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January Dealer Renewal Notices

New Information
January 2010 dealer renewal notifications were not issued.

The error has been identified and corrected.

Renewal notifications will be issued as soon as possible.
Penalty fees for all January dealer licenses renewals will be waived; however, dealers must still renew within the 30-day renewal grace period per California Vehicle Code (CVC) §11717(c).
License Renewal Procedures
Dealers requiring renewal must:

Visit the department’s website for licensing information at: www.dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/ol/dealer.htm.

Complete the Renewal Application (OL 45) form available at: www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/ol/ol45.htm.

Review the mandatory dealer education requirements in the Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual available at: www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/reg_hdbk_pdf/toc.htm.

Access dealer education providers at: www.dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/ol/dlr_edu_provider.htm.

Renew dealer license plates using the Application for License Plates, Stickers, Registration Card (OL 22) available at: www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/ol/ol22.htm.

Contact their local inspector prior to license renewal if they have added a branch office or changed a location, firm name, or ownership.

Mail the renewal application and accompanying forms to:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Occupational Licensing Section
PO Box 932342 MS L224
Sacramento, CA 94232-3420
Additional Information

Dealers with license plates that are lost, stolen, or need to be surrendered, must complete a Statement of Lost, Stolen, or Surrendered Special Plates (OL 247) available at: www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/ol/ol247.htm.

Dealer license renewal status is updated daily and can be verified on the department’s website at: https://mv.dmv.ca.gov/olinq2/welcome.do.
Background

Normally, courtesy dealer license renewal notices are sent in advance. Due to an error identified, January 2010 notices did not generate.

Distribution

Notification that this memo is available online at www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/olin/olin.htm

was made via e-mail alert service in January 2010 to the following:

Dealers
Contact
Questions regarding this memo may be directed to the Occupational Licensing Firms Unit, at (916) 229-3126.
MARY GARCIA, DMV Chief Occupational Licensing

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renewal certification for car dealers with express mail delivery is $ 85.

gotplates.com

we make it simple for you

800-901-5950

dmv penalty fee waived for january 2010 car dealer renewals

please remember to send dmv wholesale car dealer applications direct to sacramento

Department of Motor Vehicles
Occupational Licensing Services and Support
Wholesale Dealer Application Package
P.O. Box 932342 MS L224
Sacramento, CA 94232-3420

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we make it simple for you

dealer education

gotplates.com

800-901-5950

our car dealer pre-licensing class

recently held at a local car dealership

was surprised by a visit from the dmv police

four plainclothes dmv investigators in black unmarked chrysler 300′s

arrived at this local dealership for what they described as a ” dmv spot check ”

they explained this unannounced visit to the dealership by dmv investigations staff

was part of a dmv effort to ensure compliance by local dealers to existing dmv regulations

the dmv police fanned out and inspected all of the vehicles at this small dealership

the dmv police inspected the entire location & the sales office

the dmv police requested access to the secured deal jackets in the owners office

the owner of the dealership was not present at the time of  this ” dmv spot check ”

these dmv police are part of a team of 230 dmv investigation staff throughout california

they were courteous & professional, knowledgeable & willing to listen to my questions

we discussed:

the differences between dmv investigations & dmv inspectors

the buyer’s guide posting requirements from the FTC

the signage requirements and our three gotplates.com dealer office signs

the red flag rules for car dealers offering credit to buyers

the recent dmv red flags memo directing dealers to become red flag compliant

the need for posted business hours at each retail location

the car buyer bill of rights provisions

our pre-licensing dealer class was actually enhanced by this ” dmv spot check ”

the dmv police visit placed emphasis on the retail car dealer rules and the importance

of each car dealer to keep the office in order, signs posted as required & dmv paperwork secured

this local car dealership did well with its ” dmv spot check ” by dmv investigations

good dealer education is the crux of dmv rules compliance

comprehensive training and an understanding of the dmv rulebook

as it pertains to your car dealership is what we are all about

+++

our conclusion:

the ” dmv spot check ” by the dmv police for dmv rules compliance is a great idea

keep your dealership in good working order with our certified dmv dealer education

http://ag.ca.gov/cms_attachments/opinions/pdfs/o546_08-804.pdf

TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
State of California
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Attorney General
No. 08-804
December 31, 2009

THE HONORABLE NOREEN EVANS, MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY, has requested an opinion on the following question:
Is the single document requirement for automobile sales contracts satisfied if the document consists of multiple pages that are attached to each other and integrated by means such as inclusive sequential page numbering (e.g., “1 of 4,” “2 of 4,” etc.)?

