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Brake & Light Inspection

hank2012

hank2012

New member
Joined
Jun 5, 2012
Location
Bay Area
Moto(s)
2016 Victory Gunner
Hi, everybody!
Just bought a bike and need to get it registered. It's a salvage, so I need to get the inspections done.

I found a place near me that can do certificates for motorcycles. The dealer I bought it from (Motojava.com, GREAT guys btw) says there is a new form as of the beginning of the year or something like that. Apparently, if you get the old form, dmv won't accept it?

Does anyone have more information about that? Has anyone had a problem with dmv accepting their certificate?

I know other barfers have had success getting a certificate in Hayward, but that's like 2 hours away for me and this local place is like 15 minutes.

I asked them about the forms and they said they've had no problems and I know the place to be honest because I've used them in the past for other things. They also said they hadn't heard anything about different forms.

The place I'm talking about is Precision Brake & Front End in Antioch.

Thanks for any help!

~Hank
 
I just registered a salvage vehicle back in May. I don't know anything about a new form, but most shops/dealers will be able to do the inspection for you. As you can see on the CA DMV site, the shop will most likely conduct the inspection and fill out a Satement of Facts form for you. This will count as your Brake and Light Adjustment Certificate. The inspection will probably cost around $30-$50.

http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr13.htm

Brake and Light Inspection Certificates -

California brake and light inspection certificates are required for reregistration of most vehicles. Certificates are not required for trailers weighing 3,000 pounds or less gross vehicle weight. For a listing of California state-licensed brake and light inspection stations check your local telephone directory or the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) website, at www.bar.ca.gov.

Exception: When an official California brake and light station that inspects specific vehicles, such as motorcycles or large commercial vehicles is not located within a reasonable distance, the DMV will accept a Statement of Facts (REG 256) from a California repair shop certifying that the brakes and lights are in proper working order.
 
Hi, ChopStx, thanks for reply!

I read that blurb from dmv's website. I also called DMV and the guy I talked to didn't know anything about any new form

Did you get a statement of facts or did you get a certificate?

When did you get your CHP inspection? After the certificate?

When I talked to the CHP, they told me to talk to DMV before scheduling an appointment.

My understanding is that I get the B&L inspection, make an appointment with CHP, and then take the B&L certificate and the temporary dmv id form I got from the dealer with me to the CHP, then register with dmv.

Is that the process you went through?
~Hank
 
You technically can't do the statement of facts anymore and need an official brake and light certificate from a certificate shop apparently.

Do you need to get the CHP inspection done too? There's like a month wait for appointments so call now.

I went to the DMV last week and then made the CHP appointment. From my thread:

Step 1: Goto the DMV
1. Bring the "clean" title with you
2. Need to fill out Application for Salvage title certificate
3. Need to fill out Application for Title or Registration
4. Pay Fees (should be $89 if the vehicle is currently registered)

Step 2: Make CHP Salvage Inspection Appointment, call: 510-622-4611
- This is to verify the vin, the local bay area inspection site is in Vallejo

Step 3: Get a Brake/Lamp Inspection done at a motorcycle shop. There are some licensed places but if unable to find one the DMV requested a letter or recipet on shop letterhead that states brake/lamps work the way they should, and also they also asked to have the shop fill out section G and Sign section H on a statement of fact sheet.

Step 4: Take all of the above back the DMV with the old license plate and submit the forms to them. You will get a new license plate and new "salvage" title in the mail.
 
HappyHighwayman said:
Do you need to get the CHP inspection done too? There's like a month wait for appointments so call now.
Click to expand...

Just as HappyHiwayman said. Call the CHP and make the appointment first. They will inform you of the closest station and nearest availability.

Once you have your CHP appointment scheduled, go ahead and setup another DMV appointment later that same day, or the next.

I went into the DMV with my Brake and Light inspection done and with all the paperwork except the CHP Inspection. While I was there, I asked for a temporary registration to cover me until I had my CHP Inspection.

A note about the CHP Inspections... I asked a few people about this and got some very different answers. My understanding of the appointment is that it is just for VIN verification. However, a friend warned me to make my bike as stock as possible. I took this advice as I like to err on the side of caution. During my inspection, the officer did tell me, "you know, we do these inspections to make sure it's put back together just like the way it was." I'm not sure what prompted this comment...perhaps it had something to do with all the zip-ties and my crystal geyser radiator overlow mod. Anyway, regardless of what the proper process is, there seems to be some discretion involved on the officer's part. Just for the sake of avoiding any potential hassle, I suggest making the bike look as stock/legal as possible.
 
My bike is "stock" except for heated grips, aux headlights, hyperlite flashers, and luggage rails. No mechanical or exhaust mods. Everything is legal or can be "switched off" (except for the hyperlites which ARE CA legal...I mean worse case I'd just cut the wire in front of the guy), but my accident was minimal and I just needed the handlebars replaced and bike re-alligned...
 
I've had a couple of brake and light inspections done. You get the form that it was completed by a certified shop, the shops I've used has a form, then bring the form to a CHP Office to have them sign off on the form. You have to bring your bike so they can see it still working. No you can't ride it there.
 
Coyote said:
I've had a couple of brake and light inspections done. You get the form that it was completed by a certified shop, the shops I've used has a form, then bring the form to a CHP Office to have them sign off on the form. You have to bring your bike so they can see it still working. No you can't ride it there.
Click to expand...

Why not? I was worried about this for the CHP inspection....but it's retarded for me to have to rent a truck to drive a perfectly functioning, registered and insured by to a CHP inspection...hell I'd need to enlist a friend just to get it on and off the truck.

I asked the DMV lady she said I could ride my bike since it was still registered and up to date...which I found weird because it's been "salvaged" and for all she knows has no wheels.
 
I guess it depends on the officer. When I went to the Dublin CHP I had to make an appt., over the phone the officer reminded me on the phone that my bike isn't legal to be ridden on the street without approved lights. You might call ahead and check too.

When I went to Hayward CHP they mentioned nothing of it. If you bring it on truck, there's no need to take it off because youll just be showing the lights are working.
 
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