gifting cars to kids questions, California

[Sandlord]

My kids are in California and each have cars registered and titled to me through CA DMV.
What is the best way to get the cars in their names without having to deal with taxes, fees, or smog certs.

 

[Mr. C]

You can gift them to them with no fees, taxes not sure on the smog that might depend on when your registration is actually due.

We just did this gifting a car from my MIL to my wife.
AAA easy peasy.

 

[Deja_Vu]

I need to do this as well.

2 of my girls have cars with my name on the title so I need to pay AAA a visit soon.

 

[Runs2rch]

AAA easy, no smog needed.

 

[bowtiejunkie]

No smog required to complete the gifting to your kids. Obviously, if vehicle is due for its bi-annual smog, that still needs to be done, but not as a result of transfer to kids.

One process in CA that is very easy and cheap.

 

[UHHH SUCKA]

AAA easy, no smog needed.

^^^^^^^^What he said, did the same thing earlier this year! AAA was a breeze to handle it.

 

[nameisbond]

I might be wrong because this was over 20 years ago now. Long story but my older brothers first job was in San Fran. My father also had business in California frequently, so he had a condo and car there. My Dad ended up giving the car too my brother. My Dad had to go into the DMV and sign a declaration that this was a gift to his son to avoid my brother from paying taxes on it. Most states make you sign something that its a gift. I know in Washington if you don't sign in a DMV, you need to get it notarized. Id check on the forms needed and the procedures.

 

[Mr. C]

Good point. My MIL was with my wife at the time of transfer.

I might be wrong because this was over 20 years ago now. Long story but my older brothers first job was in San Fran. My father also had business in California frequently, so he had a condo and car there. My Dad ended up giving the car too my brother. My Dad had to go into the DMV and sign a declaration that this was a gift to his son to avoid my brother from paying taxes on it. Most states make you sign something that its a gift. I know in Washington if you don't sign in a DMV, you need to get it notarized. Id check on the forms needed and the procedures.

 

[Cole Trickle]

There is a form for internal family transfer to avoid taxes.

dmv website has it.

 

[jones performance]

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/vr_info#BM2525

 

[Sandlord]

Thanks good info.
except I dont have AAA any longer.

AAA rules are kinda funky.
You have to have AAA to get their auto insurance, and you can only have AAA in one state at a time.
I had houses and cars in Texas and Ca at the time, so they made me cancel my CA AAA in order to get insurance in Texas.
Thats when I gave the cars to the kids and told them to get their own insurance.
Now I moved to AZ and went with a different company.

 

[Mr. C]

Looks like it's DMV then or have your kids open up a basic AAA account. One jump or tow and it pays for itself.

Thanks good info.
except I dont have AAA any longer.

AAA rules are kinda funky.
You have to have AAA to get their auto insurance, and you can only have AAA in one state at a time.
I had houses and cars in Texas and Ca at the time, so they made me cancel my CA AAA in order to get insurance in Texas.
Thats when I gave the cars to the kids and told them to get their own insurance.
Now I moved to AZ and went with a different company.

 

[Angler]

I just gifted cars to both of my Daughters through AAA, in and out in 15 minutes, no smog or fees.

 

[bowtiejunkie]

I'd just make an appointment via DMV website for whatever location best suited to you and you'll be in/out in no time flat. That or show up at one minute before closing

 

[Ziggy]

This is the form that exempts you from taxes, smog. Parent to child transfer.
Edit: attachment doesn't show up.
Its form REG256
.
Chances are you'll need form REG262 also for odometer statement.
View attachment reg256 (2)(1).pdf