California Registration

G Atsma

Goblin Guru
The intent of that rule is to prevent someone from building such cars as a business venture. I think once the car is built and used for a reasonable length of time, it can be sold in a private transaction. Just don't build for the purpose of selling.
 

kurbkilla

Active Member
Im mostly done registering mine and this is what I found out:
1. Junk out the Cobalt
2. fill out the reg 343 with the vin of the kit
3. fill out reg 5036 again with the vin of the kit (in section 4 I mentioned the date and vin of the cobalet that was junked)
4. go to DMV get a temporary registration and check they still have SPCNS number to give
5. go to CHP for inspection (I have DOT headlights / taillights, windscreen and no wipers, and 5 point harness)
6. get a brake and light inspection (based of year of cobalt)
7. back to DMV to request spcns certificate of sequence (they only issue 500 a year) and your certificate will come in the mail.
8. take certificate to a smog referee (i believe here you can smog by engine or body style (1965))
9. back to DMV for final registration (plates & stickers)

A friend of mine said his father in law did buy a car that was labeled as SPNCS100 from a corner dealer. So I'm not 100% sure that statement about NEVER selling is true
 

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Goblinfanclub1234

Well-Known Member
Hi guys!

I have been working on building my goblin and also working out the kinks like registration and insurance. As far as I am concerned, CA is one of the worst places to register a kit car or any modified car in general. Here are a few extra things that it turns out I need for the goblin:

  • Evap Canister
  • Muffler <95DB (could not be needed, but some may not smog without muffler)
  • EPA or ARB compliant EVERYTHING
I am not sure how I will do with the ARB compliance, but maybe I will get an exception for a kit car. When the car is fully build I will report back and see how it went.
Colorado flat out told me no so potentially its worse here?? Although after months of writing letters and threatening to sue the highway patrol and the state and getting state representatives and the attourney general involved they said goblins are okay now.
 

kurbkilla

Active Member
1. Junk out the Cobalt
2. fill out the reg 343 with the vin of the kit
3. fill out reg 5036 again with the vin of the kit (in section 4 I mentioned the date and vin of the cobalet that was junked)
4. go to DMV get a temporary registration and check they still have SPCNS number to give
5. go to CHP for inspection (I have DOT headlights / taillights, windscreen and no wipers, and 5 point harness)
6. get a brake and light inspection (based of year of cobalt)
7. back to DMV to request spcns certificate of sequence (they only issue 500 a year) and your certificate will come in the mail.
8. take certificate to a smog referee (i believe here you can smog by engine or body style (1965))
9. back to DMV for final registration (plates & stickers)
Kit 385 is fully registered smog exempt.

Took about 1.5 months to do the CHP and about 2 months to get the certificate of sequence but it is done
 

ChrisH

Member
Im mostly done registering mine and this is what I found out:
1. Junk out the Cobalt
2. fill out the reg 343 with the vin of the kit
3. fill out reg 5036 again with the vin of the kit (in section 4 I mentioned the date and vin of the cobalet that was junked)
4. go to DMV get a temporary registration and check they still have SPCNS number to give
5. go to CHP for inspection (I have DOT headlights / taillights, windscreen and no wipers, and 5 point harness)
6. get a brake and light inspection (based of year of cobalt)
7. back to DMV to request spcns certificate of sequence (they only issue 500 a year) and your certificate will come in the mail.
8. take certificate to a smog referee (i believe here you can smog by engine or body style (1965))
9. back to DMV for final registration (plates & stickers)

A friend of mine said his father in law did buy a car that was labeled as SPNCS100 from a corner dealer. So I'm not 100% sure that statement about NEVER selling is true
Hey there Kurbkilla,
Thanks for the info on California registration, I will wrap up building my goblin this fall/winter and will start the California registration process starting in 2024 so this is very very helpful and awesome to know some has succeeded at getting a goblin California tags.
Chris
 

jcdman

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, my car is registered in Ohio right now and I have a potential buyer in California. There's some concern about getting it registered in California. Can anyone here help walk me through the process?

For context, the car didn't need a smog in Ohio, however it was inspected by a state trooper before a normal title or registration was issued. We're in Apple Valley California now.
 

Ross

Goblin Guru
I believe that California had a special version of the Cobalt to meet smog regulations. Not sure what all was done to meet those regulations. Might be easier to go the Montana route.
 

jcdman

Well-Known Member
Yeah, unfortunately my buyer doesn't have a Montana LLC. That would make things a lot easier.
 

Desert Sasqwatch

Bigfoot Goblin
You set up the LLC in Montana and then sell it to the LLC, with you being the sole proprietor of this business makes it legal for you to drive it in any state.
 

Ross

Goblin Guru
Getting a Montana LLC is easy... it is part of the process. There are companies who will set one up for you, if you pay them a few bucks.
 

Gtstorey

Goblin Guru
I would put the work of figuring out Cali registration on the buyer. But it’s going to be hard to get anything like a Goblin registered in California without know how to play their system.

I’ve also heard that Cali is trying to crack down on the Montana route, although I don’t know how successful they have been. And they are going to be interested more in the 500k RVs than a Goblin registered.
 

ATMironov

Well-Known Member
What year is your car listed as on your registration?
California is smog exempt pre 1976.
For kit car in California, you can basically claim what year the motor is from, so you say it pre 75.
However, you can only register a Kit Car in California if you built it yourself with out the intent to resell.
Not sure if there is a path to registration if buying from out of state.
 

Ross

Goblin Guru
Built it yourself... is relative. Some kit cars are sold almost complete... just install the wheels and seats, and it is complete. Might be worth looking into what constitutes "Built it yourself" in California.
 

jcdman

Well-Known Member
Car is titled as a 2021. Smog isn't required in the Ohio county I came from so I never needed to claim different years. Currently trying to convince the potential buyer to just setup a Montana LLC. It would make things a lot easier for him. They're a cheat code.

For the thread, I found this link which details the process pretty well, but as @ATMironov said this may not apply to vehicles purchased out of state.
 

ATMironov

Well-Known Member
Car is titled as a 2021. Smog isn't required in the Ohio county I came from so I never needed to claim different years. Currently trying to convince the potential buyer to just setup a Montana LLC. It would make things a lot easier for him. They're a cheat code.

For the thread, I found this link which details the process pretty well, but as @ATMironov said this may not apply to vehicles purchased out of state.
Call the local CHP office and ask for the Vin Officer. Explain the situation and see what he says.
 
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