CONCLUSION
The single document requirement for automobile sales contracts is satisfied if the document consists of multiple pages that are attached to each other and integrated by means such as inclusive sequential page numbering (e.g., “1 of 4,” “2 of 4,” etc.).

http://www.bar.ca.gov/

http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResources/05_Legislative/RegulatoryActions/DieselWorkInf.html#

Vehicle Industry News VIN 2009–28
Smog Certification for Diesel-Powered Vehicles

New Legislation

Effective January 1, 2010, smog emission inspections are required for diesel-powered vehicles manufactured in or after 1998, and have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 14,000 pounds or less for original registrations and transfers.

Biennial smog inspection requirements will be phased-in beginning with a registration renewal date of April 30, 2010.

Procedures
A smog check inspection is required:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/vin_memos/vin2009/09vin28.pdf

The 4-year rule that currently exempts gas-powered vehicles, four or less model-years old, from transfer smog is not applicable to diesel-powered vehicles. A smog transfer fee will not be due for diesel-powered vehicles as they must obtain a smog certificate.
•
The 6-year rule that currently exempts gas-powered vehicles, six or less model-years old, from biennial smog is not applicable to diesel-powered vehicles. A smog abatement fee will not be due for diesel-powered vehicles as they must obtain a smog certificate.
•
Exemptions applicable to gas-powered vehicles located in non-biennial counties, family transfers, and obtaining a smog for a transfer within the past 12 months, will also apply to diesel-powered vehicles.
New vehicle dealers may certify on the New Vehicle Report of Sale (REG 397) that new diesel-powered vehicles with a GVWR of 14,000 pounds or less, meets emission requirements.

Vehicles that fail the smog check inspection may be eligible for the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP). Qualified consumers will be eligible for financial assistance for emission-related repairs or they can choose to retire their high-polluting vehicle.

All questions regarding diesel-powered vehicle smog requirements should be referred to the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), at 1-800-952-5210, or visit www.smogcheck.ca.gov.
Background

Effective January 1, 2010, legislation expands the motor vehicle smog inspection program to include “diesel-powered” vehicles manufactured in 1998, and newer, with a GVWR of 14,000 pounds or less for original registrations, transfers, and renewals.

Distribution

Notification that this memo is available online, at www.dmv.ca.gov under Publications was made via e-mail alert in December 2009.

Contact
Call the DMV Customer Communications Section, at (916) 657-6560 for further clarification of this memo. Upon request, this document can be produced in Braille or large print.
JEAN SHIOMOTO, DMV Deputy Director Communication Programs Division

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

we offer the best car dealer education in all of california

prices start as low as $ 100.

we make it simple for you

800-901-5950

good luck
thx
charlotte

rexhead.net
gotplates.com
redflagclass.com
autogodfather.com
ezdealerbond.com

you may follow us on twitter:@autogodfather

Should You Use a Car-Buying Concierge?

Save Time and Money by Hiring a Pro
By Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor
Email

Before we were willing to endorse car-buying expert Oren Weintraub, president of Authority Car Buying Specialists, we wanted to put him to the test.

We challenged Weintraub to buy a 2009 Ford Flex Limited for less than we could. We shopped around and got a price of $500 over invoice, which sounded pretty good for a just-released new model. Weintraub found a deal at $1,500 below invoice. This more than paid for the $695 fee he charged for his car-buying concierge services.

After seeing how much money he was able to save us, we decided that Weintraub might know a thing or two that car buyers should hear. So we sat down in a local restaurant and recorded this conversation with the 40-year-old former car dealer.

Edmunds: How did you get into the car business?
Weintraub: One of my best friends was working at a Dodge dealership so I applied for a job there, and I got hired. And I really just fell in love with the business. Later, I spent 12 years working at one of the top dealerships in the U.S.: Vista Ford in Woodland Hills, California.

How did you learn to sell cars?
There was no training. They just gave me a couple of videos to watch about the car and they said, “Go out and sell cars.”

Was the negotiation process difficult to learn?
Very difficult and very uncomfortable in the beginning. I’ve seen hundreds, thousands of people in a negotiation just be completely uncomfortable, because most people are negotiating blind. It’s just a very uncomfortable feeling, and it leaves you wondering, “Did I get a good deal?”

