VIRPM Knowledge Base

Definition: In the context of this manual, a bill of sale typically indicates a specific DMV form. However, any legal bill of sale that clearly identifies the specific vessel or vehicle involved is considered valid.

Available Forms:

• Bill of Sale (REG 135) - This can be found exclusively on the DMV website and is not stocked in the supply warehouse.
• Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262) - A multi-purpose form that contains a designated section for the bill of sale.

Requirements: To be accepted, a bill of sale must clearly define the chain of ownership. Additionally, it adheres to the following rules:

• It does not require a witness signature or notarization.
• It is not necessary for transactions between dealers licensed in California.
• It is not needed when a dealer sells to a retail buyer, provided the title is properly endorsed.
• It can be used instead of the registered owner's release signature on the title.
• It is valid for multiple transfers to replace an intermediate buyer's signature on the title.

Overview: If a vehicle (whether California-based or nonresident) was previously categorized as police, taxi, grey market, junk, salvage, warranty return, or a park trailer, all DMV records and issued documents must display specific brands to reflect this history.

Brand Categories:

• Grey Market (Non-USA): Vehicles originally built for sale and use outside the United States that have been modified to comply with California and federal emissions and safety standards.
• Original Police or Prior Police: Vehicles that were previously utilized by law enforcement agencies, typically characterized by high mileage.
• Original Taxi or Prior Taxi: Vehicles previously operated "for hire," which often results in high mileage accumulation.
• Park Trailer: Units that meet the classification of park trailers.
• Remanufactured: Vehicles built by a licensed remanufacturer utilizing a combination of used or reconditioned components.

Service Fee: A $2 service fee is charged when the registration card is initially issued for vehicles falling under subdivision (b) of Section 4453.

Clearing Item: This refers to an application submitted with all necessary fees and documentation, allowing DMV headquarters to process it immediately without additional verification or handling.

Suspense Item: An application that requires extra processing steps at DMV headquarters. Examples include verifying records against the headquarters database or issuing special interest license plates.

Incomplete Application (RDF): Known as a Report of Deposit of Fees, this transaction allows the DMV to collect fees even if the application cannot yet be finalized.

Key RDF Rules:

• To avoid late penalties, the full renewal or registration fees must be deposited on the incomplete application.
• Use tax can be paid later when the application is finally cleared.
• Stickers and license plates are NEVER released on an RDF.
• Transactions from registration services and dealers are returned to them rather than being held.

Inspection Requirement: Before a vehicle that was previously salvaged or junked (in California or another state) can be registered for highway use, it must undergo an inspection. This is conducted by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) or an authorized DMV employee.

CHP Inspection Process:

• A CHP Inspection Fee applies to all applications for revived junk or salvage vehicles.
• Upon completion, the CHP typically issues a Certificate of Inspection (CHP 97C).
• The CHP 97C form must accompany the vehicle registration application.
• If a CHP 97C is submitted, a Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) or other verifications are NOT needed.
• The applicant is required to provide invoices or bills of sale for the vehicle and any component parts that were replaced.

SVIP (Salvage Vehicle Inspection Program):Salvaged vehicles must be inspected by the CHP or DMV. An SVIP officer will examine the vehicle and its parts to ensure identification numbers have not been tampered with, removed, altered, falsified, or destroyed.

Primary Registration Method: The manufacturer-assigned VIN is the primary method for registering vehicles. This number is typically die-stamped into the frame or embossed on a plate attached to the body. Ensuring this number is accessible is vital if you plan to use a mobile verification service.

Documentation: Both the registration card and the certificate of title list the VIN as the main identifier.

Example - Second Stage Manufactured Vehicles: If a 2010 Fleetwood motorhome body is mounted on a 2009 Ford chassis, the correct registration would be:
2010 Fleetwood motorhome with the 2009 Ford VIN

Key Principle: California registration is strictly based on the original VIN assigned by the manufacturer, regardless of any body changes or modifications the vehicle has undergone.

