Bryant
01-04-2004, 05:21 AM
- Courtesy of Scott Winders
This is some text from Kevin Smith of the AFM that might prove useful to folks that want to do the right thing, DMV-wise, for their track only bikes.
Scott
Most of you probably know that bikes have to be registered within California if you are transporting them on public highways. Yes, even race bikes. You can certainly do a PNO (Planned Non-Operation), and pay the annual fee. However, there is an alternative that will let you legally transport your racing motorcycle and pay a ONE-TIME fee of $3.
(Every year the DMV will send you a form stating that if nothing has changed you don't need to send a payment.)
The process is nearly unknown at DMV offices and has to be the only true bargain left in California's bloated DMV system. Sure, you can go the easy route and pay the PNO every year, but I decided the hated DMV won't get any more of my money than is necessary, and I also loved causing consternation at the office as they went looking through dusty file cabinets for the right form. If you're willing to put up with the time involved, I think it's worth it.
The required form is "Motorcycle Transportation Permit", Form #712. If my experience is any indication, the DMV employee will have no idea what this form is, and may not even be able to find a copy on site. I found it very helpful to show them the Vehicle Code sections below, and to tell them the Form number.
Further, Sacramento may reject the application after it is submitted by the local DMV office. In my case, Sacramento seemed to think I was applying for an "off-road" (dirt bike) permit, and sent me letters warning me that my registration was past due and severe penalties could result. It took several months of repeated letters to finally get the proper permit. I could still transport the motorcycle during that time, as I'd received proof of payment while at the DMV office.
The relevant Vehicle Code passages are repeated below. These were copied verbatim from the California Vehicle Code on the DMV Web site.
You can find a listing of the sections (Articles) here:
(www.dmv.ca.gov)
38232. A special fee of three dollars ($3) shall be paid to the department for the issuance of a special transportation identification device issued pursuant to Section 38088 and shall be deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account in the Transportation Tax Fund. Such fee is in lieu of the fees provided in Section 38225.
[Note: 38225 is the Off-Highway fee section, and this is an important statement because off-highway vehicles still require annual registrations.]
38088. (a) Upon payment of the fee specified in Section 38232, the department shall issue to the owner of a motorcycle, which the owner has certified as being used exclusively in racing events on a closed course, a special transportation identification device for the purpose of identifying the motorcycle while it is being transported upon a highway to and from racing events on a closed course. Such device may be either a plate or a sticker, whichever is determined by the department to be the most appropriate.
(b) Such device is nonrenewable, nontransferrable, and becomes invalid when the vehicle for which it was issued is sold or dismantled.
(c) A certificate of ownership may not be issued in conjunction with a special transportation identification device.
38022. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4000, motorcycles issued a special transportation identification device pursuant to Section 38088 may be transported upon a highway to and from a closed course.
[Note: Section 4000 essentially says that any motor vehicle on a
public road has to be registered.]
-----
I wish I found this information earlier as I had a hell of a time with the DMV on registering my racebike so that I could transport it legally on public highways...
This is some text from Kevin Smith of the AFM that might prove useful to folks that want to do the right thing, DMV-wise, for their track only bikes.
Scott
Most of you probably know that bikes have to be registered within California if you are transporting them on public highways. Yes, even race bikes. You can certainly do a PNO (Planned Non-Operation), and pay the annual fee. However, there is an alternative that will let you legally transport your racing motorcycle and pay a ONE-TIME fee of $3.
(Every year the DMV will send you a form stating that if nothing has changed you don't need to send a payment.)
The process is nearly unknown at DMV offices and has to be the only true bargain left in California's bloated DMV system. Sure, you can go the easy route and pay the PNO every year, but I decided the hated DMV won't get any more of my money than is necessary, and I also loved causing consternation at the office as they went looking through dusty file cabinets for the right form. If you're willing to put up with the time involved, I think it's worth it.
The required form is "Motorcycle Transportation Permit", Form #712. If my experience is any indication, the DMV employee will have no idea what this form is, and may not even be able to find a copy on site. I found it very helpful to show them the Vehicle Code sections below, and to tell them the Form number.
Further, Sacramento may reject the application after it is submitted by the local DMV office. In my case, Sacramento seemed to think I was applying for an "off-road" (dirt bike) permit, and sent me letters warning me that my registration was past due and severe penalties could result. It took several months of repeated letters to finally get the proper permit. I could still transport the motorcycle during that time, as I'd received proof of payment while at the DMV office.
The relevant Vehicle Code passages are repeated below. These were copied verbatim from the California Vehicle Code on the DMV Web site.
You can find a listing of the sections (Articles) here:
(www.dmv.ca.gov)
38232. A special fee of three dollars ($3) shall be paid to the department for the issuance of a special transportation identification device issued pursuant to Section 38088 and shall be deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account in the Transportation Tax Fund. Such fee is in lieu of the fees provided in Section 38225.
[Note: 38225 is the Off-Highway fee section, and this is an important statement because off-highway vehicles still require annual registrations.]
38088. (a) Upon payment of the fee specified in Section 38232, the department shall issue to the owner of a motorcycle, which the owner has certified as being used exclusively in racing events on a closed course, a special transportation identification device for the purpose of identifying the motorcycle while it is being transported upon a highway to and from racing events on a closed course. Such device may be either a plate or a sticker, whichever is determined by the department to be the most appropriate.
(b) Such device is nonrenewable, nontransferrable, and becomes invalid when the vehicle for which it was issued is sold or dismantled.
(c) A certificate of ownership may not be issued in conjunction with a special transportation identification device.
38022. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4000, motorcycles issued a special transportation identification device pursuant to Section 38088 may be transported upon a highway to and from a closed course.
[Note: Section 4000 essentially says that any motor vehicle on a
public road has to be registered.]
-----
I wish I found this information earlier as I had a hell of a time with the DMV on registering my racebike so that I could transport it legally on public highways...