Austin Thomas
New member
This is kind of long, and I need somebody who really knows a lot about car registration to answer it:
I live in California. I got my driver's permit on August 31, (2010), so I have about 6 months before I can go for my provisional license(I'll be 17 and a half years old on December 14, and I know I could just take the driving test when I turn 17.5, skipping the 6-month period and 50 driving hours, but I'd rather keep my permit for driving practice and so I don't have to pay for insurance just yet). With that being said, I AM ASSUMING I will set up a date so that I take my behind-the-wheel test as soon as the 6-month period ends, and also that I will pass it the first time I take it(keep this assumption in mind this whole article).
In the meantime, I want to register a car (Honda Accord '94) that my grandmother is giving me for free(in other worse not selling) so that I can start driving as soon as possible once I get my provisional license. The last time it was registered was under my grandmother's name, but it hasn't been registered for a few years. The license plate has DMV stickers from September 2007, so that was it's last registration period.
I know from basic research that in order to re-register a car, there's a fee. When a car isn't registered on time, there's a penalty fee. And when it isn't re-registered for years, there's bigger fees.
Also I'm pretty sure that by now, the car will probably need a smog check, tune-up, all that good stuff that mechanics can do. I know that at a local certified station I can get a smog-check, tune-up, and oil change for about $90. Maybe I should mention that THE CAR HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN OR EVEN TURNED ON IN A COUPLE YEARS, so if there's any other mechanical touch-ups it might need, please don't hesitate to mention them (however, I know that it doesn't need a new battery)
In order to get this car from my garage to the gas station, I could push it(it's not that far, less than half a mile down the street), but that's pretty strenuous, so I'm planning on jump-starting it and having someone drive it to the gas station to repair it. I think I saw somewhere that I need to fill out a temporary permit(like a one day permit or something) to allow it to be driven to a service station. Then after I get it repaired, it should be in good condition so that when it needs to be inspected for registration, it'll pass.
I also know that in order to register a car, one needs to show proof of insurance, which means if I were to get the car registered under my name, I need to apply for my own insurance. I also know that I can't apply for my own insurance until after I get my provisional license, which would mean I could only start getting my insurance at some point during or after March 2010.
If you took the time to read all of that, you're awesome and here are my questions:
1: Besides the jump-start, smog check, tune-up, and oil change, are there any other repair services this dormant car might need? If so, how much might those services cost?
2: Can someone explain how an adult I know(I can't legally do this because I'm an unlicensed minor) can apply for some form of a permit to drive this unregistered car down to our local service station?
3: How do I get ownership of the Honda transferred from my grandmother to me?
4: Once I legally own the car and have gotten my own form of auto insurance, how do I register it under my name?
5: About how much money will it run me(because I'm paying for everything) to have this vehicle re-registered after the few years it hasn't been registered? If there isn't a definite price, please give me the price range.
All answers need to follow California State law. Thanks for the help.
I live in California. I got my driver's permit on August 31, (2010), so I have about 6 months before I can go for my provisional license(I'll be 17 and a half years old on December 14, and I know I could just take the driving test when I turn 17.5, skipping the 6-month period and 50 driving hours, but I'd rather keep my permit for driving practice and so I don't have to pay for insurance just yet). With that being said, I AM ASSUMING I will set up a date so that I take my behind-the-wheel test as soon as the 6-month period ends, and also that I will pass it the first time I take it(keep this assumption in mind this whole article).
In the meantime, I want to register a car (Honda Accord '94) that my grandmother is giving me for free(in other worse not selling) so that I can start driving as soon as possible once I get my provisional license. The last time it was registered was under my grandmother's name, but it hasn't been registered for a few years. The license plate has DMV stickers from September 2007, so that was it's last registration period.
I know from basic research that in order to re-register a car, there's a fee. When a car isn't registered on time, there's a penalty fee. And when it isn't re-registered for years, there's bigger fees.
Also I'm pretty sure that by now, the car will probably need a smog check, tune-up, all that good stuff that mechanics can do. I know that at a local certified station I can get a smog-check, tune-up, and oil change for about $90. Maybe I should mention that THE CAR HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN OR EVEN TURNED ON IN A COUPLE YEARS, so if there's any other mechanical touch-ups it might need, please don't hesitate to mention them (however, I know that it doesn't need a new battery)
In order to get this car from my garage to the gas station, I could push it(it's not that far, less than half a mile down the street), but that's pretty strenuous, so I'm planning on jump-starting it and having someone drive it to the gas station to repair it. I think I saw somewhere that I need to fill out a temporary permit(like a one day permit or something) to allow it to be driven to a service station. Then after I get it repaired, it should be in good condition so that when it needs to be inspected for registration, it'll pass.
I also know that in order to register a car, one needs to show proof of insurance, which means if I were to get the car registered under my name, I need to apply for my own insurance. I also know that I can't apply for my own insurance until after I get my provisional license, which would mean I could only start getting my insurance at some point during or after March 2010.
If you took the time to read all of that, you're awesome and here are my questions:
1: Besides the jump-start, smog check, tune-up, and oil change, are there any other repair services this dormant car might need? If so, how much might those services cost?
2: Can someone explain how an adult I know(I can't legally do this because I'm an unlicensed minor) can apply for some form of a permit to drive this unregistered car down to our local service station?
3: How do I get ownership of the Honda transferred from my grandmother to me?
4: Once I legally own the car and have gotten my own form of auto insurance, how do I register it under my name?
5: About how much money will it run me(because I'm paying for everything) to have this vehicle re-registered after the few years it hasn't been registered? If there isn't a definite price, please give me the price range.
All answers need to follow California State law. Thanks for the help.