Question:

Why did you need to get a ‘57 smog inspected?  Was this a long time ago? For the last 15 years or so cars that old have been smog-exempt in CA.  I have a ‘35, a ‘52, a  ’53, and two ’55s, none of which need smog inspections. I believe the cut-off year is ‘65 or ‘66, or at least was until recently, when they went to a moving window. Don’t quote me on any of this – I have a heck of a time keeping track of the changing regs. -Jim

The only one that I know of is the NOx device required at change of title. The NOx device (nitrogen oxide) was a retarder to the ignition timing. I restored a ‘56 T-bird for someone, and when the owner went to register the car, he had to get a NOx device installed. I installed one for him. Too bad that the inspection station didn’t want to recognize the Echlin NOx device that I had lying around. They ended up installing a device that required cutting the upper radiator hose to install. After all the registration work was completed, I returned the car to original condition. Was inquired about that NOx device the last time I had to deal with smog check on my ‘70 Ford Ranchero. Fortunately, now with the exemption of 25 and older year vehicles in CA for bi-annual smog checks, the NOx issue is a moot point. A few years ago, this was not the case. John

Response:

Never had to get a car smogged when those stupid NOx devices had to be installed.  Somehow I avoided all that mess.   All they do is not allow the vacuum to the dist. until the temp is up.  I’d see about pulling it when the radiator hose needs to be replaced and put the vacuum line back to stock.  I’ve seen one on a car but didn’t say anything to the owner of the car tho.  The PCV valve is still required but that just gets rid of the drafttube which is really illegal here in CA. — Bob May Don’t subscribe to ACCESS1 for your webserver for the low prices.  The service has been lousy and has been poor for the last year.  Bob May

Response:

It;s only been a few years (5 I think) that the smog on transfer stopped for the older cars.  Once you had the car, there is indeed no smog test required.  The age is 25 years now for the every other year smog test (don’t know how far back the smog on transfer goes tho but it may be the same now) and the change a few years ago also started the sliding window as previous to that, ‘66 was the first year of smog testing.  I started the transfer in ‘91 and it was titled finally in ‘93.

Right now anything older than 1973 is smog-proof.  The sliding 30-year window won’t come into effect until 2003, when 1973 = 30 years.  Unless somebody knows different, of course. What scares me is that they might change the rules.  We bought a ‘78 monsterhome that was smog-proof until they decided a few years later that vehicles that heavy really did need to be smogged after all.  A real nightmare. Bastards. — Cheers, Bev   "Let them eat shit."           — Marcel Antoinette, Marie’s little-known brother

Response:

You can imagine the fun I had with a CA DMV gal when I got my ‘57 Chevy transfer completed.  Here’s the story: Bought the car for $500 from a guy.  Got it running and went down to the Smog Station where it failed miserablely.  Took all that documentation down to the DMV and started the paperwork. Put the car up on blocks and went through everything, including getting all of the rust holes filled.  The car was at a friends place so it took over 2 years to do this work.  Got a 1 day ticket to move the car and got it to easily pass the smog test.  Took all the paperwork back down to the DMV and they started totalling up all kinds of fees, late fees and fines for failing to pay the fees and late fees.  Total came to over $2000.  I then remarked to them that it was thier failure for not finishing the transfer to my name and that caused the supervisor to come over.  They backed everything out and charged me for the title transfer and that year’s reg. which was about $50 total.  That delay also let me title the car properly as a YOM plate car (in CA you pay the personalized plate rate with unlimited milage) and the gal had a sad look on her face when I said thank you and left. You just need to know how to play the game.  In my case, they refused to allow the transfer until I had a condition met and that stopped the clocks on the penalties that could have been involved because the delay was failure to pass the smog emissions and they forgot to make a timeperiod in which I must pass the test or destroy the car. — Bob May Don’t subscribe to ACCESS1 for your webserver for the low prices.  The service has been lousy and has been poor for the last year.  Bob May

Response:

It;s only been a few years (5 I think) that the smog on transfer stopped for the older cars.  Once you had the car, there is indeed no smog test required.  The age is 25 years now for the every other year smog test (don’t know how far back the smog on transfer goes tho but it may be the same now) and the change a few years ago also started the sliding window as previous to that, ‘66 was the first year of smog testing.  I started the transfer in ‘91 and it was titled finally in ‘93. — Bob May Don’t subscribe to ACCESS1 for your webserver for the low prices.  The service has been lousy and has been poor for the last year.  Bob May

Response:

Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

I would suggest that you contact an independent DMV registration service. The Automobile Club (AAA) can also help you in registering a vehicle. In the Southern California area, I would recommend Lorie’s Registration Service, 714-960-3868.

