TheSamba.com :: View topic - Need advice on transferring a car between states & Family

Sun Apr 14, 2019 2:16 pm

Hi,

My grandfather recently passed and my grandmother decided to gift me a 68' vert. Only problem is that she's in Oregon and i'm in California. The CA dmv website has information on transferring cars between family members which seems pretty easy, however they state that the gifted car will have to have a pre-existing CA title. I assume the process is similar to gift a car across state lines, but I'm trying to see if anyone has advice (as i'm looking to avoid paying use tax at all costs).

Thanks!

Sun Apr 14, 2019 2:25 pm

Who’s name was the title in? The title will need to be in your grandmother’s name before she can assign it to you. It’s possible that a power of attorney can be used to reassign the title to you but that usually doesn’t transfer across state lines. California has to accept another state’s title but they can be a PITA when it comes to the vehicle passing inspection.

Sun Apr 14, 2019 2:34 pm

TDCTDI wrote: Who’s name was the title in? The title will need to be in your grandmother’s name before she can assign it to you.

Luckily the title is under both of their names and it seems only one registered owner must sign the title (which she has). I believe that vehicles are smog exempt if older than 1976 in CA (having an issue with my 79' transporter dealing with this).

Sun Apr 14, 2019 3:28 pm

My state requires signatures of all parties on the title. You need to research whether this is true in your state.

Sun Apr 14, 2019 4:22 pm

YOU first do the legwork and have the OR title transferred into your name up there.
Once it's in your name up there- you are transferring state to state only.

Free cars are rarely free. Isn't a minimum expense expected?

Sun Apr 14, 2019 5:18 pm

hitest wrote:
Free cars are rarely free. Isn't a minimum expense expected?

I have no problem paying the expenses (fees for transferring the title/registration), however it would be be stupid to pay use tax if I am not legally obligated to do so (a gift is tax exempt in CA).

Seems like if I can transfer the title from OR to CA in California then I'd save myself some time, and unnecessary legwork.

After all time is money.

Mon Apr 15, 2019 4:26 pm

I guess I’m lucky to be in Georgia.
Vehicles over 30 years old don’t need a title and there are no inspections either.

Mon Apr 15, 2019 5:43 pm

hitest wrote: YOU first do the legwork and have the OR title transferred into your name up there.
Once it's in your name up there- you are transferring state to state only.

Free cars are rarely free. Isn't a minimum expense expected?

This.
Do your research before you set foot in DMV and before anyone signs existing documents.

I had a rough time dealing with my dad's Benz; he handed me the keys and had signed the title before he died, with a comment that he wouldn't need it anymore. Issue was seller signature in PA needs to be notarized when sold. By that time he had passed away. Took a notary in NJ and a sympathetic DMV clerk who saw the Arlington Nat. Cemetery pass in the paperwork to make it work out.

My son bought an estate vehicle in CT and DMV is giving him the shaft, as the executor does not have a title or any old registrations to show the deceased had it in his name. He has been to DMV about 4 times with additional forms, affidavits and photos with the plate visible; the photos mean nothing, as DMV says their records don't go back that far. We are working on a creative solution to the issue...which legal counsel says ultimately will work. Lots of grief for a 1k buy in.

Do your homework first. InterWeb is key.

Thu Apr 25, 2019 2:53 pm

There are the permutations of you registering the car in Oregon first, or her registering ther car in Cali.