But you must know if it’s a good deal.
We know every single aspect of how dealerships make money.

Why did you leave the dealership?
As the years went by it was hard for me to sit in front of these people who I had such a great rapport with and see them spend more money than they had to.

So it was a crisis of conscience?
It was a major conflict of interest for me.

What can you offer people who use your services?
It’s very time-consuming for people to buy a car. So much is at stake. If you spent $4,000 more on a car that you didn’t have to, where could that money go? I knew that there was a tremendous need for people to have someone like me look out for their best interests.

How much do you charge for your service?
Our fee depends on the price of the car you are buying. And then we have a different service for people who have already shopped and have numbers that want us to improve the deal. In that case we charge a percentage of the amount of money we are able to save you.

Can you give me an example of a deal you worked on recently?
A client was negotiating a deal for a BMW and she didn’t like who she was dealing with at the dealership. She presented us the deal she negotiated, and we saved her over $6,000.

How did you do that?
They had inflated the purchase price and the price of the back-end products she wanted.

What is the difference between what you do and a car broker?
We’re really more like a concierge service since we get the fee from the client. Buying a car is as easy as ordering takeout. You call us, you tell us what you want and it’s done. Most of the time, the car will be delivered to you at your home or office.

Do you recommend having cars delivered to your clients?
Most of the time we can have cars delivered along with the contract for you to sign. We do have clients that either want the experience at the dealership, or some dealerships just won’t deliver. So as part of our process to eliminate any mistakes, we review all contracts so when the client goes there for the golden moment, there are no surprises.

When you were a dealer, did you have much to do with car brokers?
I had dealt with many car brokers at Vista Ford, and I’ve seen many car brokers take advantage of their clients because their commission was not disclosed.

Where do most people go wrong in car deals?
The first place people really go wrong is making an impulse decision. You know, they go to the dealership and fall under the ether of the excitement.

If you’re getting a Camry or an Accord, you’re going to be able to get it pretty much at invoice or sometimes less.
We’re always trying to beat the invoice.

If a person has a trade-in, how do you handle that?
We negotiate the trade-in value with the dealership, but we also have our own buyers for trades and we negotiate with them as well. Some people are hot for the car, some are not. So we really find who wants the car — we shop it for them. We find who’s going to pay top dollar for the car.

How many employees do you have?
I have two in-house and I have three wholesalers [people who buy from private parties and sell to auctions or dealerships] that work with me. And every dealership in the United States is really…not my employee, but they work for me, because I can control where the deal goes most of the time.

Are you working deals yourself?
Yes. My client services manager and I are working deals every day. I’m really on call 24/7, because work is always on my mind. I’m talking to clients on the weekends and in the evening, but it’s from my house or wherever I am. And I have to tell you, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, with being able to create this business where I could genuinely help people.

Anyone wanting help with car buying can easily find car brokers with a quick search of the Internet yellow pages. Car-buying concierge services, such as the one discussed here, are less common but a growing trend. Using the Internet to search will tell you if such a service exists in your area. Anyone wishing to contact Weintraub can easily e-mail him through his Web site.

Related articles:
Using a Car Broker to Buy Your Next Vehicle

Using a Car Broker to Buy Your Next Vehicle

By Mike Hudson, News Editor
Email

For a growing number of consumers, a lack of time and patience for buying cars has piqued an interest in hiring a professional to do it for them. And to help serve this market, a cottage industry has emerged to search the nation for the perfect car for you…for a fee, of course.

But like any deal, it’s important to do a little research on the broker before you jump headlong into their arms, drawn by promises of lower prices and advocacy for your needs. And don’t forget, just because your broker is saying it’s a great deal doesn’t mean that it is.

On Your Side

The concept behind hiring an auto broker is relatively simple: you’re not a professional car buyer, so why go up against a professional car seller alone? With the confusion of financing, fees, add-ons, taxes and the hurried, jargon-filled nature of the dealership, it only makes sense to leave the bargaining to someone who won’t be fazed by the wheeling and dealing.

And thousands of satisfied consumers have been glad they did. Countless success stories have been told and retold about the thousands of dollars people saved over a “best-price” offer made one day from a dealership, only to have a broker secure a better price just days or even hours later.

“I consider myself a good negotiator and this was my first time using an auto broker and we had a very positive experience,” said Junmo Lee, who recently bought a Toyota 4Runner near Denver. At first, he went the traditional route, heading over to a dealership and working with a salesman. But after reaching an impasse with the sales staff, Lee decided to walk out and hire a broker.