Certain vehicles are exempt from standard registration requirements. However, they may still need to display special identification (ID) as outlined below:

• Aircraft Refueling Vehicles: Vehicles modified or designed exclusively for refueling aircraft at public airports, operating on highways for less than a quarter mile.
• Cemetery Equipment : Equipment used solely for cemetery maintenance with incidental highway use. A special ID plate is required if moved on the highway.
• Disaster Relief Vehicles: Vehicles operating under a special permit to assist with relief efforts in a disaster area during a state of emergency.
• Firefighting Equipment: Privately owned vehicles designed for firefighting that respond to emergency calls. This includes fire engines but excludes hazardous material vehicles, buses, or passenger vehicles not primarily used for firefighting.
• Forklift Trucks: Vehicles designed for stacking or loading, driven on highways solely for loading/unloading within a quarter-mile radius.
• Golf Carts: Vehicles with three or more wheels, weighing under 1,300 lbs, designed to carry golf equipment and max two people at speeds up to 15 mph.
• Hauled Vehicles: Vehicles being transported where no part of them touches the highway.
• Logging Vehicles: Exempt from registration but must display a special ID plate if moved over a highway.
• Self-Propelled Wheelchairs: Devices operated by individuals with physical disabilities who cannot move as pedestrians.
• Snowmobiles: Vehicles designed to travel over snow or ice. Refer to Chapter 15 for OHV details.
• Special Equipment: Mobile or construction equipment. These must display a special ID plate if moved on the highway.

Bicycle Program: The DMV provides stickers and plates to counties or cities that have bicycle ordinances.

Miniature Motorcycles: Pocket bikes and mini choppers do not meet registration definitions and are prohibited from operating on public streets.

For original registration, the DMV is responsible for assigning and attaching a VIN plate for the following:

• Trailers weighing under 6,000 lbs unladen (excluding auxiliary or logging dollies)
• Trailer coaches
• Special mobile equipment
• Implements of husbandry
• New motorcycles (excluding SPCNS)
• Snowmobiles (unless the VIN is defaced)

CHP Referral Required For:

• SPCNS motor vehicles
• Used motorcycles (not new)
• Passenger vehicles
• Commercial motor vehicles
• Commercial trailers weighing 6,000 lbs or more
• Auxiliary or logging dollies
• Snowmobiles with defaced VINs
• Body changes on Volkswagens

CHP must verify when: The vehicle's identity cannot be confirmed, discrepancies are found, the VIN has been tampered with or altered, or the Federal Label is missing without an alternative VIN.

When Verification Required: A physical inspection is necessary for several registration scenarios. While you can visit a DMV office, many owners find it easier to utilize a Mobile Vin Verification service in the Greater Sacramento Area or their local region for:

• Registering a vehicle last registered outside of California
• Reregistering a vehicle previously marked "salvage" or "junk" (unless a CHP 97C is provided)
• Registering an SPCNS trailer or vehicle
• Vehicles with no DMV record (excluding new CA dealer sales)
• Recording a VIN change or engine change
• DMV assigned VINs
• Resolving VIN discrepancies

Authorized Inspectors: Inspections may be performed by DMV employees, peace officers, auto club staff, and licensed vehicle verifiers. If you choose a mobile service, ensure they are properly licensed.

Form Used: The Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) is the standard form. Verifications for unassembled or incomplete vehicles are not accepted.

Refusal of Registration: Under federal statutes, the DMV must refuse registration for new vehicles that fail the check-digit calculation. Vehicles that fail the check-digit and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) because they were not manufactured for highway use are prohibited from on-highway registration.

If VIN fails check digit:

• OHV/Incidental Use: This requirement may be waived.
• On-Highway Use: The application will be returned.
  • If the number was entered incorrectly: Simply correct the error and resubmit.
  • If the number matches the vehicle: You must contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer is required to notify NHTSA of the error. You may then resubmit the application with a copy of the NHTSA letter.

Caution: Certain vehicles with Manufacturer's Statements of Origin (MSOs), such as Kawasaki or Daihatsu, may fail the check-digit because they do not meet NHTSA/EPA standards. These can only be registered as Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs).

