Anyone know a friendly Bay Area Cop?

This might sound cliche, but I've had good luck for a fix-it-ticket finding a nice cop to help at a coffee shop. I politely offered to treat for coffee for the bother (which he refused but appreciated the gesture) and he looked at my ticket and signed off on it.

 

Not sure about California but in Virginia....the State Troopers do this as a courtesy (they enforce State Law on vehicle inspections). I called local dispatch non emergency and they sent a Trooper to do the inspection and sign the form. It is probably part of their outreach program and I sent a letter to his boss thanking him for taking the time and signing the paperwork.

His boss responded with another very professional letter.

 

Can a full service AAA here in Norcal do that for you?

 

This is what I have done in the past, call non-emergency, sometime in the next 2 or 3 hours an officer shows up checks the VIN number and signs off.

 

There is a department when you call the state troopers office that does onsite VIN verification, they like coming to look at a Lamborghini so you should have no problem.

 

I’ve had good luck just going to the local police station and asking nicely. One of them came out, looked at my out of state purchased 456GT, filled out the form, and that was that. Nice guy, we talked a bit about the car. Super easy. Good luck!

 

I've just driven up to the local police department and asked for someone to check it out in the parking lot. Maybe call your local station first?

 

Where in the Bay Area? There is one specific officer responsible for this in the Campbell Police Department that did mine, he was cool.

 

In Modesto, we just roll up to the dmv, push the call button and someone comes to do a vin verif....no appt needed.

 

Huh? I recently took an out of state vehicle for VIN verification to the CHP in Martinez. Had to make an appointment, but it was easy-peasy... I've also used a service to come to my house for an out of state VIN verification a few years ago, as the vehicle was not drivable at that time. Most all CHP offices have a designated/trained officer who performs VIN verifications at the CHP office.

 

Did you tell them that you're going to register it in another state? That could have soured them on helping out. They probably deal with enough of "Montana" plates and the like to not want to support sidestepping taxes.

On a side note, California is funny about issuing titles to vehicles that aren't registered here or don't pass all the requirements. You might have problems even after you get the VIN verified. For instance, I purchased an 86 Grand Wagoneer as a project a few years ago. The seller was a bit shady and there wasn't a smog with it. I let it slide as it was a rare combo and I planned on overhauling the engine anyway and didn't care about getting a current registration. Well, turns out, they didn't even want to issue me a title without the smog which was crazy to me. Ended up having to get it tuned in the current state to pass smog first.

 

there are people that are contracted by the DMV to do this kind of work if you don't want to go to the DMV> I've done this for many vehicles and motorcycles.
I've used them twice and they are NOT difficult like a DMV agent, they actually love cars and just do this on their free time. Just be nice and pay a tip.

They are located in the bay area.

https://verifyyourvehicle.com/

 

I'm in the same boat as the OP. In CA, the CHP is the sole authority to verify a car that's been imported from out of the country. (It sounds like that is the case here.) Moreover the CHP will only fill out the CA VIN verification form, which may or may not be accepted by Arizona where the OP actually wants to register the car. I wish I had an answer for you but so far, no dice. AAA turned me down. 3 local police turned me down and even the DMV wouldn't issue a one day operating permit to drive the car for CHP inspection unless I had already begin the CA registration process.

 

This is not entirely true. I did mine with my local police department, a certified officer came to my house and filled out the form for another state. You may just need to call around.

 

May I ask what city? I'd love to go this route but haven't been able to thus far.

 

It was Campbell, CA

 

Thanks. I will do more calling.