VIN Verification in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa residents who need a VIN verification are not limited to having to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles. For your convenience, there are more suitable alternatives that make it a lot easier to satisfy the California Department of Motor Vehicles requirements for registering your automobile, truck, trailer, or off-highway vehicle. In this article, we will answer some of the most common questions when it comes to getting your VIN verification done in Costa Mesa.

What is a California VIN verification?

A VIN verification is a California DMV physical inspection required to get your out of state automobile, truck, trailer or off-highway vehicle registered in the California DMV database. This inspection is documented on the REG31 / VIN verifier form shown below.

What does a vehicle verifier look for when doing California VIN Verification?

A vehicle verifier follows the REG31 form from top to bottom, and fills out the sections as they go along. Some of those items that are required to be documented are:

The vehicle year, make, and model
The VIN
The VIN location
The number of wheels
The number of axles
The license plate on the vehicle
The fuel type the vehicle uses
The status of the US Federal Certification Label
The emissions label
The Odometer reading.

Here are a few photos of what we saw on this 2017 Lamborghini Huracan.

Why do I need a California VIN verification?

The VIN Verification process does exactly as it says: to verify the vehicle identification number of the vehicle. A vehicle identification number is a unique number that identifies the vehicle – no two vehicles should have the same VIN. This process ensures that the vehicle actually exists (not just on paper), and second, that the vehicle identification number on the vehicle itself matches what is on the title or supporting documents.

To obtain a VIN verifier’s license is inexpensive and relatively easy – the training to become a verifier is minimal, however, the task that ASAP vehicle verifiers perform is very important in protecting the public against theft, fraud, and any other type of illegal activity some people want to try to do. It’s a preventative measure to facilitate catching activity that is fraudulent or avoiding an honest mistake. I would like to consider us as a gatekeeper against fraud & preventer of mistakes.

Where Can I Get a California VIN verification?

With each option that is available to you to get a SoCal VIN verification there are benefits and drawbacks that you must be made aware of before you choose which is more suitable to you:

Quick VIN Verification:
1. Pro: We are mobile. We are friendly. We are fast. We are predictable. You set the time and place – and we are there. Licensed vehicle verifiers keep you away from the DMV – and stay home, or at any place you’d rather be, than the DMV.
2. Con: We do have a fee for this service. Furthermore, they cannot perform verifications on salvage vehicles.
AAA:
1. Pro: If you are a member, your membership includes the vehicle verifications service, along with the other services they provide.
2. Con: The mobile VIN verification is NOT an option. Furthermore, they limit what type of units they verify, including salvage or junked vehicles.
DMV:
1. Pro: There is no cost. But you must have your paperwork in order prior to seeing them for a VIN verification – you can no longer just drive up and have a vehicle verifier inspect your vehicle. They are authorized to perform verifications on salvage and junked vehicles.
2. Con: The mobile VIN verification is NOT an option & there is a wait to be seen.
CHP:
1. Pro: There is no cost. Their staff is highly trained to do ALL VIN verifications – including salvage vehicles.
2. Con: You must have your paperwork in order prior to seeing them, and you must be referred to them by the CHP. They do not readily offer the mobile service option. For more information on the CHP vin verifications please read this section of my website. The mobile VIN verification is NOT an option.

What Inspections Can a Licensed vehicle verifier NOT do?

Private VIN verifiers are prohibited from doing a Vin inspection on certain vehicles & for certain scenarios. These are listed below:

Inspections on vehicles that are to be revived salvage
Inspections on vehicles that have been junked
Vehicles that are 1980 or newer who do not have their Federal Safety label
Motorcycles who have no supporting documents or who were in the DMV database before and fell off
Gray market or direct import vehicles

What you need to know about CHP VIN inspections in California

If you are being referred to the CHP by the DMV it’s for a specific reason. In rare situations, a CHP referral is a mistake, and the result of a misunderstanding or mistake. Here are a few of the most common reasons you’re referred to a CHP VIN inspector:

You have a late model vehicle that is a revive salvaged or junked vehicle. Late model vehicles are almost always referred to the CHP for the reason that they need the expert eyes of a CHP officer. In fact, things are so different, they fill out a form that only they have access to. What they mostly look for is that this recently crashed vehicle is not being rebuilt with stolen parts from other vehicles.
You have a motorcycle that has fallen off of the DMV database and have NO supporting documents.
You have a motorcycle that needs an engine changes.
You have armored vehicles.
Your Federal Certification Label is missing or damaged.
Your public VIN is missing or damaged.

