Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual

Driver Education illustration

Section 13 of 38

Chapter 12: Nonresident Vehicles

12.165 Vehicle Verification Exceptions

A vehicle verification is not required for:

  • A new trailer purchased in another state and eligible for registration under the Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) program, provided:
    • The trailer has never been registered.
    • The trailer has not been modified, altered, or assembled from a kit.
    • A secured Manufacturer’s Certificate/Statement of Origin (MCO/MSO) is submitted for the complete trailer.
  • A new commercial vehicle purchased in another state as a complete vehicle or as an incomplete vehicle to which a new body was added to make a complete vehicle, provided the vehicle:
    • Has never been registered or issued International Registration Plan (IRP) registration in California or was issued IRP registration within the last 60 days only.
    • Has not been modified, altered, or assembled from a kit.
    • Has an unladen weight of 6,001 pounds or more.
    • Meets California emission standards.
    • Meets California emission standards.

A REG 31 is required for a vehicle that does not meet California emission standards.

  • Is now complete and one of the following is submitted:
  • A secured Manufacturer Certificate of Origin/Manufacturer Statement of Origin ((MCO/MSO) for the complete vehicle.
  • A secured MCO/MSO for the cab/chassis and the body with a REG 256 completed by the owner which certifies the vehicle “was not constructed with any used components” and states the body type model (BTM) for the complete vehicle.

A bill of sale, invoice, or sales slip cannot be accepted in lieu of a secured MCO/MSO.

  • A REG 256 completed by the owner which certifies that no alterations, adjustments, or modifications have been made to the vehicle’s emissions control system and the vehicle has a properly affixed emission label which indicates the vehicle meets U.S. and California emission standards or the MCO/MSO specifically states the vehicle meets California emission
    standards.

If the MCO/MSO does not provide a recognized BTM abbreviation, such as P120SV which is a step van, accept a REG 256 from the applicant to clarify the BTM. A REG 31 is not required.