with you (BEFORE you start demolishing the current interior!!), along with your bill of sale and other related paperwork.
3) Tell the DMV technician that you need to transfer your "motorhome's" registration from WA to CA. As was previously mentioned, DO NOT USE THE WORD "BUS" or you'll be back in the rat hole you already are in. CA does have a classification as "MH" for motorhome - that's how my MCI is listed on the registration/pink slip. Always use the words "motorhome", "diesel pusher," or "coach" as you talk about your '06.
4) GMC put the VIN in two different places - on the dash plaque riveted to the dash above the handrail and fire extinguisher door in the entryway, and, as was previously mentioned, inside the exterior compartment underneath the driver on the side of the spare tire well. My MCI also has a short VIN, and I had to remind the DMV employee who was verifying the number that my coach was built before the mandatory 17-digit VIN program began in 1980 - you probably will have to do the same. The correct VIN for your coach will be PD4106-XXXX (with the "Xs" representing the last digits of your coach's VIN - which is actually the sequential production number, btw.) If the dash plaque is missing, you'll have to convince whomever's doing the verification that the one downstairs is the only one that's on this coach. (I've heard that the VIN is also stamped inside the tunnel in the first baggage bin, but I've never been able to confirm this rumor.)
5) GMC did not provide their buses with odometers until the 1977 FMVSS went into effect. Since you bus predates 1977, it never had one unless someone replaced the OEM speedometer. Most bus companies used a hubometer on the RR wheel to track mileage of their units, but even those often got swapped out, sometimes due to tire size changes, sometimes to correspond to the installation of a new powertrain. So the mileage on your coach is "unknown", unless, of course, you do have a working odometer.
6) If you do get static from the clerk, politely ask to speak to a supervisor. Continue to be polite, but firm. Since the coach is already registered as a MH (which is should show on the WA title), there shouldn't be an issue, but if there is, keep escalating your request for a supervisor right up to that particular office's manager if you have to. If they say you have to get the VIN verified by law enforcement, politely remind them that the DMV is also authorized to verify VINS, so please ask for the individual in the office who's been assigned that task to accompany you outside to complete that requirement. They may balk, or try to pass it off with some excuses, but again, be polite, but firm and escalate up the supervision ladder.
7) When you do complete the registration, be sure to thank the DMV employees for their help, especially since this was one of the more unusual transactions which required additional steps to complete.
I had to go thru the same hoops when I registered my MCI in CA after buying it in NH. In my case, the office (Clovis, CA) was very accommodating, and the employee who verified the VIN was so excited to do so, he asked for a tour of the inside - then wanted to know how he could find one for himself and his family! Had to chuckle at that one!
One other tip - next year handle your renewal either by mail, internet or at a Triple A office! (Unfortunately you can't initially register an out-of-state vehicle with AAA. . .) >:(
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
PS: Here's a little-known thing you can do when registering a vehicle in CA if you'd like to have it go to another family member should you pass away, without them having to go thru a huge hassle transferring ownership. Simply add their name to the registration/title under yours with "TOD" in front of their name. "TOD" means "Time Of Death" and is completely legal and simplifies the ownership transfer immensely. This was shared with me by a Triple A DMV technician, and he even showed me the place in the internal handbook where the instructions on how to do it were found. It's one of the things the DMV's done right, but hardly anyone knows anything about it!
Good Luck!
Excellent advice and instructions 👍
Quote from: Iceni John on December 02, 2016, 08:33:24 PMIn England a bus is only for urban or short-distance use, and a coach is for long-distance or express use. (Or if you live in Buckingham Palace your coach is gold-plated and pulled by horses.) You can have a bus with coach seats in it, or a coach with a folding power door so it can get the bus grant. And an RV is a caravan or a camper, which may or may not be coach-built. I used to work for a moving company that had coach-built pantechnicons, but they weren't juggernauts . . . John
I actually know that he's talking about ...
Happy Holidays!
