Hi, I put my RV for sale on rvtrader. I have a cash sale pending and need to move on finalizing the sale properly. (Orange County, CA) What is the proper procedure at this point? Title is lien free. Do I take buyers to the DMV to do a transfer after payment is received? Do I need to get a smog check done for them...before or after DMV? Basically what are all of the proper steps to transfer ownership and complete the sale ASAP. And what shouuld the new owners be doing besides paying me and securing insurance? Ideally in the next two days. Thanks

I have sold major items person-person many times, and besides certified funds (from a bank ideally, or cash) that you take to your bank to verify FIRST, you would sign over title AND provide bill of sale, signed by both parties.HOWEVER---I don't live in CA. You'll dislike me for saying this -- but you should figure all that stuff out FIRST before having sold it. Know the process for your state. Have a plan. Know what types of payments you'll take and HOW you will handle them. Contact the DMV (or website) of your state and see if they have info. Again, I can't imagine that it's any harder than Bill of Sale, Title signed, and certified funds.

mleekamp wrote:I have sold major items person-person many times, and besides certified funds (from a bank ideally, or cash) that you take to your bank to verify FIRST, you would sign over title AND provide bill of sale, signed by both parties.HOWEVER---I don't live in CA. You'll dislike me for saying this -- but you should figure all that stuff out FIRST before having sold it. Know the process for your state. Have a plan. Know what types of payments you'll take and HOW you will handle them. Contact the DMV (or website) of your state and see if they have info. Again, I can't imagine that it's any harder than Bill of Sale, Title signed, and certified funds.Thanks for the reply, but I am looking for someone who has done this in CA to cover additional requirements and not just someone who is imagining/speculating. I am already well aware of collecting money, bill of sale and title transfer. The stickier parts I want to make sure of are understanding my obligations related to smog and making sure I perform those obligations in an optimal way so buyers do not have to get smog for another two years. I also want to identify proper procedure to make sure I have removed all liability by making sure they start the title transfer process. Obviously I will call DMV when they open and aks them, but am hoping for a CA reply. So while I appreciate your effort, it is not helpful since you have no CA knowledge on the matter. Parting shot was really not needed though. Sale is moving alot faster than anticipated, but basic plan is in place, I am prepared, it is these final details that I did not think of until now is all.

1. Yes, YOU need to smog the RV. 2. If you have AAA, you can do the transfer right there. But, with an appointment at DMV, you will have no wait. 3. You can also just fill out the title, a release of reliability, and print out a bill of sell. No need to go anywhere. California is one the easiest places to transfer titles. Some states require a notary stamp. We don't.

jdc1 wrote:1. Yes, YOU need to smog the RV. 2. If you have AAA, you can do the transfer right there. But, with an appointment at DMV, you will have no wait. 3. You can also just fill out the title, a release of reliability, and print out a bill of sell. No need to go anywhere. California is one the easiest places to transfer titles. Some states require a notary stamp. We don't.Thanks. My current registration is good to end of June. Any renewal would need a smog. Do you know, if I go get a smog certificate now, would that cover the renewal for June? 1 for new buyers...IE would they be covered for two years? 2 if sale falls through, could I use the smog certificate I get today or tomorrow, for a registration renewal that will likely come in the mail end of this month.I am on the fence if I would want to go to DMV with buyers to complete the transfer...I'd like to see it through, but not spending time at the DMV is good too.Thanks for the info

Nevada is trying its best to be like California in many ways. No notary stamp was needed when I sold my TT to a Reno dealer. All I had to do was endorse the title and hand it over for a check in return and sign a short easy to read bill of sale prepared by dealer with no gibberish or tricks. At a recent RV show he was not happy with the price he paid me over 5 years ago but the TT was in very good condition when he bought it from me. I said he could scratch his and be glad. He remembered me as a fellow former Texan. Too Bad.

Selling RV, urgent help needed on proper process California

joshuajim
Explorer II
Apr 06, 2022
This will help you.

Bill of Sale CA
fyrflie
Explorer III
Apr 06, 2022
toedtoes wrote:
fyrflie wrote:
A side note for any vehicle transfer in California.
The license plates on your registered vehicle are yours. Take them off of the vehicle and physically surrender them to the DMV. This forces the new owner to register the vehicle in their own name and in a timely matter. Simply submitting the title transfer online does not fully remove you from liability of the vehicle.
If you don’t take this step, the new owners can then operate the vehicle under your plates that are attached to your name. Toll evasion is the one issue that comes to mind but a crime committed can also wreak havoc for you.

This information was told to me by an employee at the DMV.

From the DMV website
Does the NRL (notice of transfer and release of liability) remove my name from the vehicle record?
No. Only the buyer’s application for transfer, using the endorsed title received from you, can remove your name from the vehicle record.

Per dmv.ca.gov:

Generally, license plates remain with the vehicle they were issued to. Certain types of plates (personalized environmental, special recognition, or special interest) can be reassigned to another vehicle upon request by the owner and payment of appropriate fees.

Sure, you can remove the plates, but the buyer may not be appreciative as they will not be able to legally drive the vehicle home without those plates. If you are that concerned, then go in to the dmv with the seller and do the transfer.

I was simply forwarding the information that was told to me by an actual DMV Employee when I last did a vehicle sale.
Sorry for trying to be helpful.
bikendan
Explorer
Apr 06, 2022
RetiredRealtorRick wrote:
Why not just call the DMV? I would think that they, more than anybody, would have all the information you need, am I not correct?

You obviously have never tried calling California DMV.:M
It was horrible before the pandemic, I'm sure it's worse now.
jeff92804
Explorer
Apr 09, 2022
All done...very hassle free. Thanks for advice. I went ahead and got the smog regardless knowing I would need it for myself if sale fell through. I went to DMV witht he buyers so everythign closed out fast. For payment, they met me at the bank with a big wad of hundreds. I told the teller to deposit into my savings and scanned my card, then teller went to counting machine with the buyers. I never once put my hands on the cash so if there were any counterfits, it was clearly them and not me. Still no problems. Very smooth transaction. Unfortunately they do not have much knowledge of RV's, or mechanical stuff for that matter. French tourists and did not know what a tire pressure guage was. I know my coach is in tip top shape and gave them lots of advice but boy are they green! Should be a fun summer for them if they follow my tips...one being to sign up to this forum for future advice. Thanks again for all your help over the years. I will be back in 2-3 years when we get another RV. For now I will be catching up on air travel. Good night
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Apr 14, 2022
Congrats on completing the sale....hassle free!..:C

Especially the CA DMV part!...:B

Hope the learning curve goes well for the French Tourists!..:W

~
bucky
Explorer II
Apr 14, 2022
How to make rocket science out of a bean.

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Selling RV, urgent help needed on proper process California

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