Response:

Why did you need to get a ‘57 smog inspected?  Was this a long time ago? For the last 15 years or so cars that old have been smog-exempt in CA.  I have a ‘35, a ‘52, a  ’53, and two ’55s, none of which need smog inspections. I believe the cut-off year is ‘65 or ‘66, or at least was until recently, when they went to a moving window. Don’t quote me on any of this – I have a heck of a time keeping track of the changing regs. -Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You can imagine the fun I had with a CA DMV gal when I got my ‘57 Chevy transfer completed.  Here’s the story: Bought the car for $500 from a guy.  Got it running and went down to the Smog Station where it failed miserablely.  Took all that documentation down to the DMV and started the paperwork. Put the car up on blocks and went through everything, including getting all of the rust holes filled.  The car was at a friends place so it took over 2 years to do this work.  Got a 1 day ticket to move the car and got it to easily pass the smog test.  Took all the paperwork back down to the DMV and they started totalling up all kinds of fees, late fees and fines for failing to pay the fees and late fees.  Total came to over $2000.  I then remarked to them that it was thier failure for not finishing the transfer to my name and that caused the supervisor to come over.  They backed everything out and charged me for the title transfer and that year’s reg. which was about $50 total.  That delay also let me title the car properly as a YOM plate car (in CA you pay the personalized plate rate with unlimited milage) and the gal had a sad look on her face when I said thank you and left. You just need to know how to play the game.  In my case, they refused to allow the transfer until I had a condition met and that stopped the clocks on the penalties that could have been involved because the delay was failure to pass the smog emissions and they forgot to make a timeperiod in which I must pass the test or destroy the car. — Bob May Don’t subscribe to ACCESS1 for your webserver for the low prices.  The service has been lousy and has been poor for the last year.  Bob May

Response:

Mike Just curious if you ever got a resolution to your problem. Let us know how it works out. What kinda car is it anyway? Dennis

Response:

Dennis, I was just about to post an update when I saw this.  Short version of long story.  The dealer was able to contact the transport company who brought the vehicle through customs.  They in turn overnight mailed me 5 documents related to the importing.  Took a few days from start to finish but was resolved. Now a word to anyone else buying a car from outside the USA…   when I got to my DMV and gave them the paper the one they wanted was only a summary declaration, no breakdown only a total value of $26,400.  The DMV Gestapo was all set to charge me the sales tax of 5% on this amount!!!  Luckily I also had been sent a detailed manifest of the 6 vehicles on the transporter showing description, serial numbers, and declared value.  The car in question was declared at $2400 US and I pointed that out, thereby verifying my purchase price of $3000 as noted on the title and bill of sale. Happy ending – paid sales tax of $150 on the $3000 purchase price and now have the car titled and registered to me. the car??  1937 Chevy, complete, solid, runs and drives, and basically needs TLC. Thank you and all those who responded to my original question. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis"

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mike Just curious if you ever got a resolution to your problem. Let us know how it works out. What kinda car is it anyway? Dennis

Response:

In the original post, it was mentioned that the car was bought in the US with an Ontario title. From that I understood that the buyer is trying to transfer the title from Ontario, to his US State. Kirk Matheson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Where in this string did this car become Canadian?? Is a Port of Entry Certificate required for every car that is driven in to the U.S. from Canada, or only for those that are intending to be resold? If the person that brought the car from Canada came as a visitor, they may not have been required to obtain a certificate, and one was never issued. I would suggest contacting US Customs. Kirk Matheson Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis" Good luck, I buy vehicles in 20-25 states and CA is by far the worst for getting any help on titles. Just my thoughts. dennis

Response:

Thanks Dennis.  This brings things into a whole new light. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis"

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Rufus Sounds like your dealer is a flake.  The only way to get a title is to get a certified original form 7501 which is issued by US Customs to the Registered Importer. Your dealer should know where he got the car from, hopefully the Importer.  Importers are required to place a sticker on the door by the vin tag identifying themselves, look at the inside of your door and see if one is there.  The importer should have the 7501. If there is no tag and your dealer didnt get it from an importer give him the car back. You cant get a title w/o an original 7501. The dealer shouldnt have sold the car on a Canadian title. The dealer should have gotten a US title before he sold the car. Sadly, if you cant find out who imported the car, youre up the proverbial creek. dennis Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome.