Ok. This is getting a little weird to me.
I got the VIN number verification done by the DMV and walked out with my tags and license plates and the motorhome (MH) registration since the last time we chatted here.
Last weekend I got a letter from the DMV that they want me to go to the CHP to do an "Age Verification" of the vehicle.
Has someone gone through that before?
What does CHP do for an age verification and what does the DMV need to get past that?
Is there an official registry of the GMC PD4106 VIN numbers and the year they were built?
Is there a country-wide history of VIN number registrations since that coach went from MI to WI to FL to WA and now to CA...
... based on some of the info I have on the coach.
Does anyone have a suggestion what to do in this case?
Thanks,
Matt
Quote from: matzeinusa on December 12, 2016, 10:01:08 AM
...walked out with my tags and license plates and the motorhome (MH) registration..
Last weekend I got a letter from the DMV that they want me to go to the CHP to do an "Age Verification" of the vehicle.
Did they give you any consequences if you don't do anything? You have the tags and plates, I have a feeling that someone got worried about the registration when they didn't recognize something. I've never heard of an 'age verification' for a vehicle registration in California, and neither has google. And I can't imagine they'd have records of PD4106 build years.
My experience with the California DMV and registering a number of odd vehicles matches RJ's advice. Persistence and trying again are the key. If you find someone who can't help you, keep confidently persisting that you are correct and they often change their mind about what can and cannot be done. Otherwise talk to their supervisor, or simply make another appointment and talk to someone else.
If I were you I'd call and ask why they need the verification and/or ask what will happen if you don't bring it in - for all they know the vehicle may be getting taken apart in a garage somewhere, it's not your job to have to bring it back to the DMV.
On the other hand, maybe they want an age verification because they can't believe that our old buses are still on the road. :)
Oh, and for the general question, for anyone searching in the future - I changed my bus (BU) registration to motor home (MH) registration in California, and the steps I followed were:
1) Remove enough seats so that you can't carry more than 10 people (otherwise it's a commercial vehicle)
2) Put in a futon
3) Put in a camping stove (kitchen)
4) Go to DMV and be persistent. After #1-3 it's a motorhome. If they really want a toilet, then you can 'install' a toilet just by bolting one to the ground - they aren't going to make you use it. :)
My bus was basically empty when I brought it to the DMV, and they were full of perplexed looks, but I held my ground - you *can* camp inside of an empty bus - and got it registered as MH.
Isn't the age verification done on behalf of CARB to exempt you from emissions in CA,I know of couple of people that had to do it
Matt don't you have a pink slip or title from whom you bought it from in the first place? It is on that title and has already been verified. The person who is doing this probably never saw a Vin so small and just can't believe what you told them. Show the original title you got it has already been done weather it is Cali or Washington the date does not change all of a sudden.
Also Like RJ said there is a plaque some where on the coach that will state the year generally with a tire size and PSi on it should have Vin or Serial number as they used to be called and the make and date it was Manufactured.
Dave5Cs
I don't recall ever seeing a year of manufacturing date on the manufactures tag on the older GM only the model and serial number
Quote from: luvrbus on December 12, 2016, 01:10:15 PMI don't recall ever seeing a year of manufacturing date on the manufactures tag on the older GM only the model and serial number
In my old age, I don't remember when Part 575 (the NHTSA standard that required specific GVWRs, GAWRs, date of manufacture, and 15-digit VINs, etc.) came into effect but I'm pretty sure that it was about 1970 and most vehicles before that don't have a date on a label or stamping on the vehicle. But pre-1970 would be at least 47 years old and that would have to be old enough to stop the old women (BTW, there are old women of all ages and sexes) in Kalifornia, Comrade! from getting their panties all wadded in their crack.
Maybe so mine is 79 and maybe that is why it has Manufacturing date:SEPTEMBER OF 1979, ON IT. but regardless it should still be on the title.
