registration in California

Wow, that does sound lucky! My understanding is that if it's a nonresident vehicle registration (from out of state or country) then you need to do a VIN verification. The VIN verification form (reg 31) instructs the verifier to look for VIN, Federal Certification Label (2nd VIN location), and CA emissions sticker. Glad to hear you didn't face any trouble--I wonder why this wasn't required for you. Maybe you were in a sleepy town DMV?
 
@scot -Not sure I had tons of paperwork, just not some of the items noted above. I was talking to the DMV representatives, regarding typical pre-97 diesels rules and smog, 25 year rule on imports, and all the confusion. The person helping me mentioned a couple folks thought it was really cool, and wanted to know what it was?
I honestly think there are so many contradictory rules and changes from a government level regarding the process that many are confused. Even vehicle identifiers were giving me different requirements, of the process I needed to follow. At one point I was going to throw my Delica on a trailer and zip down to Oceanside and have Pacific Choice do the verification/plates if possible since they seem to be the experts in shepherding these vans through the process.
Funny thing is my delica burns a hell of lot cleaner (at least given visible smoke) than my neighbors dodge diesel pick up which is exempt from smog testing.
 
bikerjosh said:
(edited )
My experience:D
Norcal. L300 titled in , another state before I bought it and transported to California. Had all the documentation from the shipper that transported from Japan-FL including US Customs Declaration form, EPA exclusion form (not signed by anyone other than dealer), FL title, CA transfer of title form already filled out.
8am DMV opens,
verified, walked inside and waited to be seen
8:55 walking out with plates and reg sticker. :cool:
Never asked to see any import paper work, EPA form with exclusion box checked, or anything else.
Worker just put in the 11 digit vin, had a supervisor override non standard vin. Had me write a check.

Not sure if I was lucky, prepared, or if just being polite helped me through the process? Probably a combo of all three.
Never had to go to CHP, which two different verification firms told me was going to be automatic.:rolleyes: Alright have to end this as I've exceeded my emoji count for a single post.
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Did the DMV do the VIN verification or was that done before you got to the DMV?
 
4 wheeler said:
Hello my name is Joe I'm in San Diego California if you recently purchased a Delica and you're trying to get it registered in California I can help you out I know how to do it it's not as complicated as you've heard also if you need a good place to get your Delica worked on take it to F&M Auto in Mira Mesa
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I’m in the process of
bikerjosh said:
(edited )
My experience:D
Norcal. L300 titled in , another state before I bought it and transported to California. Had all the documentation from the shipper that transported from Japan-FL including US Customs Declaration form, EPA exclusion form (not signed by anyone other than dealer), FL title, CA transfer of title form already filled out.
8am DMV opens,
verified, walked inside and waited to be seen
8:55 walking out with plates and reg sticker. :cool:
Never asked to see any import paper work, EPA form with exclusion box checked, or anything else.
Worker just put in the 11 digit vin, had a supervisor override non standard vin. Had me write a check.

Not sure if I was lucky, prepared, or if just being polite helped me through the process? Probably a combo of all three.
Never had to go to CHP, which two different verification firms told me was going to be automatic.:rolleyes: Alright have to end this as I've exceeded my emoji count for a single post.
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Hello,
What DMV did you take yours to? I have a 1993 Exceed Turbo Diesel. I have been sent down a long rabbit hole that ends with me spending $7500 to bring it compliant with California emissions.
 
I went to the Chula Vista DMV in Chula Vista had them verify the VIN number they said it that I needed to go to the CHP ....I went back to the dmv the next day with that VIN verification form and all of the other forms... then I had a guy came in bypass the three digits Vin verification I walked out of there with plates and stickers that day.... you need to read all of the previous posts about this issue from months ago
 
sck_nogas said:
Well, as one of those lucky people, who went through this...

A guide (not set in stone) to registering a Delica in California is...

If another state has done the importation paperwork and the vehicle has been properly titled, registered, insured, owned, etc in another state. Then when the CA DMV does the paperwork, they SHOULD only need the out of state title (signed over), and the new registration. A point of contention is if it has a diesel engine, then they can process the Delica as a 22+ year old diesel powered van, which in CA does not require a SMOG certification. If on the other hand, you have the gasoline version, then you will need to pass SMOG in order to get registered.

If on the other hand, the importation paperwork is not done, and you are bringing it in the United States via California. Then, you MUST have the vehicle certified to EPA specifications (a $5,000 sticker and diesel particulate filter which takes 3 months), and then you can have the DMV attempt to process the registration.

Now, my issue is that one of the previous owners had tried to register the car as an import in California, gotten stuck with the EPA certification, and then took the import/title/registration to Montana to get plates. So, although my Delica had been imported via Montana, had a Montana title and license plate, the CA DMV also had a record of that VIN being denied registration for lack of EPA certification. So, I was forced to "do it right"

But, and here's the tricky problem. If your local DMV person decides that your Delica is "off" and sends the paperwork to the Special Processing Unit then you may be stuck in the same boat, with a VIN that is flagged. So, if you go to another DMV, you may/might/maybe have better luck.

