SB-100 Process: Registering your Cheetah in California
Only 500 SB-100 certificates are issued in the state of California. Manufacturers use to line up on the first day of the year and secure all the certificates. That is no longer the case, certificates are now issued to individual owners. One of my customers got his certificate in late April 2025 and was number 35, so there are plenty of numbers available.
Plan on approximately 1 to 3 months to complete the entire process from start to finish. It’s not difficult, just time consuming and depends on how fast you can make the required appointments. Best advice is be ORGANIZED and be PATIENT! MAKE COPIES OF ALL YOUR PAPERWORK!
Attached at the bottom are some files for reference. They can be downloaded from the California DMV website.
The entire process typically requires:
DMV 1st Visit - Complete and/or bring the following when going to the DMV for the 1st time
Pay your registration fees (Fees are based on the cost of the vehicle components that you have NOT ALREADY PAID SALES TAX ON).
You should leave with a partially filled out Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Plate (REG 124) form AND a preliminary vehicle registration pending, SMOG, VSSI ( Brake and Light) and VIN verification.
You should be given several one-day use passes to drive your vehicle to complete the required inspections. Ask for a 2 or 3 month Temporary Permit to Operate (TPO). This allows you to drive your vehicle to obtain the required inspections, and again depending on how your appointments go, the original TPO might expire. You can always trailer your car.
GET INSURANCE IF YOU PLAN ON DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE!
CHP Visit
Make an appointment with your local CHP office that does VIN verifications. Take your vehicle and the forms to CHP for VIN verification. The CHP will complete, sign and stamp the Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Plate (REG 124) form. If your kit manufacturer does not supply a VIN plate with a 17 digit VIN, the CHP will assign and rivet a CA VIN plate to your vehicle.
VSS Inspection - Replaced old Brake and light inspections
Clich here to See the BAR website for BAR Certified locations that can perform the VSS Inspection. This cannot be done at any Auto service center. Make an appointment and take your vehicle and Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Plate (REG 124) and registration to a BAR Shop licensed to perform Vehicle System Safety Inspections. It's helpful to get the VIN identification done first since the VSSI shop enters the information through a computer and your vehicle should be in the DMV system first. ADVICE: visit 3-5 shops, tell them what you have and ask them if they are familiar with a kit car, have they done any before. Most have no idea how to apply the VSSI manual to a kit car. Cost varied greatly from $175 to $750. Shop around.
DMV 2nd Visit - Assuming you pass, take all your paperwork back to the DMV to get your Sequence Number Assigned. Your local DMV will call the DMV in Sacramento. The DMV may hand you a handwritten form with the sequence number on it. NOTE: THIS IN NOT THE SEQUENCE NUMBER CERTIFICATE – The BAR will not accept this form even though it has your sequence number on it.
BAR SMOG REFEREE - VIRTUAL APPOINTMENT
The BAR SMOG REFEREE Inspection is now a 2 step process. STEP 1 is a virtual interview to review your documents you will be submitting and to answer any questions the BAR examiner may have about your build. Once you make an appointment, an assistant will reach out to you and request that you email them all the documents you'll need to submit.
You can download from the documents at the bottom of the page examples of a "successful SB-100 submission package" and what they are looking for in a "closed" PCV system. Once you have the interview and if the referee doesn't have any questions, they will submit your package for approval. You will get an email 2-7 days later saying it is ok to call and schedule an in-person SMOG exam with the BAR referee. You need to “pass” that interview before being allowed to make the appointment for the physical inspection ( STEP 2).
DO NOT MISS THE CALL. If you miss the call, BAR treats you like a “no show” and will penalize you. You will not be able to re-schedule another appointment for 60 days. Have all your documents on hand while on the call.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Take your vehicle and all the required documents and paperwork to the physical inspection location. Inspections are typically held at a community college that offers an automotive program. You can drive or trailer your vehicle to the location, but you will have to start and move your vehicle one there.
You should leave with a “Smog” inspection certificate and the SB-100 sticker affixed to your vehicle. NOTE: technically they should only be looking to verify, paperwork, VIN, year of engine and required smog equipment, however they have the right to inspect anything else.
DMV 3rd Visit - Back to the DMV for the last time. Take all the paperwork for the final OK. The DMV will keep originals to send to Sacramento for your title. MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING ! You should be given a clean registration, your license plates and tags. Your Title will be mailed to you. CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!!!!
Plan on approximately 1 to 3 months to complete the entire process from start to finish. It’s not difficult, just time consuming and depends on how fast you can make the required appointments. Best advice is be ORGANIZED and be PATIENT! MAKE COPIES OF ALL YOUR PAPERWORK!
Attached at the bottom are some files for reference. They can be downloaded from the California DMV website.
The entire process typically requires:
- 3 visits to the DMV
- 1 visit to the CHP for VIN verification
- 1 trip to a BAR Licensed VSS Inspection shop (more if you don’t pass the 1st inspection)
- 1 phone interview with the BAR Smog Referee
- 1 in person vehicle Smog Referee Inspection
DMV 1st Visit - Complete and/or bring the following when going to the DMV for the 1st time
- Statement of Facts (REG 256) (if applicable)
- Statement of Construction (REG 5036)
- Certificate of Origin (MCO) – from the kit manufacturer
- Receipts and totals for all the major components including chassis, body, engine, trans.
