His name is Billy, and his business, “Pasadena Motor Vehicle Registration & Transfer Service,” shares a nondescript building with his small used-car dealership off of Pasadena’s busy Foothill Boulevard. A few months ago I walked in with two huge problems: I had a car with zero paperwork, and I had another car that the world didn’t know existed.
One of the biggest concerns I had with my WWII Jeep project — a project that required me to buy hundreds of parts and, in my driveway, assemble them all into a functional car — was registration. It would be one thing if I managed to somehow get the thing built in time, but how was I going to get it on the road legally? The world didn’t know it existed!
Then there was my reference Jeep. This was a vehicle I bought from a random guy out in the desert. It came with zero paperwork, and if I’m honest, I didn’t even see a VIN plate.
When I got the Jeep home, I did a bit of digging and I found a part of a VIN plate that had been partially destroyed by a welder:
I cut off the 1/4″ steel plate that had been welded to the frame to bolster the front bumper, and managed to identify six digits. But that’s all I had.
So back in November, four months before my Moab Easter Jeep Safari deadline, I stopped by Pasadena Motor Vehicle Registration & Transfer Service in hopes that somehow, some way I could figure something out.
Billy greeted me and told me that, so long as I had a VIN, he’d take it from there. Did I have the full VIN? Technically, that data plate would have the letters “MB” ahead of the numbers, but many Willys MB owners don’t use the “MB” as part of the VIN they use on their title, so the six numbers, I figured, should suffice.
And indeed, they did. $400 and two weeks after my visit, Billy had a shiny new title at my doorstep.
Part of me thought that, worst case, if I could register the reference vehicle then I could somehow find a way to justify allowing my homemade Jeep to take that vehicle’s identity and become the reference Jeep. This led to many ethical and philosophical questions. How many parts of the reference Jeep does my new Jeep have to have before I can justify using the VIN?
This became a Ship of Theseus situation, though more importantly, it didn’t sit right with me. If the concept of building this new WWII Jeep was that I was building a new WWII Jeep, then it cannot have the same VIN as an old WWII Jeep. Even if I could easily justify doing it as so many hotrodders do when they turn a Ford Model A into something not even remotely resembling a Model A, I just couldn’t. I was building a new Jeep, and a new Jeep is not an old Jeep.
“Just bring in the receipts,” Billy told me.
“Huh? That’s it?” I replied. “Yes, fill out this form and then bring me the receipts,” he answered, handing me a piece of paper.
So I filled out a Statement of Construction form (this is part of California’s “Specialty Constructed Vehicle” application process) which required me to explain what the build was and where I got all the parts:
And I submitted the receipts for the major components (this was easy, since I could just print them from eBay):
Fast forward a few weeks and five Benjamins in Billy’s hand and BOOM, my problem was solved. I had temp tags for March and April, the two months over which my Jeep road trip was expected to take place:
This doesn’t mean my Jeep is registered; it’s not. After my trip to Moab, I had to drive to a California Highway Patrol office to have a VIN assigned:
I still have to install brake lights, a license plate light, and turn signals, plus I have to figure out how to get this Jeep to stop from 25 mph in 20 feet.
Once I pass the brake and light test, then hopefully this Jeep will be legally registered. Hopefully. There’s question over whether this thing needs to be smogged. The CHP said the answer is “no,” but all it takes is one person at the Department of Motor Vehicles to tell me it’s technically a new motor and therefore has to meet 2026 regs, and then I’ll be up the creek. But I’m hopeful.
In any case, this Registration Wizard (as I like to call him) in Pasadena was a huge help, and his services represented the best $900 I ever spent. I got to sell the reference Jeep for $4500 thanks to it having a clean title, and I got to do take the most epic road trip of my life without worrying about catching the attention of police.
Top Image: Billy Billotti
Nice! “Nobody Beats the Wiz” Ha ha
Anyone remember that store? I loved going there when I was a kid and browsing through all the CD’s and yes, cassette tapes. Also, all the awesome electronics, stereo systems, etc.
It’s funny that the DMV can be a massive headache, but also an incredibly easy process if you know the ins and outs. For instance, in Wisconsin we have many different ways to register a vehicle and 2 specifically for older vehicles and “kit cars”. What’s funny is that people freak out over the whole kit car registration and the steps to get it certified (which aren’t terribly difficult imo). However, if you’re using the frame of a street vehicle with a title, you can just use that for registering the car and it’s easy-peasy. Most cops will just want to see a VIN tag if they pull you over and then you can get on with your day
We also offer Collector plates where you only pay registration once and never again, as well as getting numbered plates for each vehicle. I’ve met collectors who bitch about the costs of registration who only learn about this program once I tell them, then suddenly you see “Collector” plates all over the block.
Glad it was an easy process for you, especially with the reputation of California government headaches.
At least you didn’t try to register it to Elise or Delmar (not their real names).
“I have to figure out how to get this Jeep to stop from 25 mph in 20 feet.”
i have serious doubts that my YJ would do this. Is this a modern requirement or do i need to worry more about my brakes….
I’ve seen that place. Always wondered why anyone would go there especially if you have AAA membership. I wonder if this guy knows how to register weird JDM right hand drive cars properly in CA.
“Once I pass the brake and light test, then hopefully this Jeep will be legally registered. Hopefully. There’s question over whether this thing needs to be smogged. The CHP said the answer is “no,” but all it takes is one person at the Department of Motor Vehicles to tell me it’s technically a new motor and therefore has to meet 2026 regs, and then I’ll be up the creek. But I’m hopeful.”
Sorry Mr. Tracy… your vehicle is not registration nor emissions compliant. We will have to crush your vehicle now.
Great system we have where “guy who actually can figure out how to use the DMV” is a real and very useful job a person can have.
Glad we got this article, I was wondering how this would be registered.
I don’t understand your sarcasm. Human beings are too many, and too complicated. Simple laws are either too extreme, or so permissive as to make them useless.
I would like to think the DMV could help you navigate the DMV, but having systems that are complicated for the sake of being complicated is not unprecedented, see the ridiculously complex tax codes that have been lobbied for by by people representing tax preperation services.
I’m surprised that of all places, you can do this in California.
Why? California is a state with a lot of kit cars and dune buggies, and up until pretty recently, those were all custom-made
They are extremely draconian about imported vehicles that have not gone through USA government emissions testing. In California it is basically impossible to register a production car that was never officially sold in the USA, even if it would easily pass a smog check or fall under the 25-year rule. In theory you could pay to have the certification done yourself but good luck doing that without being an OEM.
Okay, but… none of those apply to this situation?
I had the same thought but then i remembered CA’s history of hot-rodding, custom cars and kit cars and figured there HAS to be a way.
Based on the top shot, I am shocked nobody referenced Seinfeld.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtjI0tDLr3A
Yeah, normally I’m the one always quoting Seinfeld on here (my favorite show!) What’s funny is I actually remember going to that store as a kid. I loved it! Browsing through all the CD’s and yes, cassette tapes. All the awesome electronics, stereo systems, etc.
All responses are about the DMV and such….No one’s talking about this tidbit;
“how to get this Jeep to stop from 25 mph in 20 feet”
I don’t want David driving behind me in traffic!!
“ figure out how to get this Jeep to stop from 25 mph in 20 feet.”
A really strong cable and an arrestor hook?
A ten ton concrete cube at the 19 foot mark?
Retro rockets?
I’m pretty sure no mater what the brakes are, those tires won’t do it unless maybe the test 20 feet is painted with rodent trap glue. Probably not but it would fun to test