Response:

You can get a salvage title. Take in all the receipts for parts and the bill of sale for the totalled vehicle and they will give you a salvage, or reconstructed, title. You will need the body, chassis, and engine serial numbers, and they will run the numbers to make sure the vehicle hasnt been reported stolen. This title is usually a different color than a normal title, to let future prospective buyers know the vehicle has been reconstructed from parts.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I see nothing  here about it being Canadian. Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

Response:

I see nothing  here about it being Canadian.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

Response:

Where in this string did this car become Canadian??

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is a Port of Entry Certificate required for every car that is driven in to the U.S. from Canada, or only for those that are intending to be resold? If the person that brought the car from Canada came as a visitor, they may not have been required to obtain a certificate, and one was never issued. I would suggest contacting US Customs. Kirk Matheson Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis" Good luck, I buy vehicles in 20-25 states and CA is by far the worst for getting any help on titles. Just my thoughts. dennis

Response:

Rufus Sounds like your dealer is a flake.  The only way to get a title is to get a certified original form 7501 which is issued by US Customs to the Registered Importer. Your dealer should know where he got the car from, hopefully the Importer.  Importers are required to place a sticker on the door by the vin tag identifying themselves, look at the inside of your door and see if one is there.  The importer should have the 7501. If there is no tag and your dealer didnt get it from an importer give him the car back. You cant get a title w/o an original 7501. The dealer shouldnt have sold the car on a Canadian title. The dealer should have gotten a US title before he sold the car. Sadly, if you cant find out who imported the car, youre up the proverbial creek. dennis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome.

Response:

Is a Port of Entry Certificate required for every car that is driven in to the U.S. from Canada, or only for those that are intending to be resold? If the person that brought the car from Canada came as a visitor, they may not have been required to obtain a certificate, and one was never issued. I would suggest contacting US Customs. Kirk Matheson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis" Good luck, I buy vehicles in 20-25 states and CA is by far the worst for getting any help on titles. Just my thoughts. dennis

Response:

Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis"

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Good luck, I buy vehicles in 20-25 states and CA is by far the worst for getting any help on titles. Just my thoughts. dennis

Response:

What did the guy you got it from do with the pink?  Did he just lose it or did he junk the vehicle with the DMV? Bob — "Bigger, Better, Faster, More!" To email, replace nospam with dogbite.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have the DMV run a title search.  If no one responds to the search, the vehicle gets registered in your name.  You’ll need the VIN off the Suzuki. Bob — "Bigger, Better, Faster, More!" To email, replace nospam with dogbite. Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

Response:

Have the DMV run a title search.  If no one responds to the search, the vehicle gets registered in your name.  You’ll need the VIN off the Suzuki. Bob — "Bigger, Better, Faster, More!" To email, replace nospam with dogbite.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

Response:

Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

Response:

Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident,

You will never have a ‘clean’ title on a wrecked vehicle. Doesnt your friend have the title? If the insurance company paid off on the total and your friend bought it back they should have issued him a new salvaged title. if your friend didnt buy it back, who was the last owner? The insurance company? You might also try running a Carfax report to locate the title history possibly even the last title number issued and try to get a duplicate issued. Good luck, I buy vehicles in 20-25 states and CA is by far the worst for getting any help on titles. Just my thoughts. dennis

Response:

Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle.

Going through this myself.  First you should have a Salvage Certificate for the vehicle.           http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr16.htm You need to get form 488 (from a DMV office) but you pretty much have to mail it in to DMV HQ in Sacramento.  None of the field offices can handle this form, although they can send it in for you, along with taking your $3.  If you have no title for it, you an fill out the part the gets a duplicate title, too.  Anyway, it took me 3 visits to DMV offices and 2 phone calls to get the same story twice, which is essentially related above. Then, you take the certificate and a buch of other forms to an inspection station  and get brake and light checks, etc:         http://www.dmv.ca.gov/ On my first DMV visit, I went to the info desk and was given a huge packet of forms for the whole salvage process.  Form 488 was included as well as the inspection forms, etc.

Response:

Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

Response:

Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident,

You will never have a ‘clean’ title on a wrecked vehicle. Doesnt your friend have the title? If the insurance company paid off on the total and your friend bought it back they should have issued him a new salvaged title. if your friend didnt buy it back, who was the last owner? The insurance company? You might also try running a Carfax report to locate the title history possibly even the last title number issued and try to get a duplicate issued. Good luck, I buy vehicles in 20-25 states and CA is by far the worst for getting any help on titles. Just my thoughts. dennis

Response:

Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle.