- A value for labor must be entered on the statement of construction and included in the total cost. (I put all costs in an Excel spreadsheet and printed it out)
- DMV Application for Title or Registration (REG 343)
Pay your registration fees (Fees are based on the cost of the vehicle components that you have NOT ALREADY PAID SALES TAX ON).
You should leave with a partially filled out Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Plate (REG 124) form AND a preliminary vehicle registration pending, SMOG, VSSI ( Brake and Light) and VIN verification.
You should be given several one-day use passes to drive your vehicle to complete the required inspections. Ask for a 2 or 3 month Temporary Permit to Operate (TPO). This allows you to drive your vehicle to obtain the required inspections, and again depending on how your appointments go, the original TPO might expire. You can always trailer your car.
GET INSURANCE IF YOU PLAN ON DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE!
CHP Visit
Make an appointment with your local CHP office that does VIN verifications. Take your vehicle and the forms to CHP for VIN verification. The CHP will complete, sign and stamp the Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Plate (REG 124) form. If your kit manufacturer does not supply a VIN plate with a 17 digit VIN, the CHP will assign and rivet a CA VIN plate to your vehicle.
VSS Inspection - Replaced old Brake and light inspections
Clich here to See the BAR website for BAR Certified locations that can perform the VSS Inspection. This cannot be done at any Auto service center. Make an appointment and take your vehicle and Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Plate (REG 124) and registration to a BAR Shop licensed to perform Vehicle System Safety Inspections. It's helpful to get the VIN identification done first since the VSSI shop enters the information through a computer and your vehicle should be in the DMV system first. ADVICE: visit 3-5 shops, tell them what you have and ask them if they are familiar with a kit car, have they done any before. Most have no idea how to apply the VSSI manual to a kit car. Cost varied greatly from $175 to $750. Shop around.
DMV 2nd Visit - Assuming you pass, take all your paperwork back to the DMV to get your Sequence Number Assigned. Your local DMV will call the DMV in Sacramento. The DMV may hand you a handwritten form with the sequence number on it. NOTE: THIS IN NOT THE SEQUENCE NUMBER CERTIFICATE – The BAR will not accept this form even though it has your sequence number on it.
- The “Official” Certificate of Sequence" will be mailed to you. This may take up to 1 month after your 2nd DMV visit. DO NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE BAR SMOG REFEREE WITHOUT THIS certificate, if you do make an appointment and you have not received the certificate from Sacramento, BAR will tell you to cancel and reschedule. That could be another 2-3 week delay.
BAR SMOG REFEREE - VIRTUAL APPOINTMENT
The BAR SMOG REFEREE Inspection is now a 2 step process. STEP 1 is a virtual interview to review your documents you will be submitting and to answer any questions the BAR examiner may have about your build. Once you make an appointment, an assistant will reach out to you and request that you email them all the documents you'll need to submit.
You can download from the documents at the bottom of the page examples of a "successful SB-100 submission package" and what they are looking for in a "closed" PCV system. Once you have the interview and if the referee doesn't have any questions, they will submit your package for approval. You will get an email 2-7 days later saying it is ok to call and schedule an in-person SMOG exam with the BAR referee. You need to “pass” that interview before being allowed to make the appointment for the physical inspection ( STEP 2).
DO NOT MISS THE CALL. If you miss the call, BAR treats you like a “no show” and will penalize you. You will not be able to re-schedule another appointment for 60 days. Have all your documents on hand while on the call.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Certificate of Sequence
- VIN verification (REG 31)
- Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Plate (REG 124)
- DMV Report of Deposit of Fees (registration)
- Certificate of Origin (MCO)
- DMV Application for Title or Registration (REG 343)
- Statement of Construction (REG 5036)
- Statement of Facts (REG 256) (if applicable)
- Certificate of Title (if not a new construction)
- Vehicle System Safety Inspection certificate (this replaced the old Brake and Light)
- Receipts for all the major components including chassis, body, engine, trans.
- A value for labor must be entered on the statement of construction
- Pictures of the build
- Picture of the car
- Picture of the VIN plate
- Picture of both sides of the PCV system
Take your vehicle and all the required documents and paperwork to the physical inspection location. Inspections are typically held at a community college that offers an automotive program. You can drive or trailer your vehicle to the location, but you will have to start and move your vehicle one there.
You should leave with a “Smog” inspection certificate and the SB-100 sticker affixed to your vehicle. NOTE: technically they should only be looking to verify, paperwork, VIN, year of engine and required smog equipment, however they have the right to inspect anything else.
DMV 3rd Visit - Back to the DMV for the last time. Take all the paperwork for the final OK. The DMV will keep originals to send to Sacramento for your title. MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING ! You should be given a clean registration, your license plates and tags. Your Title will be mailed to you. CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!!!!
| instructions_sb-100_special_construction_vehicles.pdf |
| reg-343-r12-2022-asb-www.pdf |
| reg-5036-r3-2007-asb-www.pdf |
| vssi_manual.pdf |
| pcv_sample.pdf |
| sample_s1_paperwork.pdf |
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