BajaNomad

CA vehicle registration for trailer in Baja

Doug/Vamonos - 11-29-2010 at 06:35 PM

Hi. I keep a camper at LA Bay and I continue to pay annual DMV registration fees. I researched this once and I remember the DMV saying that fees are due on a trailer no matter where it is located unless you want to permanently register it in another state. I just wanted to quit paying the fees since it is not on California roads and may not be for a long time. I initially paid the fees thinking I want to be legal if I decide to move it back. Any ideas? If I quit paying the fees, how hard would it be to get it legal again? Thanks.

bajaguy - 11-29-2010 at 06:53 PM

You could probably do a voluntary cancellation of the current registration with CA DMV (don't know if they have a form for that). To re-register, I'm thinking you could do a CA DMV Statement of Facts and a CA DMV Non-Op certificate....I wouldn't tell them it is/was in Baja.......that's another can of worms..........

DENNIS - 11-29-2010 at 07:02 PM

Why can't you get one of those Ca. "Good Forever" plates? I bought a new utility trailer around seven years back and it came with one.

Bob and Susan - 11-29-2010 at 07:07 PM

dennis...magic word = utility trailer

bajalou - 11-29-2010 at 07:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
You could probably do a voluntary cancellation of the current registration with CA DMV (don't know if they have a form for that). To re-register, I'm thinking you could do a CA DMV Statement of Facts and a CA DMV Non-Op certificate....I wouldn't tell them it is/was in Baja.......that's another can of worms..........


Like Doug said (or implied) - no non-opps for trailers.

I would register it in SD where the renewal fees are very low compared to Calif.

Or just quit paying and if you want to take it NOB again, register in SD at that time.

DENNIS - 11-29-2010 at 07:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
dennis...magic word = utility trailer




Oh....I thought the magic word was SHAZAM. :lol:

OK....I didn't know that. No Travel Trailers, eh?
Thanks, Bob.

bajaguy - 11-29-2010 at 07:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou


Like Doug said (or implied) - no non-opps for trailers.






Lou.....is that your "final answer"??????............please see this link:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr01.htm

I believe Ca DMV form REG-102 will solve the problem

BajaWarrior - 11-29-2010 at 07:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Why can't you get one of those Ca. "Good Forever" plates? I bought a new utility trailer around seven years back and it came with one.


The "forever plate" still needs to be renewed every 5 years for $10. They're actually called "permanent plates" in California and are for utility trailers and vessel trailers not camping trailers.

The term permanent plate is confusing when you have to renew it.

Doug/Vamonos - 11-29-2010 at 08:08 PM

Thanks Bajaguy, but I'll go with Bajalou on this one. I'm searching for the link, but I read that trailer coaches are specifically exempted from the non-opp. Otherwise, how would they collect registration fees on all the coaches that end up parked in trailer parks for their entire life and never get on the road?

Doug/Vamonos - 11-29-2010 at 08:33 PM

My renewal notice states, "This trailer must be registered whether it is used, occupied or moved over California highways." There is no provision for PNO on the renewal form. But I'm still searching...

bajalou - 11-29-2010 at 08:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou


Like Doug said (or implied) - no non-opps for trailers.






Lou.....is that your "final answer"??????............please see this link:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr01.htm

I believe Ca DMV form REG-102 will solve the problem


Still my final answer. If you get a trailer that is built for you to live in put in Non-op, please let me know how you did it.

bajaguy - 11-29-2010 at 09:00 PM

I bought a travel trailer to live in when I built my house in California. While building it was parked on our property. After the house was built, I wanted to register it so we could go camping. Filled out a non-op certificate at CA DMV office in South Lake Tahoe. I just stated that it was not parked or driven (pulled) on California highways/roads from a certain date to the date I went to DMV........

No problem

bajalou - 11-29-2010 at 09:53 PM

Sounds good - was it a Calif. registered trailer when you parked it?

bajaguy - 11-29-2010 at 09:56 PM

Yes, sir.......just had to swear on a stack of bibles that the tires never touched pavement

Heather - 11-30-2010 at 12:16 PM

Doug, I tried to do the same thing with my trailer that is parked down in Cabo. After running around with the DMV, I was told that the type of trailer that it is cannot be marked, "non-op". I'm still paying the $67 yearly fee to have it registered in CA. If you find a way out....let me know!

Saludos, Heather

ElFaro - 12-1-2010 at 08:46 AM

To all of you who have trailers in Baja paying Calif. DMV fees...

Can you just "sell" your trailer to a permanently retired American in Baja or a Mexican friend for a small fee and take the sales receipt to the DMV demonstrating the trailer is permanently out of the country and no longer belongs to you? Wouldn't that stop your need to pay the annual regis. fee ? Just a thought...

Doug/Vamonos - 12-1-2010 at 09:13 AM

ElFaro - the only reason I pay the fee is because I may bring it back home to sell it at some point. Otherwise, I'd dump the registration in a second.

Heather - are you at the vags park?

Bajaguy - I guess this really comes down to who you deal with at the DMV counter when you want to re-register a trailer that you let lapse or filed the non-op. If you say too much or get someone on a bad day they may look at it longer and find problems. Like I said before, if CA allows you to non-op a trailer (camper) then how would they collect registration ($$) on the thousands of trailers permanently parked at trailer parks across the state. And these trailers do not pay property taxes so the loss of income to the state would be a big issue. Just thinking out loud.

Thanks for all the ideas and comments.

irenemm - 12-2-2010 at 12:09 AM

If your trailer does not have current tags in Mexico it could be confiscated. To leave it here it must be imported. We have always had everyone who left a trailer here to have it current as we have been checked by Mexican dmv. Who shows that the trailer leaves with you and it is not been reported in the US as a stolen .
just a note for the Mexican side of vehicles.