>
> Hey Listers:
>
> Following is a fairly long message relating my recent experience with the
> California Department of Motor Vehicles. Please remember that CA is
already
> a fairly heavily taxed state. Those folks contemplating the registration
of
> a project car here in CA will be wise to take heart!
>
> >From a recent trade of a Rover P6B for a non-running TR6 (thanks again,
Tom
> C.!), I took the TR to the DMV on a trailer for inspection. The TR is an
> Oregon car and DMV instructed me to bring the car in. Took time off from
> work to do so. No appointments available for this procedure.
>
> Arrive at DMV, stand in line for 10 minutes, clerk gives me forms to
> complete, I move aside to let others in line (2 people behind me) conduct
> their business. Start to fill out forms; they are for boats, not cars.
> Thinking I am missing something, I grope for ~something~to fill out, OK, my
> name and address go here. Don't have a hull number, oh well!
>
> Head back to line, now 15 people there where minutes ago were only 2. Nice
> lady lets me back in line. Give forms to clerk. Conversation
> begins..."These aren't the right forms, where did you get these?" "You
gave
> them to me 2 minutes ago." "Oh, let me see..." Wanders off to back room
for
> awhile. "Here, fill these forms out and come back to the head of the line
> when you're finished." I fill out right forms, now try to synchromize my
> timing to get a different, friendly looking clerk one cubicle away.
>
> "We will have to inspect your vehicle before title can be issued. When can
> you bring the car in?" "Maybe I spoke with you this morning about a
Triumph
> car from Oregon?" "Well, yes, you did!" "The car is outside on a
trailer."
> Car inspected by clerk. I say my prayer that there will not be any
problems!
>
> She makes a few degrading comments..."My sister owned one of these cars and
> it was the ~WORST~ she ever had. Finally got rid of it after she was tired
> of all the repair bills...almost put her in banckruptcy!" We re-enter the
> DMV. I want to write out the check and get outta there NOW!
>
> But she converses with Mr. Stern about how to finish the registration
> change. Mr. Stern goes on about how since the car can't be smogged yet,
> title can't be changed, etc., etc. He tells me "Come back some other time
> when (if) you get your car finished." I plead about my desire to give them
> my money now...I want this ordeal over! "PLEASE, California, TAKE MY
MONEY!!"
>
> The female clerk challenges Mr. Stern, who obviously is The Senior Clerk.
> The entire DMV waiting room goes silent as they banter for what seemed like
> an eternity. Finally she turns away from him and says under her breath
"I'm
> gonna give it my best shot!" My trembling hand starts to write out the
> check. But no, wait a minute, Mr. Stern is back at "our" cubicle and he's
> telling Miss Nice she can't do what she's trying to do for me! A few more
> heated seconds and now Miss Nice is back typing at her computer. "This may
> or not work, you will know in 14 days." But, she does take my money, which
> is a comforting thought.
>
> She explains my fees and I finish writing the check. I ask her what
> additional (if any) fees I will have to pay to get the car registered, not
> just titled, once the car is smogged. "Thirty-five dollars a year is what
> everyone pays for their cars in CA, PLUS 2% of the cars stated value."
> Smiling, she says, I'm sure that your TR6 will be worth AT LEAST $10,000
> when you finish the restoration." (IS THIS THE SAME DMV CLERK WHO
INSPECTED
> MY TR6?) Two percent of that value would be $202.00 per year (which
> declines a minimal amount each year!), plus the $35.00 annual registration.
>
> I ask her one last question: "If I register the car before the restoration
> is completed (primer - no paint, no interior, no nice chrome bits, no
chrome
> wires, etc), but the car is able to pass the smog test (on a trailer!) the
> value of my car would be less. Would my ANNUAL fees be less? "Why, yes,
> they would be...I suppose you ~could~do it that way."
>
> These smog regs affect us in many "hidden" ways! I rest my case!
>
> Cheers,
> Jim Boyd
> International Sportscar Components
> Paradise, CA
-------------------------------------------
If I harbored any thoughts of moving to California, you just killed them.
Brian "Happy in Texas" Day
'73 TR6
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