Salvage title transfers and registration
Buying a salvage vehicle, or putting a rebuilt one back on the road? We prepare the paperwork for salvage title transfers and revived salvage registration, and we can do the smog check in the same visit.
Transfer or registration
Transferring a salvage vehicle. When a salvage vehicle is sold, the seller signs the Salvage Certificate over to the buyer. Bring it, and we’ll prepare the transfer.
Registering a revived salvage vehicle. After a salvage vehicle is repaired, it has to pass inspections before the DMV will register it again. The new title is branded to show its salvage history.
To register a revived salvage vehicle
- Application for Title or Registration (REG 343), signed by the owners
- The Salvage Certificate in your name, or signed over to you
- A vehicle verification by the DMV or CHP (REG 31 or CHP 97C)
- A Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection (VSSI) certificate
- A smog certification, unless the vehicle is exempt. We can do this one here
- A weight certificate, for pickups and some commercial vehicles
- Payment for DMV fees, plus our service fee
Some vehicles also need a Statement of Facts (REG 256) or a Declaration of Gross Vehicle Weight (REG 4008). We’ll tell you before you pay.
How it works
- Call or Book Tell us whether you’re transferring or registering, and what you already have.
- Inspections Get the DMV or CHP verification and the safety inspection done. We can do the smog check.
- Paperwork We review the forms, tell you the DMV fees before you pay, and process the transaction.
Fees
- Our Service Fee
- Quoted before we start
- DMV Fees
- Set by the state, depends on your vehicle and transaction
DMV registration, transfer and use-tax amounts are set by the state and paid through us to the DMV. Our service fee is separate and we tell you what it is before we start.
Common questions
Can you register a rebuilt salvage vehicle?
We handle the paperwork. Before a revived salvage vehicle can be registered, it needs a vehicle verification by the DMV or CHP, a Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection certificate, and a smog certification unless it’s exempt. We can do the smog check here.
Are you the DMV?
No. We’re a private business that handles smog checks and registration paperwork. DMV fees are set by the state and are separate from our service fee, and we tell you both before we start.
How much do registration services cost?
You pay two things: the DMV’s fees, which the state sets based on your vehicle and transaction, and our service fee. We tell you both before we start.
Official sources
- California DMV: Revived salvage vehicles
- California DMV: How to reregister a salvage vehicle (HTVR 13)
- California DMV: Total loss, salvage and non-repairable vehicles
- Bureau of Automotive Repair: Vehicle safety systems inspections
Checked against these sources on October 1, 2026.
Smog. Registration. Done.
Book a time or walk in.