Federal Requirement: A 17-digit VIN is mandatory for all trucks, buses, MPVs, and passenger vehicles manufactured after 1981.

VIN Structure:

• Digits 1-3: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
• Digits 4-8: Vehicle Description Section (VDS)
• Digit 9: Check Digit
• Digit 10: Model Year
• Digit 11: Assembly Plant
• Digits 12-17: Vehicle Indicator Section (VIS) - Serial Number

Important: The letters I, O, and Q are never used in VINs.

A vehicle dealer is defined as an individual or entity that purchases or sells trailers or vehicles for profit or commission, or is actively engaged in the business of vehicle trading.

Franchise Requirement: Selling new vehicles is prohibited unless the dealer holds a specific franchise for that vehicle make.

Wholesale Dealers: These dealers conduct business strictly with other licensed dealers, not the general public.

Exceptions : This definition excludes individuals selling their own personal vehicles or employees working for dealers.

Out-of-State Dealers: Dealers from other states are exempt from California licensing requirements if they do not maintain a physical business location in California and their local activities are limited to import/export transactions with licensed entities.

Education: Wholesale and used vehicle dealers must complete an educational program, pass a written examination, and fulfill continuing education requirements (4 hours every 2 years).

This refers to a person or business whose primary operation involves buying and selling vehicles to dismantle them or deal in used vehicle parts.

Exceptions: This does not apply to dealers who occasionally dismantle vehicles or to private owners who dismantle no more than three personal vehicles within a 12-month period.

A distributor is an entity, distinct from the manufacturer, that sells or distributes new vehicles to dealers within the state and maintains a network of representatives.

Letter of Appointment: To operate, a distributor must secure a formal appointment from a manufacturer licensed in California for the specific products being distributed.

This includes any individual who sells vehicles, manages vehicle contracts, or supervises sales activities on behalf of a dealer.

Use : Manufacturers, dealers, and similar entities are permitted to use special plates for operating vehicles they lawfully possess or own. These plates are valid for demonstration, towing, or delivery purposes.

Restrictions: These plates cannot be used on service or work vehicles, vehicles rented to sales staff (unless for demonstration), unregistered vehicles carrying multiple loads, or vehicles displaying a Report of Sale.

Requests (OL 22): To request replacement or additional plates, the OL 22 form must be submitted.

Surrender (OL 247): Stolen or lost plates must be reported to law enforcement. Any plates no longer needed should be surrendered to the Occupational Licensing (OL) Unit.

A transporter is a business engaged in moving vehicles for delivery to agents, dealers, buyers, or new locations. This definition excludes tow truck operators.

Licensing: A valid permit or license is required to operate as a transporter.

Over-Width/Length: Moving vehicles that exceed standard dimensions requires a permit from HCD (Housing and Community Development).

Sales of these do NOT require license: Items such as forklifts (used for loading), special mobile/construction equipment, golf carts, motorized quadricycles/scooters, aircraft refueling vehicles, portable/tow dollies, one-axle campers, manufactured homes, and dune buggies.

Sales of these DO require license: Standard automobiles, commercial vehicles, ATVs, motorcycles, recreational vehicles (RVs)/motorhomes, trailers, buses, emergency vehicles, snowmobiles, and low-speed vehicles.

Definition: A professional licensed by the DMV to inspect and verify VINs, authorized to issue the REG 31 form.

Requirements: Must hold a special permit, secure a $5,000 bond, and renew the license biannually.

Prohibited Verifications: Verifiers cannot inspect vehicles with federal label issues (altered, illegible, or missing), revived junk/salvage vehicles, SPCNS, used motorcycles without a California record, vehicles with foreign documents, or vehicles in which they have a financial interest.

Restriction: They are not permitted to process registration paperwork unless they also hold a Registration Service license.

A Vessel Agent is appointed by the DMV rather than licensed. They are assigned a unique agent number and are authorized to accept transfer/registration applications for undocumented vessels, as well as issue temporary certificates and numbers.

