Manx Club

I asked around in an earlier thread what was needed for CA registration. Some of you guys just went in with your Beetle VIN & got it registered in CA as a Beetle. I made sure the Iowa title I got had the correct VIN number (the one on the chassis just behind the seats), went to the DMV this morning for verification & they said I have to go to CHP to get a VIN assigned.... even though I showed them the VIN and that it matches with the one on the title. My questions: If CHP assigns me a VIN, are they going to register it as a 2006 vehicle making it require a smog check? (I've heard of buggies needing smog because they were considered specialty construction vehicles). Is CHP more reasonable about the whole VIN number thing? If I show the guy the VIN (chassis number) is it possible he'll have mercy on me and just reassign it the same VIN? I also remember some of you saying you had a service take care of the registration for you. Who are they and will they get it registered as a '66 like it should be or will I still have to worry about 2006 specialty construction registration and a smog check? I'm really just trying to avoid getting the thing smogged. ---------- edit: as an aside, the supervisor at the DMV had already made up her mind before she saw the car. I heard her saying to the inspector, before she rounded the corner to see the thing, "He's going to have to go to CHP." When she came out to the car to have a closer look, she said to the inspector, "See, if it were a VW, it would have the VIN number right down here" pointing at the carpet behind the seats.... at which time I pulled up the carpet to show her the VIN & that it matched with the title. She looked at me and said, "CHP don't play that game." and told the inspector to fill out the VIN request form.

The DMV assigned number won't have any affect on your smog requirements. It'll be determined by the year of your engine. If your engine is 75 or earlier, there won't be a smog inspection requirement. Later than 75 and you will have one.

[QUOTE="CairoManx"]The DMV assigned number won't have any affect on your smog requirements. It'll be determined by the year of your engine. If your engine is 75 or earlier, there won't be a smog inspection requirement. Later than 75 and you will have one.[/QUOTE] True, however I read somewhere along the line that they have to be able to determine the year of the engine... if they can't, then it's considered a new car (I wouldn't know how to prove to them that it's a '66 motor... heck, I don't even know if it's a '66 motor myself). Maybe I read that wrong? I do know for a fact that a buggy I nearly purchased from Costa Mesa, that was based on a pre-'75 beetle, was required to get smogged because it was a "2005 Specialty Construction Vehicle"... at least that's what the owner said. I certainly hope you're right... I'm just trying to be as informed as possible before talking to CHP.

[QUOTE="BrianK"](I wouldn't know how to prove to them that it's a '66 motor... heck, I don't even know if it's a '66 motor myself).[/QUOTE] VW Beetle Serial Numbers by Year http://www.lightner.net/ybdb/serno.html

[QUOTE="CairoManx"]VW Beetle Serial Numbers by Year http://www.lightner.net/ybdb/serno.html[/QUOTE] Excellent! Thanks!

go to another DMV!!! i did not do any of that!! no new vin. maybe just for a verification if they dont do it there.

[QUOTE="seabeeBuggy"]go to another DMV!!! i did not do any of that!! no new vin. maybe just for a verification if they dont do it there.[/QUOTE] I figured it may vary from DMV to DMV depending on who it is that sees the car (read my edit about the supervisor). I just wonder if my buggy is in their system now even if I do go to another DMV - everything I've received thus far about the CHP stuff has been hand written forms so I suppose it's possible it's not yet in there. hmm.. I called the CHP guy at about 10am this morning... no call back yet. What great fun.

definatly go to another dmv, mine was from new york and had the currant reg sticker in the window, my mother does dmv for a dealership she goes to dmv once a week with mass regestrations titles etc... she told me that i may have to go to chp but it cleared through the dealer line with no problem, I did not even need a brake and lamp cert, Another thing is that i did not have a title only a reg, in new york they dont issue title on older cars. (weird) I think useing a dmv service is a good idea, theres something to be said when you bring in 20-30 at a time, the clerk is more eager to get you out of there. But i would try another dmv first. I live in socal if you want i can have my mother take care of it for you if you want to do it that way. litezoner@aol.com

I have a buddy who has a gas power golf card he was told to take it to the ??? dmv (i cant remember the place ) he walked in and in 10 min. he had plates for it. no inspection . he has no horn, windshield, turn signals , seat belts. and he can drive it on the streets. it is a small town dmv near the river .

Do you know any police officers that would help you out? It doesn't have to be a CHP officer to do the VIN verification. The form says "peace officer". It's assumed to be CHP, but my neighbor(a local cop) did my VIN verification and the DMV had no issues with it. You might even want to try it thru the Auto Club(AAA). In California, at least, they can handle most DMV transactions without all the BS/attitude a State employee will give you. My donor bug was registered in CA, but had not been licensed for over 10 years so it had dropped out of the system and had to be re-verified. Same thing with my '68 Baja, unfortunately. It had black plates on it, but that plate has now dropped out and I cannot "re-connect" it to the car. Currently only vehicles '63 and older can get year of manufacture plates on them. Good luck!

def sounds like you had an idiot or someone with a bad day. to absolutely not have a problem i would guess that ,if it was possible, you could pull the body and just tow the chassis in and who is to say you aren't restoring a beetle?

Found this in my local newspaper today.. Just had to post it.

Hahahahaha

That is very funny! No, wait, actually it's just to close to the truth. Olli