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How To Reregister a Salvaged Vehicle
Revived Salvage Vehicle
A revived salvage vehicle is one that was reported to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by the owner or insurance company as a total loss and has been restored to operational condition.
Information on revived junked vehicles.
Reregistration of Total Loss Salvage Vehicles
- Application - You must submit an Application for Title or Registration (PDF) (REG 343) signed by all listed owners.
- Evidence of Ownership -
To prove your ownership of
the vehicle, you must have one of the following:
The Salvage Certificate endorsed for transfer to your name.
NOTE: If the Salvage Certificate is missing, the insurance company or person who applied for the original must complete an Application for Salvage Certificate or Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificate (PDF) (REG 488C) and a Statement of Facts (PDF) (REG 256), which describes the vehicle and certifies to the disposition of the original Salvage Certificate.- Bills of Sale (PDF) as needed to complete the chain of vehicle ownership.
- Vehicle Inspection - Revived salvage vehicles must be inspected by the California DMV or the California
Highway Patrol (CHP) before DMV can issue title and registration. When the
CHP does an inspection, you must bring the bills of sale and proof of ownership
(previously discussed) to the inspection appointment for review by the inspection
officer. A nonrefundable inspection
fee will be collected by DMV at the time
the registration application is presented.
NOTE: Vehicles being presented for inspection that were originally manufactured with a supplemental restraint system (air bags) need to be equipped with air bags in good working order, which meet applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards and conform to the manufacturer’s specifications for that vehicle.
CHP conducts inspections by appointment only. You must contact the CHP for an appointment. The CHP addresses and appointment telephone numbers are listed below. - Brake and Light Inspection Certificates - Check the yellow pages of your telephone directory
or business guide for California state-licensed
brake and light inspection stations. The certificates
indicating your vehicle has passed California
brake and light inspections are required for registration.
Certificates are not required for trailers weighing
3,000 pounds or less gross
vehicle weight.
Exception: When a California official brake and light station that inspects specific vehicles, such as motorcycles or large commercial vehicles is not located within a reasonable distance, the California DMV will accept a Statement of Facts (REG 256) from a California repair shop attesting that the brakes and lights are in proper working order.
NOTE: California does not recognize out-of-state certifications for revived salvage vehicles.
- Weight Certificate A California public weighmaster’s certificate
of the vehicle’s unladen or empty weight is
required for trucks and pickups. This certificate
may be obtained from many moving and storage companies
for a nominal fee. Check your local telephone directory
for the public weighmasters nearest you.
A weight certificate is not required for:- Trucks or pickups previously registered in California, when the prior California registration shows the empty or unladen weight, and the vehicle has not been modified to change the weight.
- Trucks or pickups with an empty or unladen weight of 6,000 pounds or less where the weight is indicated on an out-of-state certificate of title or registration, and the vehicle has not been modified to change the weight.
- Two-axle or three-axle trucks weighing 10,001 pounds or more. The estimated weight is required.
- Autos, trailers, and motorcycles.
- Smog Certification
Smog certification from an official smog inspection station is required unless your vehicle is:- Hybrid
- 1975 year model or older
- Diesel powered vehicles manufactured prior to 1998 or with a Gross Vehicle Weight rating (GVWR) of more than 14,000 lbs.
- Electric
- Natural gas powered and has a Gross Vehicle Weight rating of more than 14,000 lbs.
- Motorcycle
- Trailer
- Fees That May Be Due
- The amount of money you will have to pay depends on a variety of factors.
The types of fees that may be collected are:
Registration- Registration Fee
- California Highway Patrol Fee
- Vehicle License Fee
- Weight Fee
- Commercial Vehicle Registration Act (CVRA) Motor Vehicle Fee
- County Fees
- Cargo Theft Interdiction Program (CTIP) Fee
- Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) Fee (most trailers)
- Transfer Fee
- Substitute Plate Fee
- Use Tax
Service Fees
- Salvage and Dismantled Vehicle Inspection Fee
- Prior History Fee
- Non-Resident Fee (if the vehicle was last registered out of state)
CHP Inspection Appointment Scheduling
Inspections will not be conducted without an appointment. Please call one of the offices listed below to set the appointment date and time. These addresses are for appointment scheduling and may not be the actual inspection site.
CHP Inspection Appointment Numbers
Northern Division
2485 Sonoma Street
Redding, CA 96001-3026
Phone: (530) 225-2120
Valley Division
11336 Trade Center Drive
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-0640
Phone: (916) 464-2566
Golden Gate Division
1551 Benicia Road
Vallejo, CA 94951-7568
Phone: (510) 622-4611
Central Division
5179 N. Gates Avenue
Fresno, CA 93722-6414
Phone: (559) 488-4053
Coastal Division
4115 Broad Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-7963
Phone: (805) 549-3006
Inland Division
847 E. Brier Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408-2820
Phone: (909) 806-2437
Border Division
1722 East Main Street
El Cajon, CA 92021
Phone: (619) 401-2000
13200 Golden West Street
Westminster, CA 92683
Phone: (714) 892-4426
2335 Enrico Fermi Drive
San Diego, CA 92154
Phone: (858) 492-1745
Southern Division
Torrance Phone: (323) 644-9593
Monterey Park Phone: (323) 980-4600
Woodland Hills Phone: (818) 888-0980
HTVR 13 Online Version 11/03/2006