5500-5506

VEHICLE CODE
SECTION 5500-5506




5500.  (a) Any person, other than a licensed dismantler, desiring to
disassemble a vehicle of a type required to be registered under this
code, either partially or totally, with the intent to use as parts
only, to reduce to scrap, or to construct another vehicle shall
deliver to the department the certificate of ownership, the
registration card, and the license plates last issued to the vehicle
before dismantling may begin.
   (b) Any person who is convicted of violating subdivision (a) shall
be punished upon a first conviction by imprisonment in the county
jail for not less than five days or more than six months, or by a
fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) or more than five hundred
dollars ($500), or by both that fine and imprisonment; and, upon a
second or any subsequent conviction, by imprisonment in the county
jail for not less than 30 days or more than one year, or by a fine of
not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or more than one
thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.



5501.  The provisions of Sections 4457, 4458, and 4459 shall not
apply when a vehicle is reported for dismantling. However, any person
desiring to dismantle a vehicle shall, in accordance with Section
5500 or 11520, surrender to the department the certificate of
ownership, registration card, and license plate or plates last issued
for the vehicle. In the event the person so reporting is unable to
furnish the certificate of ownership, registration card, and license
plate or plates last issued to the vehicle, or any of them, the
department may receive the report and application, examine into the
circumstances of the case, and may require the filing of suitable
affidavits, or other information or documents. No duplicate
certificate of ownership, registration card, license plate or plates
will be issued when a vehicle is reported for dismantling. No fees
shall be required for acceptance of any affidavit provided pursuant
to this section or on account of any stolen, lost or damaged
certificate, card, plate or plates or duplicates thereof, unless the
vehicle is subsequently registered in accordance with Section 11519.




5505.  (a) This section applies to any vehicle reported to be a
total loss salvage vehicle pursuant to Section 11515 and to any
vehicle reported for dismantling pursuant to Section 5500 or 11520.
   (b) Whenever an application is made to the Department of Motor
Vehicles to register a vehicle described in subdivision (a), that
department shall inspect the vehicle to determine its proper identity
or request that the inspection be performed by the Department of the
California Highway Patrol. An inspection by the Department of Motor
Vehicles shall not preclude that department from referring the
vehicle to the Department of the California Highway Patrol for an
additional inspection if deemed necessary.
   (c) The Department of the California Highway Patrol shall inspect,
on a random basis, those vehicles described in subdivision (a) that
have been presented to the Department of Motor Vehicles for
registration after completion of the reconstruction process to
determine the proper identity of those vehicles. The vehicle being
presented for inspection shall be a complete vehicle, in legal
operating condition. If the vehicle was originally manufactured with
a "supplemental restraint system" as defined in Section 593, the
reconstructed vehicle shall also be equipped with a supplemental
restraint system in good working order that meets applicable federal
motor vehicle safety standards and conforms to the manufacturer's
specifications for that vehicle. The inspection conducted pursuant to
this subdivision shall be a comprehensive, vehicle identification
number inspection.
   (d) A salvage vehicle rebuilder, as defined in Section 543.5, or
other individual in possession of a vehicle described in subdivision
(a), who is submitting the vehicle for registration as described in
subdivision (b), shall have available, and shall present upon demand
of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, bills of sale,
invoices, or other acceptable proof of ownership of component parts,
and invoices for minor component parts. Additionally, bills of sale
and invoices shall include the year, make, model, and the vehicle
identification number of the vehicle from which the parts were
removed or sold, the name and signature of the person from whom the
parts were acquired, and his or her address, and telephone number. To
assist in the identification of the seller of new or used parts, the
number of the seller's driver's license, identification card, social
security card, or Federal Employer Identification Number shall be
provided by the seller to the buyer on the bills of sale and invoice.
The seller of a salvage vehicle, or the agent of the seller, shall
inform the purchaser of the vehicle that ownership documentation for
certain replacement parts used in the repair of the vehicle will be
required in the inspection required under this section.
   (e) As used in this section, the term "component parts for
passenger motor vehicles" includes supplemental restraint systems,
the cowl or firewall, front-end assembly, rear clip, including the
roof panel, the roof panel when installed separately, and the frame
or any portion thereof, or in the case of a unitized body, the
supporting structure that serves as the frame, each door, the hood,
each fender or quarter panel, deck lid or hatchback, each bumper,
both T-tops, replacement transmissions or transaxles, and a
replacement motor.
   (1) As used in this subdivision, "front-end assembly" includes all
of the following: hood, fenders, bumper, and radiator supporting
members for these items. For vehicles with a unitized body, the
front-end assembly also includes the frame support members.
   (2) As used in this subdivision, "rear clip" includes the roof,
quarter panels, trunk lid, floor pan, and the support members for
each item.
   (f) As used in this section, "major component parts for trucks,
truck-type or bus-type vehicles" includes the cab, the frame or any
portion thereof, and, in the case of a unitized body, the supporting
structure which serves as a frame, the cargo compartment floor panel
or passenger compartment floor pan, roof panel, and replacement
transmissions or transaxles, and replacement motors, each door, hood,
each fender or quarter panel, each bumper, and the tailgate. All
component parts identified in subdivision (e), common to a truck,
truck-type or bus-type vehicle, not listed in this section, shall be
considered as included in this section if the part is replaced.
   (1) "Major component parts for motorcycles" includes the engine or
motor, transmission or transaxle, frame, front fork, and crankcase.
   (2) "Minor component parts for motorcycles" includes the fairing
and any other body molding.
   (g) If the vehicle identification number, year, make, or model
required under subdivision (d) cannot be determined, the Department
of the California Highway Patrol may accept, in lieu of that
information, a certification on a form provided by that department,
signed by the person submitting the vehicle for inspection, that the
part was not obtained by means of theft or fraud.



5506.  No salvage vehicle rebuilder may resell or transfer ownership
of any vehicle that is subject to inspection as provided in Section
5505, unless either a certificate of inspection issued by the
Department of the California Highway Patrol, or vehicle verification
form completed by an authorized employee of the Department of Motor
Vehicles is provided to the buyer upon sale or transfer.
Responsibility for compliance with this section shall rest with the
salvage vehicle rebuilder selling or transferring the vehicle. This
section shall not apply to a salvage vehicle rebuilder who has
applied for and received a title in accordance with Section 5505.