Have fun and be patient.
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I bought a Delica that was registered in Arizona. I went to the California DMV to get a vehicle verification. The DMV verifier could not find a federal sticker. Now what do I do?
 
scot said:
I'm confused: everything that I've read on the DMV registration requirements is that an out of state registered vehicle requires both a Federal Certification Label as well as an Emission label. From what I've seen, none of the Delicas when imported have either of those and their VINs are 10 digits which is not the typical 17-digit US format. Many people have mentioned being sent to the CHP -- don't they also check for these other labels, in addition to the VIN? How are you able to register a Delica if it doesn't have either of these labels that are described in Reg 31?

As for the advice of going to multiple DMVs -- when they conduct the VIN verification, if they do not find the Federal Certification then Reg 31 instructs them to refer you to CHP. Are you able to go to another DMV or must you go to the CHP as referred?
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I bought a Delica that was once registered in California, then got sold to a person in Arizona who registered it in Arizona. Today, I tried to get it registered in California. The DMV VIN verifier said that an out of state registered vehicle requires both a Federal Certification Label as well as an Emission label. She couldn't find those labels on my Delica. I told her to hold off on referring me to the CHP and that I would take my Delica home and Do a more thorough search for the labels. I'm as confused you.
 
Your should be very simple actually there's already a previous record of your Delica being registered in California have them look up the past record find that it was and get it re-registered if that doesn't work put three zeros in front of your VIN number in the blank spots take it to a different DMV and walk out of there with plates
 
Thomb said:
I bought a Delica that was once registered in California, then got sold to a person in Arizona who registered it in Arizona. Today, I tried to get it registered in California. The DMV VIN verifier said that an out of state registered vehicle requires both a Federal Certification Label as well as an Emission label. She couldn't find those labels on my Delica. I told her to hold off on referring me to the CHP and that I would take my Delica home and Do a more thorough search for the labels. I'm as confused you.
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What you went through is expected, if you're not lucky. Where did you end up? What's next? Happy to talk more...
 
I'm in a very similar situation. Legally registered in Louisiana and shipped here to Cali. Had most of the paperwork done correctly but the DMV required Vin verification (Form 31). She couldn't find the sticker under the hood regarding epa emissions. I could see this going south quickly so I told her I'd check my paperwork at home and would be back. I know I can get the vin verification done at a private facility but box number 9 on Form 31 is what scares me. It's regarding emissions. Yes I know it's a diesel and the law should be on my side but if the wrong box is checked I know I can get screwed.

Any advice would be super helpful. Trying to be as above board as possible. thinking about having a friend register in his name in Washington if this fails me. Thanks all
 

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4 wheeler said:
Go get it verified at an independent verifier and go to a different DMV
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Cribbing from my previous reply in a different thread...

As I understand it, the truth is that all vehicles sold/registered within the state of California MUST display a label that states that the vehicle passed the EPA emission requirements for the year at the time of manufacture. Furthermore, the label MUST also state that the vehicle passed the California emission requirements for the year at the time of manufacture.

On a normal US made car, that's not an issue since, all vehicles made in the US have that label/placard. Though there may be older year models that meet EPA but not California emission requirements.

Enter the Delica. (Hum along with your own rendition of Metallica's Enter Sandman)

So, the JDM Delica does not have the sticker, since Mitsubishi never intended to sell this vehicle in the US as it's configured. But, what about the USDM Mitsubishi Van? Well in that case, that specific engine (gas, not diesel) in that specific configuration (2WD not 4WD) in that specific Model was tested and labeled.

So, how do you register your Delica in California? You MUST have a label that states the vehicle passed the EPA & California emission requirements for the year at the time of manufacture. How do you get the magical sticker? You take your car to the ONLY testing lab in the state of California and give them a lot of money ($4k) to have them spend 12-16 weeks to add a diesel particulate filter and run some "tests" to then put a magic sticker on your vehicle.

Once you have that sticker, it's a cake walk to register...

Now, you can get "lucky" by going to a sympathetic independant verifier, a sympathetic DMV (that's 4Wheeler's suggestion), by having a sympathetic CHP inspector, by having it already registered in CA, by smiling a lot, etc...

BUT when (not if) the DMV decides to crack down on the JDM import world, no sticker... No registration.
 
Dude they have already cracked down on the Delica if you want to go through the 5000 to 10000 dollar expense to go to the fraudulent company that is putting in the emission for the sticker then go to La and leave your car with them for two months so you can come back home and take that thing off of your exhaust or you can go to an independent verifier and go to different DMVs because it is a government agency and nobody knows what the hell they're doing and get it registered it's up to you
 
Thanks all. It's not quite as simple as some make it out to be. But maybe it's also my strict ass DMV in LA. I can go to an independent verifier all day long but they will need to check that box regarding emissions. Or they can enter NONE or SEE REMARKS. Even if they are "generous" or "clueless" they need to put something there and it's imperative it's the right thing since you eventually need to take it back to the DMV to submit it to get your plates and sticker. For me, the million dollar question is which box?
 
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