Deli Dream Dead for California

Kyre said:
Yeah, you may have to bring the VIN verification paperwork to Michael for him to fill out. You then bring all that paperwork with you to the DMV. His contact info is in the link I sent.
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I went to SF DMV and they insists it needs smog
 
NickS said:
I recently got my van registered in California. Just wanted to put what I did for people for future reference
1. Bought my van from delicausa.com. I researched importing one from Canada or Japan and a direct import into California from another country is nearly impossible. Even though getting it already titled and imported may cost a little more. The piece of mind of a sound vehicle was worth. Since They do a thorough inspection.
2. Had them(Delica USA) set me up with temporary in transit plates. They referred me to Pacific Coast Auto out of Oceanside and to contact Emily. I I thought ok, maybe.
3. After they shipped it. I called my local Statefarm agent. Who we have our other policies with. Told her what it was, that it had a short vin and wouldnt show up in her system, etc. She said ok. I had my proof of insurance within the hour.
4. Checked around for closer vin verifiers in my area. After researching that since it does have a short vin that that is the way to go. Also anything I could do to not go the DMV. None of them seemed to really no anything and would send me straight to the CHP.
5. I decided to call Emily at Pacific Coast Auto. Some people on some forums said she was rude. I found her to be nice, hilarious but also kinda of a stern bad ass. She told me the cost, which included paying taxes to CA (which I thought about lying about my bill of sale, but wanted no hiccups) Told me to send her all my paperwork and fill out a power of attorney form so she could sign for me. Allowing me to never drive the 5 hours to Oceanside. She said she has registered about 30 Delis 2 of which had to go to CHP for vin verification and inspection. I asked why that was, sounds like a luck of the draw sort of things. Mine however made 3 that had to go CHP.
6. CHP. After receiving that news I thought I was fucked. The CHP in Ventura does not take appointments. First come first serve Tuesday and Thursday starting at 7am. I got there at 7:30. I read the office opened at 8. But turns out they start Vin/Inspection stuff early. There were 3 people ahead of me. I waited a hour and half. The line grew quite a bit in that time. I had all the appropriate paperwork back from Emily. The officer asked who had prepared it because I guess there were things that were good to have filled out on hand. I drove to the back area. Popped "the hood" and went back out front to wait another 45 minutes. Officer Thomas came back up front gave me the paperwork all signed and I was on my way!!
7.Sent it back to Emily. 3 days later I had my plates and registration. Never once went to the DMV. Worth every penny. Deli dream in California is alive for me!
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Do you know what inspection the chp did to your van?
 
fermiench said:
Do you know what inspection the chp did to your van?
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I dont. I drove it behind the the office in a fenced area. I popped "the hood," left the keys, and the paperwork i received from Emily. He came back 40 minutes later, gave me the paperwork with the appropriate spots signed and i was on my way. I think they verify the vin through a process since it has a short vin and something to do with inspecting a sticker near the motor. I asked when i lifted the seat what he needed to see and it was some sticker in japanese. Not really sure. He seemed as though he had done Delicas before
 
I thought Pacific Choice Auto Registration had their own approved vin verifier. I was told to avoid CHP if at all possible.
 
Caliphotog said:
I thought Pacific Choice Auto Registration had their own approved vin verifier. I was told to avoid CHP if at all possible.
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They can only verify as much as they can. At the end of the day the DMV could always say that you have to go to CHP. Emily had told me that she has done about 30 Delis, 2 of which DMV made go to CHP, 3 including mine. Asked why and she said luck of the draw.. No reason really. classic CA DMV. Where are you? The officer in Ventura was super chill and seemed kinda stoked about my rig. As stoked as cops get i guess. It was a piece of cake for me
 
I had a completely different process. I was not able to get mine registered in Santa Barbara because it didn't have a California emissions sticker. I was forced to take it to CEE in Santa Ana and pay 5k for smog work. After 8 months of dealing with CA. reg and CEE, my Delica is now a California registered van. :)

You can call me if you have any questions.
805 637 8928
Brian.
 
BrianQ said:
I had a completely different process. I was not able to get mine registered in Santa Barbara because it didn't have a California emissions sticker. I was forced to take it to CEE in Santa Ana and pay 5k for smog work. After 8 months of dealing with CA. reg and CEE, my Delica is now a California registered van. :)

You can call me if you have any questions.
805 637 8928
Brian.
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Man you actually paid that much to have the emissions stuff converted?!? That sounds crazy. I just got back from DMV/ CHP. CHP told me it needed to be CARB certified or something. Wondering if I'm totally screwed at this point...I have family in AZ, that might be the next best case...
 