Going through this myself.  First you should have a Salvage Certificate for the vehicle.           http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr16.htm You need to get form 488 (from a DMV office) but you pretty much have to mail it in to DMV HQ in Sacramento.  None of the field offices can handle this form, although they can send it in for you, along with taking your $3.  If you have no title for it, you an fill out the part the gets a duplicate title, too.  Anyway, it took me 3 visits to DMV offices and 2 phone calls to get the same story twice, which is essentially related above. Then, you take the certificate and a buch of other forms to an inspection station  and get brake and light checks, etc:         http://www.dmv.ca.gov/ On my first DMV visit, I went to the info desk and was given a huge packet of forms for the whole salvage process.  Form 488 was included as well as the inspection forms, etc.

Response:

Have the DMV run a title search.  If no one responds to the search, the vehicle gets registered in your name.  You’ll need the VIN off the Suzuki. Bob — "Bigger, Better, Faster, More!" To email, replace nospam with dogbite.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

Response:

What did the guy you got it from do with the pink?  Did he just lose it or did he junk the vehicle with the DMV? Bob — "Bigger, Better, Faster, More!" To email, replace nospam with dogbite.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have the DMV run a title search.  If no one responds to the search, the vehicle gets registered in your name.  You’ll need the VIN off the Suzuki. Bob — "Bigger, Better, Faster, More!" To email, replace nospam with dogbite. Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

Response:

Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis"

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Good luck, I buy vehicles in 20-25 states and CA is by far the worst for getting any help on titles. Just my thoughts. dennis

Response:

Rufus Sounds like your dealer is a flake.  The only way to get a title is to get a certified original form 7501 which is issued by US Customs to the Registered Importer. Your dealer should know where he got the car from, hopefully the Importer.  Importers are required to place a sticker on the door by the vin tag identifying themselves, look at the inside of your door and see if one is there.  The importer should have the 7501. If there is no tag and your dealer didnt get it from an importer give him the car back. You cant get a title w/o an original 7501. The dealer shouldnt have sold the car on a Canadian title. The dealer should have gotten a US title before he sold the car. Sadly, if you cant find out who imported the car, youre up the proverbial creek. dennis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome.

Response:

Is a Port of Entry Certificate required for every car that is driven in to the U.S. from Canada, or only for those that are intending to be resold? If the person that brought the car from Canada came as a visitor, they may not have been required to obtain a certificate, and one was never issued. I would suggest contacting US Customs. Kirk Matheson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis" Good luck, I buy vehicles in 20-25 states and CA is by far the worst for getting any help on titles. Just my thoughts. dennis

Response:

I see nothing  here about it being Canadian.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

Response:

Where in this string did this car become Canadian??

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is a Port of Entry Certificate required for every car that is driven in to the U.S. from Canada, or only for those that are intending to be resold? If the person that brought the car from Canada came as a visitor, they may not have been required to obtain a certificate, and one was never issued. I would suggest contacting US Customs. Kirk Matheson Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis" Good luck, I buy vehicles in 20-25 states and CA is by far the worst for getting any help on titles. Just my thoughts. dennis

Response:

In the original post, it was mentioned that the car was bought in the US with an Ontario title. From that I understood that the buyer is trying to transfer the title from Ontario, to his US State. Kirk Matheson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Where in this string did this car become Canadian?? Is a Port of Entry Certificate required for every car that is driven in to the U.S. from Canada, or only for those that are intending to be resold? If the person that brought the car from Canada came as a visitor, they may not have been required to obtain a certificate, and one was never issued. I would suggest contacting US Customs. Kirk Matheson Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis" Good luck, I buy vehicles in 20-25 states and CA is by far the worst for getting any help on titles. Just my thoughts. dennis

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You can get a salvage title. Take in all the receipts for parts and the bill of sale for the totalled vehicle and they will give you a salvage, or reconstructed, title. You will need the body, chassis, and engine serial numbers, and they will run the numbers to make sure the vehicle hasnt been reported stolen. This title is usually a different color than a normal title, to let future prospective buyers know the vehicle has been reconstructed from parts.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I see nothing  here about it being Canadian. Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

Response:

Thanks Dennis.  This brings things into a whole new light. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis"

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Rufus Sounds like your dealer is a flake.  The only way to get a title is to get a certified original form 7501 which is issued by US Customs to the Registered Importer. Your dealer should know where he got the car from, hopefully the Importer.  Importers are required to place a sticker on the door by the vin tag identifying themselves, look at the inside of your door and see if one is there.  The importer should have the 7501. If there is no tag and your dealer didnt get it from an importer give him the car back. You cant get a title w/o an original 7501. The dealer shouldnt have sold the car on a Canadian title. The dealer should have gotten a US title before he sold the car. Sadly, if you cant find out who imported the car, youre up the proverbial creek. dennis Dennis,  have you ever had to chase down a copy of what I think is called "Port of Entry Certificate"  for a car that came from Canada?  It is issued by Customs,  not sure if Canadian or US. I recently bought a car here in the US with an Ontario title and did not know about the POE Cert.  I cannot transfer the title to me until I produce a copy of that certificate.  The selling dealer doesn’t have it and is trying his best to locate it but any suggestions are welcome.

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Help, I need to locate a clean title for an 88 Suzuki samurai, I was given one by a friend that was totaled in an accident, I have already put it back together, and it is a vary nice runner, but I have no pink.  I live in California, and the DMV has been no help.  I know years ago when I was building VW we were able to replace Vin’s and re-title, as a new vehicle. If you have any suggestions please send them to me. J smith

I would suggest that you contact an independent DMV registration service. The Automobile Club (AAA) can also help you in registering a vehicle. In the Southern California area, I would recommend Lorie’s Registration Service, 714-960-3868.

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Mike Just curious if you ever got a resolution to your problem. Let us know how it works out. What kinda car is it anyway? Dennis

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Dennis, I was just about to post an update when I saw this.  Short version of long story.  The dealer was able to contact the transport company who brought the vehicle through customs.  They in turn overnight mailed me 5 documents related to the importing.  Took a few days from start to finish but was resolved. Now a word to anyone else buying a car from outside the USA…   when I got to my DMV and gave them the paper the one they wanted was only a summary declaration, no breakdown only a total value of $26,400.  The DMV Gestapo was all set to charge me the sales tax of 5% on this amount!!!  Luckily I also had been sent a detailed manifest of the 6 vehicles on the transporter showing description, serial numbers, and declared value.  The car in question was declared at $2400 US and I pointed that out, thereby verifying my purchase price of $3000 as noted on the title and bill of sale. Happy ending – paid sales tax of $150 on the $3000 purchase price and now have the car titled and registered to me. the car??  1937 Chevy, complete, solid, runs and drives, and basically needs TLC. Thank you and all those who responded to my original question. — Mike  ( Anti Spam Address ) "Opportunites are spawned from crisis"

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mike Just curious if you ever got a resolution to your problem. Let us know how it works out. What kinda car is it anyway? Dennis

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You can imagine the fun I had with a CA DMV gal when I got my ‘57 Chevy transfer completed.  Here’s the story: Bought the car for $500 from a guy.  Got it running and went down to the Smog Station where it failed miserablely.  Took all that documentation down to the DMV and started the paperwork. Put the car up on blocks and went through everything, including getting all of the rust holes filled.  The car was at a friends place so it took over 2 years to do this work.  Got a 1 day ticket to move the car and got it to easily pass the smog test.  Took all the paperwork back down to the DMV and they started totalling up all kinds of fees, late fees and fines for failing to pay the fees and late fees.  Total came to over $2000.  I then remarked to them that it was thier failure for not finishing the transfer to my name and that caused the supervisor to come over.  They backed everything out and charged me for the title transfer and that year’s reg. which was about $50 total.  That delay also let me title the car properly as a YOM plate car (in CA you pay the personalized plate rate with unlimited milage) and the gal had a sad look on her face when I said thank you and left. You just need to know how to play the game.  In my case, they refused to allow the transfer until I had a condition met and that stopped the clocks on the penalties that could have been involved because the delay was failure to pass the smog emissions and they forgot to make a timeperiod in which I must pass the test or destroy the car. — Bob May Don’t subscribe to ACCESS1 for your webserver for the low prices.  The service has been lousy and has been poor for the last year.  Bob May

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Why did you need to get a ‘57 smog inspected?  Was this a long time ago? For the last 15 years or so cars that old have been smog-exempt in CA.  I have a ‘35, a ‘52, a  ’53, and two ’55s, none of which need smog inspections. I believe the cut-off year is ‘65 or ‘66, or at least was until recently, when they went to a moving window. Don’t quote me on any of this – I have a heck of a time keeping track of the changing regs. -Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You can imagine the fun I had with a CA DMV gal when I got my ‘57 Chevy transfer completed.  Here’s the story: Bought the car for $500 from a guy.  Got it running and went down to the Smog Station where it failed miserablely.  Took all that documentation down to the DMV and started the paperwork. Put the car up on blocks and went through everything, including getting all of the rust holes filled.  The car was at a friends place so it took over 2 years to do this work.  Got a 1 day ticket to move the car and got it to easily pass the smog test.  Took all the paperwork back down to the DMV and they started totalling up all kinds of fees, late fees and fines for failing to pay the fees and late fees.  Total came to over $2000.  I then remarked to them that it was thier failure for not finishing the transfer to my name and that caused the supervisor to come over.  They backed everything out and charged me for the title transfer and that year’s reg. which was about $50 total.  That delay also let me title the car properly as a YOM plate car (in CA you pay the personalized plate rate with unlimited milage) and the gal had a sad look on her face when I said thank you and left. You just need to know how to play the game.  In my case, they refused to allow the transfer until I had a condition met and that stopped the clocks on the penalties that could have been involved because the delay was failure to pass the smog emissions and they forgot to make a timeperiod in which I must pass the test or destroy the car. — Bob May Don’t subscribe to ACCESS1 for your webserver for the low prices.  The service has been lousy and has been poor for the last year.  Bob May

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It;s only been a few years (5 I think) that the smog on transfer stopped for the older cars.  Once you had the car, there is indeed no smog test required.  The age is 25 years now for the every other year smog test (don’t know how far back the smog on transfer goes tho but it may be the same now) and the change a few years ago also started the sliding window as previous to that, ‘66 was the first year of smog testing.  I started the transfer in ‘91 and it was titled finally in ‘93. — Bob May Don’t subscribe to ACCESS1 for your webserver for the low prices.  The service has been lousy and has been poor for the last year.  Bob May

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It;s only been a few years (5 I think) that the smog on transfer stopped for the older cars.  Once you had the car, there is indeed no smog test required.  The age is 25 years now for the every other year smog test (don’t know how far back the smog on transfer goes tho but it may be the same now) and the change a few years ago also started the sliding window as previous to that, ‘66 was the first year of smog testing.  I started the transfer in ‘91 and it was titled finally in ‘93.

Right now anything older than 1973 is smog-proof.  The sliding 30-year window won’t come into effect until 2003, when 1973 = 30 years.  Unless somebody knows different, of course. What scares me is that they might change the rules.  We bought a ‘78 monsterhome that was smog-proof until they decided a few years later that vehicles that heavy really did need to be smogged after all.  A real nightmare. Bastards. — Cheers, Bev   "Let them eat shit."           — Marcel Antoinette, Marie’s little-known brother

Response:

Why did you need to get a ‘57 smog inspected?  Was this a long time ago? For the last 15 years or so cars that old have been smog-exempt in CA.  I have a ‘35, a ‘52, a  ’53, and two ’55s, none of which need smog inspections. I believe the cut-off year is ‘65 or ‘66, or at least was until recently, when they went to a moving window. Don’t quote me on any of this – I have a heck of a time keeping track of the changing regs. -Jim

The only one that I know of is the NOx device required at change of title. The NOx device (nitrogen oxide) was a retarder to the ignition timing. I restored a ‘56 T-bird for someone, and when the owner went to register the car, he had to get a NOx device installed. I installed one for him. Too bad that the inspection station didn’t want to recognize the Echlin NOx device that I had lying around. They ended up installing a device that required cutting the upper radiator hose to install. After all the registration work was completed, I returned the car to original condition. Was inquired about that NOx device the last time I had to deal with smog check on my ‘70 Ford Ranchero. Fortunately, now with the exemption of 25 and older year vehicles in CA for bi-annual smog checks, the NOx issue is a moot point. A few years ago, this was not the case. John

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Never had to get a car smogged when those stupid NOx devices had to be installed.  Somehow I avoided all that mess.   All they do is not allow the vacuum to the dist. until the temp is up.  I’d see about pulling it when the radiator hose needs to be replaced and put the vacuum line back to stock.  I’ve seen one on a car but didn’t say anything to the owner of the car tho.  The PCV valve is still required but that just gets rid of the drafttube which is really illegal here in CA. — Bob May Don’t subscribe to ACCESS1 for your webserver for the low prices.  The service has been lousy and has been poor for the last year.  Bob May

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