Brake and Light Inspections?

[WannaBeaChippie]

I just bought a restored 1979 Trans Am, the problem is it was in a wreck once before the rear fender was bent and the owner got a salvaged title. So now I have to get a CHP inspection, and a brake and light inspection...I don't know where I can find one of those places. I've never had a salvaged vehicle...

I wanted to know what the CHP inspection includes and what I should have ready for the inspection?

[SB 405]

You may also have a problem finding an insurance company that will insure a salvaged vehicle.

[G-Man]

Go to a CHP office for the inspection and make sure everything is in working order (ie. the lights light up). Call up the office and ask what paperwork you have to bring with you.

[PeckerHead]

You will probably need a Vin Salvage Officer (from whatever Division you live in) to inspect your vehicle, unless that was done by the previous owner before he/she registered it. If your smart enough to get on the computer and come to this forum to ask about your car, then I;m sure your smart enough to look in the "yellow pages" under "automotive" for the nearest B&L Inspection station. :smile:

[WannaBeaChippie]

Thanks alot guys for the help.:biggrin:


OH YEAH that's what I forgot the guy who had the car before the owner I got it from painted over the VIN sticker in the door when he was doing some refurbushing, is that going to be a problem? I don't know why anyone would paint over it..everyone knows how important that sticker is.:biggrin:shock:ubt: I've tried EVERYTHING to strip the paints its on so thick though.

If you guys can't help I will just go over to the office and ask thanks.

[WannaBeaChippie]

You may also have a problem finding an insurance company that will insure a salvaged vehicle.Well my insurance I have now told me that insuring the car wouldn't be a problem if I could get it registered, they said an agent wil have to come out and look at it and do a walk around. But I really had to convince them...

[RodeoChippie]

Depending on how they do things in Golden Gate Division, the VIN Officer at your local CHP office may be able to inspect your car for you. I'm stepping out on a limb here and guessing a 79 Pontiac isn't real high on the popular stolen car list, so the Salvage Officer may not want to see it. When you reconstruct a salvaged vehicle its a good idea to have receipts for all the major parts (doors, fenders, hoods, bumpers) you replace and the VIN of the vehicle they came from if they are used parts. Having the fed label in the door painted over is a minor inconvienience for the inspecting Officer but its not the end of the world. There are several other ways (CONFIDENTIAL IN NATURE) the Officer can confirm the identity of your vehicle and make sure its not stolen. I would suggest calling one of the salvage Officers from Golden Gate Division to see if they want to look at it and what paperwork they will need. If the local VIN Officer can do it, call him/her and ask the same things. Make sure you have been to DMV and have all your paperwork from them in order and your fees paid. In my area we won't look at cars until they have started the process with DMV.

[x MAIT]

Thanks alot guys for the help.:biggrin:


OH YEAH that's what I forgot the guy who had the car before the owner I got it from painted over the VIN sticker in the door when he was doing some refurbushing, is that going to be a problem? I don't know why anyone would paint over it..everyone knows how important that sticker is.:biggrin:shock:ubt: I've tried EVERYTHING to strip the paints its on so thick though.

If you guys can't help I will just go over to the office and ask thanks.

The sticker on the door isn't the VIN. For a 79 Pontiac, it should be on the dash somewhere.

[WannaBeaChippie]

Okay, they guy I bought it from freaked out, this is my first car that still had 13 numbers in the VIN I figured out where the VIN was this morning when I was browsing around in it. I called the office today to ask and they were closed...:biggrin: Doih...haha. I will call tommorow....thanks guys very much I just want this process to be as smooth as possible.

[dw]

You asked about a brake and lamp inspection... The CHP does NOT do this.

To register a salvaged vehicle, you have to do the following:

1) Go to DMV, start the paperwork (and pay fees, I believe). They will give you a statement that will probably require a) brake and lamp inspections, b) SMOG inspection, and c) VIN verification (may specify only CHP).

2) Schedule an appointment for CHP to do the VIN verification.

3) Find an authorized brake & lamp inspection station in the phone book or Google. You can probably find one that does the SMOG as well...

4) Take all your certificates back to DMV...

[Tom]

You asked about a brake and lamp inspection... The CHP does NOT do this.

To register a salvaged vehicle, you have to do the following:

1) Go to DMV, start the paperwork (and pay fees, I believe). They will give you a statement that will probably require a) brake and lamp inspections, b) SMOG inspection, and c) VIN verification (may specify only CHP).

2) Schedule an appointment for CHP to do the VIN verification.

3) Find an authorized brake & lamp inspection station in the phone book or Google. You can probably find one that does the SMOG as well...

4) Take all your certificates back to DMV...

Thats correct. For example when we used to be able to "dual-sport" motorcycles (put a license plate on them) a motorcycle shop would inspect your bike (after propr modifications) and sign a "Statement of Facts" stating that the above motorcycle met the requirements of the CHP 888. (Which used to be the guide for on-highway motorcycles) The same procedure applies for a salvaged vehicle. Actually you are in luck because the CHP-Oakland office is the "hub" for salvage in the Bay area. They can do some certificates that the other offices cannot.

Good luck.

[WannaBeaChippie]

I'm just throwing a question out there...what happens if you happen to buy a car, and a part on the car lets say the door is a door off of a stolen vehicle that was never recovered..what happens to the person that bought the car?:neutral:

What if you did not know it came from a stolen car...?

[RodeoChippie]

You lose your door and its returned to the owner. Now if an insurance company has paid off the owner for the stolen car, the insurance company is now the owner and they will most likely make you a heck of a deal on the door.

[WannaBeaChippie]

Whoa...you learn something new everyday..:shock:

[abenor]

California official smog, brake and light inspection, certified and repair facility.

Ronny Benor
Autotech
3817 Sepulveda Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 390-1108
BMW and Mercedes Benz Specialist
www.autotechint.com (http://www.autotechint.com/)

[Officer_Grady]

look in the phone book, easiest way. I'd worry about the stolen car down the road.