Here’s a list of some of the most common reasons you’re referred to the CHP by mistake:

It is common for rookie vehicle verifiers to automatically refer you to the CHP when they don’t know how to proceed. As an example, how to determine the year of an early model vehicle, such as a 1959 Chevy Impala. There are ways to verify the year of these vehicles, but when a rookie doesn’t know how to look it up, they make it “simple” and refer you to the CHP.
They don’t know that this particular early model vehicle doesn’t have a secondary VIN.
They don’t know that the engine & VIN number are one in the same for an early model vehicle.
CLICK HERE FOR A MORE EXTENSIVE WRITEUP ON CHP VIN VERIFICATIONS

Requirements to Register an Out of State Vehicles in California

In addition to offering verification services for your vehicles we are closely associated with a registration service called Quick Auto Tags – call them to get your car licensed & titled. Listed below are some of the other requirements & documents you will need to complete the DMV registration process in California after your vehicle has been VIN verified for your non-resident vehicle:

Your out-of-state title, MSO (manufacturer’s statement of origin), or registration card (if you’re only registering your car).
For all gas-powered & some diesel-powered vehicles, you must get a smog check.
For commercial vehicles, pickup trucks (this includes small pickups, like El Caminos) you must get a California Weight-master Certificate.
For all cars, trucks, coach trailers, and most PTI trailers a VIN verification.
PTI trailer exception: If you have a brand new trailer that falls within the permanent trailer category, and it has an MSO, and it was purchased out of state, you will not have to get one.
Reg 343 form for ALL vehicles or trailers.
Reg 4017 form for trailers that fall under the PTI (permanent trailer) program

Other Reasons I May Need a California VIN verification?

The VIN verification process is mostly used for bringing in vehicles that are not in the DMV database into the DMV system, however, it is also used for other reasons by the DMV and other entities such as the IRP program. Below I will list a few of those scenarios:

Vehicle was in a tow yard, the tow yard initiated a lien sale, the owner of the vehicle has recovered their vehicle from the tow yard but there is a lien authorized on file. To lift the lien authorized the DMV uses the VIN verification process to confirm that the registered owner has recovered their vehicle and has physical possession of the vehicle once again.
You have a large commercial truck registered through IRP (international registration program).
Your vehicle is being converted from one type of vehicle to another (change in body type model). An example of this is would be: you have a 2021 Ram 3500 that is registered as a pickup, but now you put a camper shell on it, and it is now a pickup mounted camper (PM) changing it into an automobile.
Your vehicle has fallen off of the DMV system and it needs to be re-introduced into the DMV system. (Our parent company Quick Auto Tags is a license registration service and can help you out with this).
The VIN on my car does not match the VIN on my title – this is a simple fix that the California verification process can fix this.

Verifying Multiple Vehicles

Some individuals or companies may have multiple vehicles that they need to get a vehicle verification on. For this scenario, by far, the #1 solution is to have a mobile VIN verifier come to your location and get all your VIN verification done. Call us to make an appointment: 714-627-9211

How much does it cost to get a California VIN verification?

The costs associated with getting a VIN verification depend on whether you want a mobile VIN verification or if you are willing to drive to the respective businesses to get it done. Below are the costs associated with each of the aforementioned places:

Quick VIN Verification – at our VIN verify place: $35 – mobile, licensed vehicle verifiers come to you: between $67-$147 in Orange County
AAA – at their VIN verify place – it is included in their membership, they do not service non-members
DMV – no cost
CHP – no cost

What Forms of Payment Do You Accept?

Quick VIN Verifications accepts cash, check, Zelle, Venmo, credit cards or debit card.

Can You Help Me with My Motor Vehicle Transaction?

Our parent company is a licensed registration service – so if you have questions that go beyond the VIN verification inspection then you can call Quick Auto Tags @ 951-409-9091.

Other Counties We Service

Quick VIN Verification – Orange County

Tel: 714-627-9211

Costa Mesa (/ˌkoʊstə ˈmeɪsə/; Spanish for “Table Coast”) is a city in Orange County, California. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to an urban area including part of the South Coast Plaza–John Wayne Airport edge city, one of the region’s largest commercial clusters, with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light manufacturing. The city is home to the two tallest skyscrapers in Orange County.^[6] The population was 111,918 at the 2020 United States Census.

Orange County VIN Verification

Physical Locations to Get a VIN Verification Done by a Licensed VIN verifier in Orange County California(If You Don't Choose Quick VIN Verifications):

CHP Offices for all of Orange County

Aliso Viejo

Anaheim

Brea

Costa Mesa

Cypress

Dana Point

Fountain Valley

Fullerton

Garden Grove

Huntington Beach

Irvine

La Habra

La Palma

Laguna Beach

Laguna Hills

Laguna Niguel

Laguna Woods

Lake Forest

Los Alamitos

Mission Viejo

Newport Beach

Orange

Placentia

Rancho Santa Margarita

San Clemente

San Juan Capistrano

Santa Ana

Seal Beach

Stanton

Tustin

Westminster

Yorba Linda