Did you went to dmv? Try to do vin verification first in another chp field office. Then when you are done try to contact Emily then forward all the files to her.
 
fermiench said:
Did you went to dmv? Try to do vin verification first in another chp field office. Then when you are done try to contact Emily then forward all the files to her.
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I've been to the DMV twice, I "failed" the DMV Vin verification (but they didn't tell me that until my 2nd trip, dont know why they didnt mention that the first time) so they sent me to the CHP. I already paid all the money to the DMV. Can Emily still finish that?

I'm looking at other CHP offices, which ones have people had the best luck at? The guy at the Westminster one assured me that I'd have to go and pay $5-8k to get the emissions stuff done.
 
I
theREDwonder said:
I've been to the DMV twice, I "failed" the DMV Vin verification (but they didn't tell me that until my 2nd trip, dont know why they didnt mention that the first time) so they sent me to the CHP. I already paid all the money to the DMV. Can Emily still finish that?

I'm looking at other CHP offices, which ones have people had the best luck at? The guy at the Westminster one assured me that I'd have to go and pay $5-8k to get the emissions stuff done.
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I tried doing it by myself, went to 3 different dmv office( SF, Vallejo and Napa) I did my vin verification in Fairfield,CA. I told them it's a pre 97 diesel, I guess the officer had a research of this van and he was amazed. He told me that DMV Vallejo already did verify the van but I still insist to redo it. She can still finish the rest , she just need you to do the vin verification first then she will take care the rest. Just be patience to her, she might sound rude( one of the the reason why I did it myself) Cali is PITA..
 
fermiench said:
I

I tried doing it by myself, went to 3 different dmv office( SF, Vallejo and Napa) I did my vin verification in Fairfield,CA. I told them it's a pre 97 diesel, I guess the officer had a research of this van and he was amazed. He told me that DMV Vallejo already did verify the van but I still insist to redo it. She can still finish the rest , she just need you to do the vin verification first then she will take care the rest. Just be patience to her, she might sound rude( one of the the reason why I did it myself) Cali is PITA..
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Why was the DMV turning you away? Had you already paid money to the DMV?
 
I see one after the other DMV office doesn't know what they are doing that's why after my 3rd attempt and did the vin verification, I send all files to Emily. I paid the tax on my 1st attempt in SF. I'ved just renewed my plates this week.
 
fermiench said:
I see one after the other DMV office doesn't know what they are doing that's why after my 3rd attempt and did the vin verification, I send all files to Emily. I paid the tax on my 1st attempt in SF. I'ved just renewed my plates this week.
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Ok, so is Emily just submitting the paperwork to the DMV even though they wouldn't accept it in the branch?
 
The process is broken and inconsistent at best in CA. I checked with a lot of the local vin verification places, each one told me they couldn't do it due to the short vin. All told me to go to CHP. Called CHP in Fairfield to make an appointment, they told me I had to make an appointment in my county of residency (don't know if this is BS or not), called my local CHP office they told me I need to be directed by DMV first otherwise they won't book an appointment for verification. Was about to say F' it and register out of state, took a chance on going to local DMV for verification. In and out with plates in less than an hour. Happy but bewildered about the process.
 
bikerjosh said:
The process is broken and inconsistent at best in CA. I checked with a lot of the local vin verification places, each one told me they couldn't do it due to the short vin. All told me to go to CHP. Called CHP in Fairfield to make an appointment, they told me I had to make an appointment in my county of residency (don't know if this is BS or not), called my local CHP office they told me I need to be directed by DMV first otherwise they won't book an appointment for verification. Was about to say F' it and register out of state, took a chance on going to local DMV for verification. In and out with plates in less than an hour. Happy but bewildered about the process.
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Well then I think I'm stuck. My local CHP said he wont inspect it because this website said its not allowed. The CHP office is a car enthusiast and even wants to import cars himself and was really cool and helpful, but I think he's following the letter of the law. The questions is if I can get it inspected at a different CHP, but it sounds like that might not even be possible :( I could maybe try registering it at a different address in CA, or skip it and just do it at a friends in AZ....
 
Called and talked to the CHP officer again, he said he got the job at CHP so he could import grey market cars...lol. He said I'm out of luck, not gonna happen. Over to AZ I go.
 
NickS said:
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6. CHP. After receiving that news I thought I was fucked. The CHP in Ventura does not take appointments. First come first serve Tuesday and Thursday starting at 7am. I got there at 7:30. I read the office opened at 8. But turns out they start Vin/Inspection stuff early. There were 3 people ahead of me. I waited a hour and half. The line grew quite a bit in that time. I had all the appropriate paperwork back from Emily. The officer asked who had prepared it because I guess there were things that were good to have filled out on hand. I drove to the back area. Popped "the hood" and went back out front to wait another 45 minutes. Officer Thomas came back up front gave me the paperwork all signed and I was on my way!!
..
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Jp 805 delica said:
I took mine to chp in Ventura.
All he told me that he need to see is that it was legally imported and old enough to pass the safety standards.
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Are both of you guys "residents" of Ventura?
 
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