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Smog Laws???

2002AVA

Full Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2005
Messages
3,152
Location
Coarsegold, ca
I am going to be moving there this summer from Idaho. I will be up in Mariposa County in the Indian Lakes area. What I am unable to find is how does the smog law work for an out of state vehicle? My 02 Av does not have CA smog neither does the wifes 93 Civic. Do I have to have Smog equipment added to my vehicles? The DMV web site is very vague on this.
Thanks
 
In California your out of state registration will be valid until it expires. In California we go from year to year.  You will then have to smog your vehicle to have it registered in California.  California has some of the toughest smog standards in the country so be prepared.  You will also need to go to the DMV and get a new California Drivers license.  You only have a couple weeks to get that done before you can be cited.... UNLESS you tell the officers when you get pulled over that you are only in town visiting.  But be careful, if he sees you a week or two later he isn't going to show you any love and give you a ticket...
 
Also both of your cars should have all the smog equipments it needs from the factory.  Unless you removed it.  If you took out your catalytic converter that would be a problem also. 
 
There is no retrofit requirement to register a vehicle in the State of California that was built and sold out of state...then comes into Calfiornia...this assumes you have not removed or modified any OEM installed Smog Equipment and you are a non-resident entering the state to become a resident.

The only requirement is your "Out of State" vehicle must have the Smog Equipment installed on it which it was initially built with and pass an emission test based on that installed equipment.

If a vehicle built for sale outside of Calfiornia happens to have less/different equipment that the same vehicle built for sale inside California...the Smog Test Equipment will test using a different set of standards...pass those and you and your vehicle are eligible to be registered in California.

The laws regarding residents of California going out of state to buy a vehicle and then bring it into California are a lot stricter...but you're not asking about that.

You won't have any issues so long as you haven't modded/deleted any OEM smog equipment and your vehicle is in good running condition.

You can take what I have posted to the bank... (y)
 
SoCalAva said:
In California your out of state registration will be valid until it expires.

Actually that is incorrect...

"When fees are due
Fees must be paid within 20 days of entry or residency to avoid penalties. Any vehicle owned by a California resident must be registered within 20 days of entry into California unless a special permit was obtained. Nonresidents whose vehicles are properly registered to them in their home state or jurisdiction may operate their vehicles in California until they:

Accept gainful employment in California.
Claim a homeowner's exemption in California.
Rent or lease a residence in California.
Intend to live or be located here on a permanent basis (for example, acquire a California driver license, acquire other licenses not ordinarily extended to a nonresident, registered to vote).   
Enroll in an institution of higher learning as a California resident or enroll their dependents in school (K-12). "

For more information refer to the following Link...

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr9.htm
 
Thanks guys, I will be there by May 28Th. My dad does not have much longer to live. His mouth is getting so small from the tumor growing. The doctors give him until Sept at the latest. My mom is hoping he goes soon, watching him suffer, is killing her. She does not want to lose him, but she does not want him to suffer so badly.

So on the plus side the Central Valley has a new Member. (y)

On the bad side my father is not going to be around much longer. I have had 3 dads in my life, and this one is by far the best ever. He always treated my mom with the utmost respect and courtesy. He treated me the same. He is just a great person who does not deserve to go out this way. (n) :needhug:
 
It sucks having to watch a great and strong man just dwindle away. The bad thing is pain meds mess up his head so bad he does not know where he is and he gets violent. He pulled out his treack one night. Luckily my mom has some family members out there right now helping until I can get there. I am trying to wait until my boys get out of school on the 26Th.

I do appreciate all the thoughts and prayers.
 
Anybody ever had a vehicle inspection. I do not have an emergency brake anymore. The stealer messed it up 3 times in a row. Then it locked up on me so I removed it completely including the cables.( I was a little upset when I pull into my driveway and smoke is pouring out of my rear rims). So I am just wondering if they check that or even bother to inspect a 2002 Avalanche in perfect shape. I know in Idaho when I moved here, they inspected the Honda by just verifying the VIN and that all the lights worked. That was it.
 
We don't have any kind of state inspection in California.

Smog every 2 years after the vehicle year is 5 years. I have had two now the last being at 193k miles (y)
 
Sorry I left Cali in 1987 and have not moved back since. I was born in San Diego and lived in Santee until 4Th grade. The I lived in Citrus heights for a year. Moved to Fremont where I graduated. Moved around for a few years then moved to Vegas. So i have kinda forgotten what needs to be done and how much it costs to register a car in Cali. Here in Idaho I pay $68.00 for 2 years of registration.
 
Get ready for a shock. 

I paid $400 or so for my first year's registration.  It went down to $300 and change the next year.

Last year, thanks to my favorite friends in the State Assembly and Senate, I paid close to $600. 

 
PerfectReign said:
Get ready for a shock. 

I paid $400 or so for my first year's registration.  It went down to $300 and change the next year.

Last year, thanks to my favorite friends in the State Assembly and Senate, I paid close to $600. 

Now I remember why I left in '87 and never looked back.
 
Z66Modder said:
Now I remember why I left in '87 and never looked back.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when I first entered the Navy...I meet the Enterprise in Bremerton, Washington in the middle of November...
We left port to come back to San Fran in January...
I swear on the bible the entire time I was there I saw the Sun two times...




Now I remember why I never looked back  :laugh:
The PNW may be pretty...but Sheeeeeeeeeeez
 
I CHNGE said:
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when I first entered the Navy...I meet the Enterprise in Bremerton, Washington in the middle of November...
We left port to come back to San Fran in January...
I swear on the bible the entire time I was there I saw the Sun two times...




Now I remember why I never looked back  :laugh:
The PNW may be pretty...but Sheeeeeeeeeeez

You know Cliff, that's why I don't live in Bremerton either.

Today was we had beautiful blue skies and 68 degrees. Tomorrow will be even warmer. If you are old enough to remember the song that says "The bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle" well that song is right. I've lived all over the states and flown around the world twice, and the prettiest skies are right here.

I'm not saying Calli doesn't have any, I'm sure they are quite beautiful once you go up in elevation to get past the Smog.  :3:
 
I would have to disagree on the Seattle skies. I prefer Montana watching the Northern Lights on a cool October night. More stars then you could ever imagine. Idaho also has some great skies at night, when you are up in the mountains 20 miles from no where.
Laying in your sleeping bag under a starry night. Nothing like that in the world.
 
Z66Modder said:
I'm not saying Calli doesn't have any, I'm sure they are quite beautiful once you go up in elevation to get past the Smog.  :3:
"Never trust air you can't see," I always say!
 
Here is a shot of that blue sky taken at lunch today while at work. Yes is sucks to work on Saturdays, but at least it is overtime.
 

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Z66Modder said:
Here...we haven't had any blue sky yet this year so this is a picture I shot at lunch today while at work...I Photoshopped in the blue for ya. Yes is sucks to work on overcast Saturdays, but I needed something to do...at least it was overtime.
:laugh:
 
The good news is Mariposa County doesn't require a biannual smog inspection. The bad news is it may be required when you first register it.



http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/vr/smogfaq#BM2539
 
They must have figured out it cost more to maintain the inspection system than the income it generated.

The  registration is a good idea because if you can't register you can give it back to the person who sold it.
 
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