Vehicle safety check question

[Les C]

I am buying a used vehicle that has no license plates because they were removed and returned to the DMV when the owner took the vehicle off his insurance policy for a while. I need to take the truck to get a safety check before getting it registered and the title transferred. The problem is, of course, that I have to drive to a safety check station but can be stopped for driving without plates; this situation isn't an excuse to do so. Is there a mobile safety check service on the east side where they come to you?

The DMV says that this is a caveat of doing this (taking your car off insurance coverage for a while). They say that the correct thing to do it to tow the vehicle to the safety check station. This isn't viable as I would have to either tow it back home after the check, or leave it at the station while I wait for the title transfer to process and the plates to show up. This is expensive and a good way to get a vehicle stripped and burned.

It was suggested to me (not by the DMV) that I put another set of plates on the truck and drive it to get safety checked. Another question: are safety checks linked to the vehicle by VIN, or plate #, or both? Also, don't truck plates have a different alphanumeric format than cars? In other words, if I did this, I'd have to borrow plates from another truck, right?

I've checked out this situation with the DMV by phone call and on the website. Everything is on the up and up. The title is clean, the VIN cleared the online check, and the registration card says that the plates were removed and destroyed. Turning in the plates is what you have to do in HI (maybe elsewhere, too? Dunno, never done it myself) if you don't want to pay for insurance coverage for a period of non-use. The DMV destroys the plates if the time period is long enough.

Any ideas out there?

[Punamom]

Where do you live? There may be one (inspection station) in your neighborhood,there are a few in HPP.
A cop would have to be having a really bad day to hassle you about this, considering the circumstance. I'm sure you could explain your way out of it (if by (rare) chance you actually get stopped by the police).

I would also ask the inspection guy maybe he can just give you the temporary slip (after you give him the $15) and then bring the car in for inspection after you get the title.

I recommend Richard Silva 15-1584 28th st (HPP) 966 8580

[Les C]

Punamom, I'm up in Volcano. I think the nearest inspection station is the 76 station in Kurtistown. That's about a 36 mi. roundtrip on Volcano Hwy.

I think the inspector may do the inspection even without plates, but I guess I could ask Richard that question. I'd be anxious about driving a truck without plates; I'd probably risk driving with an expired reg sticker or borrowing another truck's plates if the inspector didn't need to include the plate numbers.

A mobile safety inspector would be a great solution. But maybe there's not enough money in it to be a worthwhile service.

[HADave]

Les, the following are from both the State's Drivers Manual and the State's Safety Inspection Manual for Inspectors they seem to contradict each other perhaps they, together are ammo enough to get the registration first which only makes sense as registration shows proof of excise tax paid and prevents the county from double taxing if personal property tax would apply in the case of non registered equipment. anyway i have copies of both (pdf) and can forward if you like or provide links.



page 18 of the state inspection manual reads as follows


REGISTRATION (Line 22)
Registration Certificate
►Vehicle description & VIN must match the vehicle
►License plate numbers & decal on vehicle must match the registration certificate.
Hawaii Insurance Identification Card (Line 32)
►Insurance must be in effect at the time of inspection
VIN must be in agreement with:
►Registration and vehicle
►Insurance card VIN for vehicle
Plates
►Vehicles must have two plates
►Plates must be secure and legible
►Plates must be least 12 inches above the ground.
If the vehicle passed the registration inspection but failed one of the other criteria, do not sign the form or affix a sticker. Put your inspector number is in the right-hand boxes............

