(a) (1) No auctioneer or public agency shall sell, at public auction, any vehicle specified in subdivision (a) of Section 24007, which is not in compliance with this code.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a vehicle that is sold under the conditions specified in subdivision (c), (d), (e), or (g) or is sold to a dealer or for the purpose of being wrecked or dismantled or is sold exclusively for off-highway use.

(b) Except with respect to the sale of a vehicle specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the consignor of any vehicle, specified in subdivision (b) of Section 24007, sold at public auction, shall provide the purchaser a valid certificate of compliance or certificate of noncompliance, as appropriate, issued in accordance with Section 44015 of the Health and Safety Code.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, if, in the opinion of a public utility or public agency, the cost of repairs to a vehicle exceeds the value of the vehicle to the public utility or public agency, the public utility or public agency shall, as transferee or owner, surrender the certificates of registration, documents satisfactory to the Department of Motor Vehicles showing proof of ownership, and the license plates issued for the vehicle to the Department of Motor Vehicles. As used in this section, “public utility” means a public utility as described in Sections 218, 222, and 234 of the Public Utilities Code.

(d) The public utility or public agency having complied with subdivision (c) shall, upon sale of the vehicle, give to the purchaser a bill of sale which includes, in addition to any other required information, the last issued license plate number.

(e) (1) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any judicial sale, including, but not limited to, a bankruptcy sale, conducted pursuant to a writ of execution or order of court.

(2) Subdivision (b) does not apply to any lien sale if the lienholder does both of the following:

(A) Gives the notice required by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 5900.

(B) Notifies the buyer that California law requires that the buyer obtain a certificate of compliance or noncompliance and register the vehicle with the department, and that failure to comply will result in a lien against any vehicle owned by the buyer pursuant to Section 10876 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, enforceable pursuant to Section 10877 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and Article 6 (commencing with Section 9800) of Chapter 6 of Division 3. Receipt of the notice required by this subparagraph shall be evidenced by the signature of the buyer.

(f) The exceptions in this section do not apply to any requirements for registration of a vehicle pursuant to Section 4000.1, 4000.2, or 4000.3.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (e), any public agency or auctioneer which sells, at public auction, any vehicle specified in subdivision (b) of Section 24007, which is registered to a public agency or a public utility, shall provide each bidder with a notice in writing that a certificate of compliance is required to be obtained, certifying that the vehicle complies with Part 5 (commencing with Section 43000) of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, before the vehicle may be registered in this state, unless the vehicle is sold to a dealer or for the purpose of being wrecked or dismantled or is sold exclusively for off-highway use. Prior to the sale of the vehicle, a public agency or public utility shall remove the license plates from the vehicle and surrender them to the department. The purchaser of the vehicle shall be given a bill of sale which includes, in addition to any other required information, the vehicle’s last issued license plate number.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 427, Sec. 167. Effective January 1, 1993.)