Sure enough, a local broker was able to secure a price about $500 cheaper than he was originally quoted on the exact same vehicle from the same dealership. This is possible because brokers usually have experience with dealerships and know exactly how much they can afford to charge based on how long the car has been on the lot, how many more they have coming in and how much dozens of other dealerships are charging.

But much of what a broker provides is convenience and peace of mind. After paying a flat fee for the service, Lee found that he likely would have only paid a slightly higher price on his own, but thought the experience was easy enough to win his business the next time he buys.

“I don’t care for the antagonistic negotiations with salespeople anymore,” Lee said. “We’re telling everyone we can about the broker.”

Types of Brokers

One of the tricks to using a broker, however, is figuring out what kind of auto broker you’re dealing with. A simple look through the phonebook or Internet search can scrounge up dozens of names, but not everyone is really working for the consumer.

A pure, consumer-driven auto broker usually works out of a small office or home office with a skeleton staff, charging flat-fee buying services to any customer who asks them to. But don’t feel limited to hiring a broker in your immediate region. As the market for broker-represented buying has spread, many brokers have started working from Web-based traffic and taking on clients around the world.

“I can do new and used car deals for anyone, no matter where they live,” said Dave Sutch, CEO of MyCarGuy-SF.com, a brokerage in San Francisco. “I am meeting with someone today who is from New Zealand and wants a 2000 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson truck. [And] I recently was able to negotiate the purchase of a new Honda Accord for over $1,500 lower here than any dealer in the customer’s home state of Washington.”

While many brokers are former car dealers, they should not be receiving any compensation from dealerships for passing your name along as a lead. Many operations call themselves brokerages, but make substantial amounts of their profits from dealerships, or even directly work for a dealership. This isn’t illegal or even unethical, but can lead you to question whether they really have your best interests at heart.

“There are many people and services posing as brokers or leasing and buying agencies,” said Jay Green, owner and founder of AutoSeek.com in Los Angeles. “The best way to check would be to call some random dealerships near them and ask if they have heard of the person or service and what they have to say about them.”

Feel free to ask questions about the broker, his or her background, the fee structure and the history of the company. Most reputable brokers are proud of their independence from dealerships and will openly boast about how well they know the tricks dealerships can pull.

“For most people, the initial salesman is about as high on the food chain as they’re likely to have access to,” AutoSeek.com’s Green said. “These people are not qualified to answer my phones, much less look after our clients’ best interests.”

Fees for these services can start at $200 and can go as high as $1,000 normally, based on the car you’re buying and whether it is a new or used model. Used cars and rare cars tend to carry a higher fee since it takes more legwork to locate a good deal; although, you’ll likely see an even deeper discount from what you could have bought on your own thanks to regional differences in used car prices.

Your broker should charge you on a flat-fee basis, agreed to before purchase. This way, the broker only makes money when he or she gets a great deal for you and can’t drive up the fee by putting you in a more expensive car.

If you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars, wholesale clubs like Costco and auto clubs like AAA offer car-buying services similar to what brokers offer. Even a site like Carsdirect.com basically operates as a broker. Normally, these services operate by working out special pricing with one dealership in a market that can be offered to members in return for referrals. While this isn’t a true brokerage arrangement, the service is often free or very inexpensive and can often take much of the haggling out of the car-buying process.

A consumer can often get similar deals by simply calling or e-mailing a dealership’s fleet or Internet manager and negotiating prices through them.

In the end, most consumers can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars by hiring a professional to broker the purchase of their next car. But beyond the dollars, you’re also saving hours of hassle in avoiding the traditional walk-up or even an Internet-based dealership experience. And that can be the most valuable benefit of all.

What to Look for in a Car Broker

• Make sure the broker is licensed to legally sell cars in your state.
• Ask questions to the company or individual about how they find deals on cars, what background they have in the car business and if they receive any money from dealerships or carmakers for making deals.
• Look for feedback about other customers’ experiences with the broker on auto chat boards, like Edmunds.com’s Town Hall forums.
• Confirm that broker fees are charged on a flat-rate basis to ensure that you get the best deal on your car.
• Check with any wholesale clubs or auto clubs to see if they offer car-buying services free of charge.

Related articles:
Should You Use a Car-Buying Concierge?