If the vehicle failed the registration inspection, sign the blue copy outside of the signature box, put your inspector number in the “Inspector Number” boxes located on the right-hand side of the form and give it to the driver. Having your signature outside of the box helps the motor vehicle registration clerks check the validity of the form. When the defect is corrected, indicate it in the pointed box at the top section of the form, and sign in the box. If a different inspector at the station completes the inspection, that inspector signs in the box and places his or her inspector’s number in the left-hand boxes.




page 18 Hawaii's Driver's Manual


SAFETY INSPECTION OF VEHICLES
All motor vehicles operated on the public highways must have an official Periodic
Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI), at least once a year, except that ambulances must be
18
REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE
& STATE OF HAWAII INSURANCE IDENTIFICATION CARD
inspected once every six months, and new vehicles do not need to be inspected until two
years after their initial inspection on the date that they are first sold.
Many service stations and garages are authorized to conduct PMVIs, also known as
safety inspections; issue certificates of inspection; and affix stickers on the right back
bumper. A copy of the rules that regulate the inspection program can be viewed at web
site: www.hawaii.gov/dot/highways/adminrules/ruleshwy.htm.
A Hawaii state automobile insurance identification card is required to pass the
inspection. Upon approval, a sticker is affixed to the vehicle and two copies of the
inspection certificate are issued to you. One copy as indicated must remain in the vehicle.
The back of this copy lists the items that are to be inspected.

Hawaii law requires that the motor vehicle you operate on the public highways in
the State be REGISTERED IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOU OPERATE THE
VEHICLE. Similarly, Hawaii law requires that your vehicle must be licensed each
year by the county in which you operate the vehicle. Your vehicle must have a current
and valid safety inspection certificate before it can be registered. Proof of motor
vehicle insurance is required for cars, buses and trucks being inspected, while proof
of liability is required for motorcycles being inspected.

Aloha HADave

[Les C]

Thanks for the post, Dave. I asked at one inspection station if I could have a vehicle safety checked without license plates. The kid first said, "No", but he asked someone else, then said, "Yes." So, it appears that the license plate is not required for the inspection. It remains to be seen how I can get the truck to and from the station without getting stopped by a cop.

[Suki]

I actually did this for my Hubby's truck just a few months ago.
While hubby was in Iraq, we had his vehicle "Stored"

Call the service station ahead of time and tell them that you are driving your vehicle to their place, should you get pulled over, the police officer can call the service station to verify that you have already spoken to them and are on your way for the safety. This was suggested to be by the DMV clerk.
I did what they said, and had no problems driving to get the safety check complete.

When I got my license plates... it was a new plate with new digits.

Good luck... its not that hard to do. If I can do it... anyone can do it.

Aloha

[Les C]

Thanks, Suki. It's good to hear what someone has done successfully. I imagined that it was easy. I was just not sure about the possibility of getting stopped by an officer. This helps immensely.

[Carey]

Hey Les, just get a friend to drive in front of you & one in back (real close) all the way to the inspection & back, that should keep the police from noticing the plates, right?

[toucano]

My only experience with the police here was one who pulled up next to me in a parking lot to tell me my safety tag had expired 2 months prior. I told him (honestly) that I didn't know and that I had just assumed that it expired when the plates needed renewing. He had no problem accepting that excuse. He just told me to get the inspection done ASAP. No written warning. I went and had it done that day.

My guess is that they will not be hard-nosed about this if your reason is somewhat logical. If you do as has been suggested, you are probably going to be OK. If you don't have insurance on it yet, I might call my insurance company and give them as much information as you can about the vehicle and establish the intent to insure when you have all of the required documents/information so you can deal with that issue if it arises.

[ericlp]

You will need current insurance to get an inspection anyway. If you get busted with out Hawaii no fault it's automatically 1000 fine and I think they tow your car. Then you are almost certain to pay extra on your insurance.

Make sure you have insurance ... Who cares, I highly doubt you will get pulled over, and even if you do, just tell the cop the same story you told us. Getting stopped by the police is the least of your worries unless you think they are out to get you?

I still have my oregon plates on my truck... yeah, I know... I did get a safety tho, haven't been stopped yet and I drive it all over the place. No big deal, I got insurance blah...blah..blah... Plates are good till middle of 08... One day... Sigh....