1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Help with registration in CA

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by maxph, Aug 9, 2010.

  1. maxph

    maxph New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2010
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Someone please help me register my '06 Prius! I purchased the car in Texas in '06 and have met with incredible beauracracy and incompetence in Cali with respect to registration. I have made roughly 6 attempts to register and in each case have been told I required a smog inspection. So I have indulged the DMV and taken the car to multiple inspectors and, of course, they have been unable to perform the test. Yesterday I was ticketed for my Tx tags and I need to have the car registered within 21 days.

    I live in West Los Angeles.

    Help!

    -M
     
    #1 maxph, Aug 9, 2010
  2. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Join AAA, let them help you with the headaches. It's well worth the fee!!!
     
    #2 KK6PD, Aug 9, 2010
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,479
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Joining the Automobile Club of Southern CA (aka AAA) is a very good idea. They'll help you to navigate the DMV bureaucracy and will process routine auto license transactions at their offices.

    You might need to take your car to one of the smog referee locations that will document your car is a hybrid and does not require CA emissions testing. Good luck.
     
    #3 Patrick Wong, Aug 9, 2010
  4. derkraut

    derkraut Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2006
    299
    27
    0
    Location:
    SAN
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
     
    #4 derkraut, Aug 9, 2010
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,479
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Have you had a CA emissions test performed on your Prius? I think you'll find that to be difficult because the existing equipment is not set up for that.

    Further the CA DMV specifically excludes hybrid vehicles from testing:
    http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm
     
    #5 Patrick Wong, Aug 9, 2010
  6. maxph

    maxph New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2010
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks everyone. I belong to AAA, but haven't tried them yet. Will do so.

    Have been to multiple inpsection sites and they all have said they are unable to do a smog check on the prius. I shudder to think what penalties I will have to pay after 4 years!

    M
     
    #6 maxph, Aug 9, 2010
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,479
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Are you saying that the car has been driven in CA for the past four years without CA license registration? If so, and you have to pay the license fees and penalties over that period of time, hope you have $$$$ in your checking account...
     
    #7 Patrick Wong, Aug 9, 2010
  8. silentak1

    silentak1 Since 2005

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2005
    893
    28
    0
    Location:
    LA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    AAA all the way... and delete this thread after you're done...
     
    #8 silentak1, Aug 9, 2010
  9. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If you have some of your misdirection from the DMV documented, they might show you some mercy on the $ubstantial fine$ you owe.

    I do find it rather remarkable that the inspectors computerized database wouldn't have flagged your car as a hybrid.:eek:

    As AAA member I have found AAA's DMV service to be severely lacking except for the most routine jobs. But it won't hurt to walk into one of their offices and ask.
     
    #9 xs650, Aug 9, 2010
  10. davidj08

    davidj08 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2010
    79
    13
    0
    Location:
    northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three
     
    #10 davidj08, Aug 9, 2010
  11. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2006
    2,369
    979
    70
    Location:
    Sunnyvale, California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Try a different DMV office. It's well known by people near me that the local office is a disaster. There's another one about 10 miles away that rarely has a waiting line, and seems to be able to handle things properly.
     
    #11 RobH, Aug 9, 2010
  12. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,187
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Smog Certificate Requirment for online registration

    California DMV HTVR9 How To Register A Out of State Vehicle Nonresident Vehicle

     
    #12 dogfriend, Aug 10, 2010
  13. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Dogfrend has the best hint right here....

    "For faster service, make an Appointment(s) "

    That system has pretty much worked rather well when I have had occasion to use it!!!.
     
    #13 KK6PD, Aug 10, 2010
  14. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,187
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Yes, when I make an appointment online, I have gone right to the front of the line, whereas the people who don't end up in a long, long line just to check in.
     
    #14 dogfriend, Aug 10, 2010
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)