This type of dealer engages exclusively in transactions between other licensed dealers. While they are required to maintain a business office, they are exempt from requirements for a display area, signage, or a wall license.

This certificate is filed to prevent the accrual of registration fees for vehicles that will not be driven on public roads during the registration year.

It remains the vehicle owner’s strict responsibility to file for Planned Non-Operation (PNO) or renew registration—regardless of whether a billing notice arrived in the mail. You will only be issued an Acknowledgment of Non-Operational Status Receipt once the department has successfully processed the PNO fee.

Guidelines: The PNO must be filed by midnight on the expiration date to avoid penalties.

This category applies to vehicles that were last registered in California but have dropped out of the DMV database. It excludes Non-Resident Vehicles (those purchased out-of-state or brought into California). The vehicle must be physically located within California.

With CA Title/Reg: These are processed as original registrations. Required forms include REG 343 and REG 31. If the title is missing, a REG 227 is also needed. Getting a REG 31 often requires a physical inspection, which is where a Mobile Vin Verification service in the Greater Sacramento Area can be particularly helpful for vehicles that cannot be easily moved.

Without Documents: These are also processed as originals. You will need a REG 343, REG 31, a Statement of Facts (REG 256) detailing the vehicle's history and value, a Bond (if applicable), and payment of fees dating back to the first date of operation.

Motorcycles: Used motorcycles (last registered in CA) with no available DMV records cannot be verified by a standard verifier; they MUST be referred to the DMV/CHP.

Old Plates: Original license plates can only be kept if there is documentation proving they were originally assigned to that specific vehicle.

A vehicle is classified as "nonresident" if its most recent registration occurred in a jurisdiction other than California.

Requirement: If you bring a vehicle into California, you are required to apply for registration within 20 days of establishing residency or accepting gainful employment, whichever event occurs first.

Motor Truck: A vehicle that is designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

Pickup: A motor truck with two axles and an unladen weight of less than 8,001 lbs or a GVWR of 11,499lbs or less. It must feature an open box-type bed that is less than 9 feet long. This definition explicitly excludes vehicles with utility beds.

Tow Truck: A vehicle weighing more than 10,001 lbs GVWR that has been altered or designed specifically for transporting other vehicles.

Truck Tractor: A vehicle designed primarily to pull other vehicles rather than carry a load itself.

Water-well Rigs: These are considered commercial vehicles if they are driven over public highways.

Yard Trucks: Vehicles specifically designed for moving cargo within a warehouse or port environment.

Auxiliary Dolly: A vehicle not intended to be permanently attached, used to support part of the weight of a semi-trailer.

Camp Trailer: A vehicle designed for human habitation that is less than 16 feet in length and 96 inches in width. This category includes tent trailers.

Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailer: A recreational unit that connects via a kingpin. If the unit exceeds the dimensions of a camp trailer, it is classified as a Trailer Coach (CCH) and is not eligible for PTI.

Logging Dolly: Equipment used for transporting logs, connected to the towing vehicle by a reach.

Semi-Trailer: A trailer designed so that a portion of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.

Tow Dolly: A unit towed by a motor vehicle used to transport another vehicle. While registration is optional, PTI is encouraged if the dolly will be used out-of-state.

Trailer: A vehicle designed to carry its entire weight on its own axles.

Utility Trailer: A trailer used for livestock or personal property with a GVWR of less than 10,000 lbs.

If there is an error on your ownership documents regarding the VIN or engine number, you must submit specific proof to correct it:

• The California Certificate of Title
• A Verification of Vehicle (REG 31)

Streamlining the Process: Since a physical inspection is mandatory for a REG 31, utilizing a **Mobile Vin Verification service in the Greater Sacramento Area** can save you time by having a licensed verifier confirm the correct VIN at your location.

Substantial Change: If the correction significantly alters the VIN, you may be required to post a motor vehicle bond or provide documentation proving that the vehicle is not a different vehicle entirely.

When an application is incomplete, it is flagged with a Report of Deposit of Fees (RDF). The following "In Process" (RIP) codes indicate what is missing: