Registration question.

[Mike330R]

I ordered a truck and expect it to be here at the end of February. The problem is my current truck is due for registration this month. I hate to spend the money for it when I am so close to a new truck.

Should I pay it or try and trade it in with out it registered?

[DmaxMaverick]

Non-Op it.

If you trade in without a clear title (fees due), you will have to pay the reg. anyway, plus penalties (about 20%).

I would suggest getting a non-op, then when you have to drive it to the dealer for the trade, get a temporary trip permit from the DMV. That way you won't get dinged with the fees and registration, not to mention staying legal. Only cost is the 10 bucks for the non-op. Don't tell the dealer about it up front, wait for them to ask, if they even notice. You just can't justify paying a years registration for less than a months use. The only winner is the state. IMO, they have too much of our money already.

[Mike330R]

Thanks for the tip!
I will be driving it during Feb. Guess if I get pulled over I will say the registration is in the mail smile.gif

[jbplock]

Not sure about California but in NY you get a refund and/or credit when plates are transfered from one veichle to another.

smile.gif

[DmaxMaverick]

There is about a 4-5 day lag between the DMV paperwork and the computer entry (into the computer that is available to law enforcement. If you wait until the last minute to do a non-op, it will give you about 1 week to use that excuse. Once it is entered, CHP or any cop will know that it is not registered, and that an non-op is filed. It is the same to drive with non-op as with a non registered vehicle. You could take a chance with the non-op, as it is policy (unwritten) that license stickers are allowed about 1-2 months before getting attention. Meaning that if you have a January sticker, you won't get stopped in February just because you have a January sticker (although they could). In either case, it is still better to get a non-op, just in case you get away with it. No matter what you do, if you get stopped, be honest. Most officers will sympothize with you if you tell them about it. Once DMV gets any notion that the vehicle is on the road, for any reason, you are stuck. They won't listen to "excuses".

Also, you can go to DMV's web site to do the registration, or non-op.
CA DMV Renewal (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/online/vrir/vr_top2.htm)

The registration needs to be on file on or before the date of expiration, either in person at DMV, postmark, or online. I would suggest doing it on the afternoon of the last day.

You could also get a temporary trip permit every couple of days. That would take a little creative story telling. If you have a non-op vehicle that is for sale, you can get temp permits for test drives (kinda' like the truth).

Do any of this at your own risk. I offer no guarantee that any of this will work. YMMV

Added on edit:
CA DMV does not prorate fees after they are paid. Once you pay it, you don't get it back. It is up to you to recover the fees from the buyer, if you can.