Car-Buying Process in CA

"MM54" (mm54mk2)
04/25/2018 at 19:10 • Filed to: Californicar

Oppo-friends! I’d like some feedback from those of you in the know (such as those of you who live in or have bought a car from California) about the process, as a buyer, for buying a car in CA.

I’m no stranger to buying a car out of state, but I haven’t done one from California yet - but I will be next month. I’ve done some research - can someone confirm that it really is as easy as the following (again, I’m the buyer)?

Agree to buy car

Seller signs over title

We fill out a bill of sale, both seller and I get a copy

The car is now mine! Plates stay on it unless vanity plates.

Call to put it on my insurance, drive home, do normal out-of-state title-in-Ohio stuff.

No DMV or notary required? Nothing special other than filling out the title and doing the bill of sale (the latter not even being mandatory, but a good idea nonetheless)? No transit tags/temp registration? I’m hoping so, since this is very easy, but I’m a bit skeptical.

Lancia for your time:

DISCUSSION (15)

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > MM54
04/25/2018 at 19:28

Legally the seller can’t sell the car if it can’t/won’t pass smog. Don’t think there’s any way that will affect you since you’re going out of state anyway.

Otherwise yes it’s that easy. Bringing a car into CA requires a bit more — you have to bring the car to the DMV where they poke under the hood looking for modifications without the corresponding CARB emissions sticker. Still not anything but a first world problem. It’s quite easy.

You’re good to go.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > MM54
04/25/2018 at 19:36

I believe, depending on the county (I don’t think this is statewide, but likely anywhere you’re likely to find a car for sale), that they cannot sell a car without a valid smog certificate within the last 30 or 60 days.

His Stigness > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief
04/25/2018 at 19:39

Smog only applies to the transfer of title within California. So that doesn’t apply to him. However, it’s still a good idea because it could unearth something the seller is trying to hide. If there’s noting wrong with the car the seller shouldn’t mind getting it smogged.

And when registering a car in California it requires a VIN check, which I think can be done at DMV or by CHP, and the smog where I do the CARB thing. And if it’s a truck or over a certain weight it has to measured.

His Stigness > MM54
04/25/2018 at 19:40

Nope, we don’t have temp tags or anything like that.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > MM54
04/25/2018 at 19:46

As others have said, in CA it is the seller’s responsibility to smog a car within a certain period of sale and provide proof of passing to the buyer. Even if you’re taking it out of state and that is of no use to you it’s still a good idea to ask the seller for it. If they’re unwilling/haven’t done it might be indicative of some issue with the car.

Everything else is as simple as you laid out, yes.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > MM54
04/25/2018 at 19:49

The registration is for the car. As long as that is up to date, the car is registered for you and you take the plates. The only things I will add is a smog is technically required from the seller, but that rarely happens in a private party transaction. It’s $50, I would just do it anyways. Also, the owner has to release the liability of the car with the DMV. You used to have to fill out the form (attached to title), but now you can do it online. As crappy as the DMV is, CA is making it a lot easier to do everything online.

The Snowman > MM54
04/25/2018 at 20:03

You pretty much nailed it. Biggest thing I remember is back registration is a pain in CA. Not sure how your state will handle out of state fees when you go to register it so best to make sure reg is current or it is on a non op reg.

MM54 > The Snowman
04/25/2018 at 20:18

Thanks! From my experience, it doesn’t matter when I go to register a car in Ohio what the previous owner did registration-wise, but good to keep in mind. Since I plan to immediately drive it 3500 miles, I’ll probably be buying something on current tags :)

MM54 > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
04/25/2018 at 20:20

Not concerned with smog, it’s coming with me to Ohio where if the CEL isn’t on, it’ll be fine (and even that is rare to my county - one of only a few that do it. Most have zero inspection/emissions).

I looked into that release of liability form, but it really seems like, as a buyer, it falls firmly in the “not my problem” category.

MM54 > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/25/2018 at 20:21

Good to hear!

MM54 > His Stigness
04/25/2018 at 20:22

Awesome. That’s probably the best part of this - not only do I not have to find a notary at some random time of day / day of the week, I don’t have to go to the DMV!

MM54 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
04/25/2018 at 20:24

I suspect that would fall more on the buyer (if a resident of CA) when registering it - can’t keep someone from signing over the title, but can prevent registration without the certificate. That’s the gist I got from my research, though.

MM54 > His Stigness
04/25/2018 at 20:27

There’s a similar VIN check in Ohio when you bring a car in with an out-of-state title. Drive it to the DMV, give them $3.50 (seriously), and the lady comes out, reads the VIN off the cowl, signs a paper and you’re good to go get the OH title (which if a different office - you then go back to the DMV to register it). I get the idea of the check, but it seems... lacking or something. Would only be stopping the most idiotic of fraud. Makes the state $3.50 every time someone brings in a car, though!

His Stigness > MM54
04/25/2018 at 22:48

But our DMV has appointments! But some take forever to get in to. But an appointment several weeks out is better than no appointment at all.

His Stigness > MM54
04/25/2018 at 22:50

It would make more sense to have whatever agency does VIN’s anyways. Here CHP will install VIN’s on cars, so they know where to look. But I don’t know feasible that would be since I know they’re behind a lot of crap. I guess if they did it then it would be easier for them to spot a fake.