Yea they do put the date on the origin of manufactures title so the year of manufacturing should stay with the bus it's entire life span
Quote from: luvrbus on December 13, 2016, 08:26:08 AMYea they do put the date on the origin of manufactures title so the year of manufacturing should stay with the bus it's entire life span
Matt doesn't say that the letter says that he has to *take the vehicle* to the DMV or if he just has to show up in person with the paperwork. It kinda makes a difference. My omnibus had no "Certification Label" and only a 5-digit VIN. Since it was imported, NC DMV requirements were that the vehicle and VIN had to be inspected by an officer. He looked at the VIN sticker and the 5-digit number, said "this must be pretty old, huh?". I said 1976 year of manufacture. He said "OK" and started filling out the approval paperwork, although the Manufacturing Company on the VIN sticker and the Manufacturer on the title were different.
Quote from: matzeinusa on December 12, 2016, 10:01:08 AM
Last weekend I got a letter from the DMV that they want me to go to the CHP to do an "Age Verification" of the vehicle. Has someone gone through that before?
Matt -I've never heard of that, after living in Californication 60+ years and often dealing with the DMV.
More importantly, at the moment, is did they give you a time frame when this verification has to be completed?
Reason I ask is that, for a $25 donation, the Ohio Museum of Transportation will send you a copy of the "Final Vehicle Record" for your coach, which, besides the VIN, also includes the month of delivery, who the original purchaser was and a whole list of all the "goodies" that were installed in/on your coach as it went down the production line - even the paint codes! (I don't know if it would help, but if you increased your donation a bit, maybe they'll expedite the process, as it usually takes 6-8 weeks. Also - tell them in your request letter that you need an excellent copy to keep the CA DMV happy!) If the DMV won't accept this document as proof of your coach's origin, it's time to start escalating up the chain of command again!
Send your letter, along with a check or money order, to:
FVR Request
Mike Ondecker / Dave Decsman
Ohio Museum of Transportation
2347 Karendale Drive.
Toledo, Ohio 43614-2106
Quote from: matzeinusa on December 12, 2016, 10:01:08 AM
Is there an official registry of the GMC PD4106 VIN numbers and the year they were built?
There is no "official registry", but three or four busnuts have copies of the production rosters, compiled from GMC's own records. Not sure where Jason got a copy of the list, but he's posted it to the GM PD-4106 Bus group on Facebook. It's a "pinned post", so it's always on top when you go to the page.
My suggestion is that you stall the DMV until you get a copy of your FVR, then make an appointment with your local office and march in with your title, their letter and a copy of your copy of the FVR and start the escalation process all over again.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
If I recall, when we had our vin inspection, we showed them the plate inside the door. It had the manufacture year on it along with the vin number and manufacturer. He included this in the paper work. It was also on the title. It does have to do with the requirement for smog check on newer vehicles.
Cary
Just curious as I never really thought to look at any of my buses for it.
But back when I was trucking one of the things the mechanics and DOT used to always want to verify was the "in service date" stamped in the frame rail near the vin # the mechanics were hoping to find it out of warranty by date and I never understood why the DOT was so interested in it!
;D BK ;D
Thanks for all the advice!
So, I pulled out the paper work and try to answer all the questions asked.
I have the title from Wa. It's green not pink. On there it says 1961 for year, GMC for make, 35/SC for series/body and MH for use class. It says scale weight is 24000 and gross weight is 0000000. Prior title state was FL.
It has a valid WA registration through 8/2017.
I don't have a CA title /pink slip yet. I thought that was what i would get in the letter I got...
The CA DMV letter shows my new CA license plate number, they gave me the last time I was there. The letter says "*incomplete application* **see above**
*above* it says " Referred to CA HWY Patrol for inspection. If this is a revived total loss vehicle, a CA HWY Patrol inspection certificate (CHP97C) is required before the application can be completed. *Year cannot be determined through our means of info. please go to CHP to get a Veri for the model year.*"
They included in the letter a temporary operating permit valid until feb 2017.
I am not aware that the coach was revived.
My vin is pd4106399. You can see here it was built in 1961:
http://www.reocities.com/buslist/Delivery/PD4106/pd4106_1.html (http://www.reocities.com/buslist/Delivery/PD4106/pd4106_1.html)
I also have the original (I believe) First Aid kit from GMC in the bus!!! It shows expiration dates of 1963 (if I remember correctly) for 2 packs of 16x 1" adhesive bandages. :-) Also in that box was a form of temp registration of the State of Wisconsin DOT to S&J Smith Corp in WI. That shows it as "61 GMC Bus PD4106399"
Google maps shows that there is a school bus company at the address of the temp registration these days. Have to do some more research from here to the last owner.
Does anyone have any additional info?
I saw the FVR thing at the Ohio museum, as well.
http://www.omot.org/buses.htm (http://www.omot.org/buses.htm)
I was thinking about getting that,too.
Anyway, I just think it's strange that the title transfer is such a hassle. I get the Vin verification for out of state registrations but the rest is a little much. I agree with the others here that the title from WA should be sufficient.
I let you know how it goes....
Thanks!
Matt
Quote from: matzeinusa on December 13, 2016, 11:37:03 PM
Thanks for all the advice!
Anyway, I just think it's strange that the title transfer is such a hassle. I get the Vin verification for out of state registrations but the rest is a little much. I agree with the others here that the title from WA should be sufficient.
I let you know how it goes....
Thanks!
Matt
Welcome to Califorincation!
;D BK ;D
You said above which you did not mention before.
I am not aware that the coach was revived.
I would almost bet some insurance company either reported an accident with it in Washington even if not totaled and it may have showed up in the California DMV computer. Or because of its age they may think it could have been in one and if they believe it is a"Salvaged Title" they have to have CHP look at it and determine that it is not a salvaged vehical. Lots of them on Craigs List these days.
They can sell them all day but the DMV will not give them titles if they are from other states without an inspection from CHP. That is what it is all about.
You will need to go by a CHP office and have them check it out and unless they have proof from anywhere that it was in an accident and totled by an insurance company you will get a Title and hopefully not a Salvaged title because most insurance companies will not insure a salvaded title vehicle.
Dave ,
The letter says "see above" and then I put in the post what it says above in the letter.
I wasn't referring to any previous posts. Sorry for the confusion.
I said there is no evidence that the vehicle was revived. So I am thinking they make this up for some reason. Just don't know why.
It doesn't have a salvage title as far as I can see.
I went through a whole lot of reviews with insurances and they found anything but a record of the coach's past. Got it insured through Progressive. Interestingly, that was pretty cheap and didn't take 10 tries.
:-)
Matt
Matt not saying it is but they have it in their explaination
"The CA DMV letter shows my new CA license plate number, they gave me the last time I was there. The letter says "*incomplete application* **see above**
*above* it says " Referred to CA HWY Patrol for inspection. If this is a revived total loss vehicle, a CA HWY Patrol inspection certificate (CHP97C) is required before the application can be completed. *Year cannot be determined through our means of info. please go to CHP to get a Veri for the model year.*"
They included in the letter a temporary operating permit valid until feb 2017."
"If this is a revived total loss vehicle, a CA HWY Patrol inspection certificate (CHP97C) is required before the application can be completed"
So if they are saying this they may suspect it is and they want you to have it proved that it is not because if you re read this from above it is their explanation of it and why they want it. Just saying.
You might bring in all the paperwork from the insurance company if they found nothing like you said then shouldn't be a problem.
Again good Luck and Welcome to Kalifornia.
Dave5Cs
Dave there is also another angle.
If I remember right CA is notorious for making companies and schools that operate under gov programs to destroy or part out existing equipment when getting grants to acquire new equipment.
It could be they are wanting to verify this wasn't a vehicle that was sold instead of destroyed from such a program somewhere else. Maybe not, but with CA you never know!
