Ran across this message I saved intending to respond
to but it got lost in the shuffle.
When you sell (transfer) a car in California, there is
more than just a transfer fee--there must be a smog
certificate (presuming the car is eligible to be
smogged) and there is a sales tax on the price of the
car. The DMV looks very closely at transfers that are
stated as "gifts" and probably would not allow a
transfer without the tickets being paid.
And, even if it is stated as a "gift", they apply what
is called a "use tax" regardless of the price the
sellers/buyers claim they paid. This was to get
around the purchase of a car when the buyer asks the
seller to write a bill of sale for a very low price to
avoid sales tax. That's why it is called a "use tax".
It eliminates the argument about the fee. They might
be dumb but they aren't stupid.
If you transfer title to a family member in an attempt
to show the "gift" status, the tickets must be paid.
Bob
--- kenyon wills <imperialist60@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Changing title in California costs $10 each way.
> All penalties accrued by one owner do not transfer
> to
> the next, including any unpaid registration for
> years
> other than the one that you're in.
>
> This is fact; it's how one can launder parking
> tickets
> off of a car's registration, as unpaid tickets go to
> the state for collection as a condition of
> re-registration.
>
> Re-title back to oneself after 3 months and the
> tickets go away forever. It works.
>
> My 73 registration for this year was $44 - this is
> the
> maximum that they could charge for my car regardless
> of year last registered, assuming that title
> paperwork
> is clear and still in the system. Registering
> something that is not in the computer (20 ys in a
> barn, etc.) and not registered in the last 7 years
> requires VIN inspection and lamp certification.
>
>
> =====
> Kenyon Wills
> 6o LeBaron - America's Most Carefully Built Car
> 73 LeBaron - Long Low & Luxurious
>
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