RV & Motorhome VIN Verification in California

No. We charge the standard $180 flat rate for mobile within our 45-minute Oakland radius regardless of vehicle type — Class A motorhomes, Class C, 5th wheels, toyhaulers, travel trailers, popups, all treated the same. Outside the standard radius (which is common for RV storage facilities in places like the Delta or Sonoma) we add a flat travel fee — typically $30-100 depending on distance.

Two reasons. First, the practical one — driving a 30-foot Class A motorhome or a 40-foot 5th wheel through DMV parking is a non-starter. Most DMV offices don't have parking that fits a Class A, let alone a Class A with a toad. Second, the time one — RV registration tasks usually involve out-of-state titles, smog (for the chassis), maybe a Weight-Master Certificate, plus the VIN verification. Coordinating all of that in a single DMV trip with a large RV is impractical. Doing the VIN verification at your storage facility ahead of time means you only need the DMV for the final registration step.

For us, very little — they're all REG 31 inspections of the public VIN, secondary VIN, body type, fuel type, and configuration. Class A motorhomes (the bus-style) and Class C (the cab-over-engine style) are self-propelled, so they get the full chassis verification including engine and odometer. 5th wheels, travel trailers, toyhaulers, popups, and tear-drops are towed (no engine), so we verify the VIN, configuration, weight class, and axles. We can do all of these on-site at your storage facility — no need to move the rig.

The out-of-state title (or MSO for new RVs), out-of-state registration, our completed REG 31, a completed REG 343 (California Application for Title), proof of California insurance, a smog certificate for the chassis (most gas RVs 1976+ and most diesel 1998+ — check your specific year), a Weight-Master Certificate (required for commercial pickup-truck-based motorhomes), and your photo ID. For pure trailers (no engine) the smog requirement doesn't apply.

Yes. We've driven as far as Nevada and Arizona to meet RV customers — typical for buyers picking up a rig at a dealership out of state, or out-of-state RV owners who can't reasonably trailer their unit to California. There's nothing in the VIN-verifier handbook that restricts how far we travel; you just pay a higher fee for the long drive. Email or call with the pickup location and we'll quote a flat all-in price.

Yes — that's where most of our RV jobs happen. Tell us the facility name + access details when you book (some require gate codes or a manager escort). We coordinate the appointment around the facility's hours. RV storage lots across the East Bay, North Bay, Delta, and Sacramento Valley all serve as common meeting spots for us.

That works too — we come to wherever the rig is. Lots of RV verifications happen at full-timer RV parks where the owner can't easily move the rig for the day. Just confirm with the park management that we'll be visiting; some have visitor policies that need a quick check-in.

Yes. Old RVs that fall off the DMV system (often because annual registration lapsed for many years, or the rig was previously registered in another state) need a VIN verification to be re-introduced. We can verify any non-salvage RV regardless of how long it's been off the system. We'll also point out at the appointment whether the DMV will need any additional documentation (statement of facts, bond title, etc.).

We can't inspect those — California restricts salvage / revived-junk VIN inspections to CHP only. If you bought a salvage RV intending to rebuild and register it, you'll need to go through CHP's Specialized VIN Inspection Program after the rebuild is complete. See our salvage page for the process. Once the salvage clears and you have a California revived-salvage title, future VIN work (title corrections, etc.) is something we can handle.