;D BK ;D
Maybe, who knows, I am sure it will all change in January and then we won't care........ ;D
We had to do out of state vehicle inspection a few years ago in AZ,the officer would check all the serials numbers and run it through a data base,Az has since done away with it maybe that is what is going on in CA
I finally got an update worth talking about! ;)
Since last post here I had an appointment with the CHP and got the age of the *coach* determined by "non-disclosed means". Took about an hour and since the CHP office has a nice view of the Sierra Nevada mountains and it was sunny...
Anyway, I brought some printouts from some websites that show all the VINs and their birth months and also gave them some examples from the Fremont Bus Museum's PD4106 to show the websites are correct. The officer was super friendly and I even had some other officer tour the coach.
Back to the DMV we went and handed over the docs and they told us we got everything done. A few weeks later we got a letter...
It was supposed to be the title but here we go...
... Got another letter stating the CHP didn't provide sufficient info. They missed to write down the length and width of the bus in the form.
So, we had to go back to CHP and got that form filled in and now I had to wait for over an hour at the DMV.
I think it was the 5th visit to that office. (!) We brought the bus to Cali in October 2016.
Anyway,...
DRUMROLL
We got a California title for the coach this week!!!
Yay!
Matt
I truly am happy for you. they do weird stuff in South America I guess :)
Cali
1) One of the most important cities of Colombia, SA AKA The capital of Salsa.
Unfortunately one of the most violent cities in the country.
Matt,
Did the CHP mention to you what they expect to see inside to justify it being considered a MH? I hear different things from different people, but it seems that sleeping, cooking and crapping areas are needed. I already have the latter in place, and I could easily make a temporary 'bed' and 'kitchen'. One thing that may help me: where I work we have our own police department who are State of California police, and they are affiliated with the CHP (if we need backup we are supposed to call the nearest CHP for assistance - yeah, right), so maybe I can ask our sergeant if he can do the verifications for me instead of a CHP officer? My bus, sorry, my 'diesel pusher', is presently an Auto (BU), but I need to get it registered as a MH or Housecar or whatever California calls RVs now; technically I shouldn't be driving a 26,000-plus GVWR vehicle that's not a MH on just a Class C license.
Thanks, John.
RJ, and others:
Mike Ondecker who volunteered at the Ohio Museum of Transportation and compiled a treasure trove of GM final records has passed away. It is not known at this time who has control of the records or where they are. Sure glad I got my Silverside record a few years ago.
to John,
the CHP was asked by the DMV to do an "Age Verification" because they couldn't find the VIN number in any of their new and ancient computer systems.
CHP didn't do a general vehicle inspections. I just opened the door to the tools compartment under the driver seat (to see the VIN on the frame) and the front door when they looked a the coach.
I don't recalling them actually going in the vehicle checking what's there for anything other than the VIN number plate.
The DMV did look inside when they did the initial inspection.
So, can't tell you what they are looking for to get a MH (motorhome) title.
I read (here and many other places) that you need something that assembles a kitchen (cooktop), a restroom (toilet) and sleeping quarters (a mattress) in the vehicle.
My coach was fully converted and licensed as a motorhome in Florida and Washington before we brought it to California.
It has a bedroom, shower/restroom, some bunk beds and a kitchen with dinette.
Sorry, for being of no help... :-)
Back in early 2002 I drove my new-to-me 1974 Crown Supercoach ex schoolie from Apple Valley CA to Cave Junction OR. Got about 8 mpg at 60 mph.
Temp trip permit.
The nice OR DMV lady just hopped inside and sat down at the driver seat. Did not even walk through the inside. Just confirmed the VIN and odometer.
I had cooking, and sleeping.
"Cool", she said. "I would like one of these". Back inside the DMV I got the non commercial RV registration. Easy as pie. Still about the same today.
Also got the "Continuous Traveler" license.
She did work the air range shift on the Road Ranger. :)