I can't register my CAR!

[Trent W]

Bought my 2015 PP GT in December and its taken the DMV in Washington till now to finally tell me they cant register it because its not emission's compliant! So i got a little upset and said your crazy they wouldn't sell it to me if I couldn't register it! Well sure enough looked under the hood and its says not Legal in California:frusty:. So my only option is to register it in Utah where I have my house address I can use and then transfer it over to Washington when it reaches 7500 miles on the ODO... Hopefully I wont get pulled over with out of state registration... Does anyone know if I can get in trouble for having another states reg/plates? This just seems like a GIANT pain! Have anyone ran into this? I'm kinda not sure what to do exactly and not get in trouble with "Big Brother" or have to drive nice as to not draw attention to myself... which isn't the reason I bought a fast Muscle car! The only plus i see with this is I'll end up paying $700 less in sales taxes. But again Thinking this might be a big no no when the law comes around.

Sponsored

 

[fionic]

Bought my 2015 PP GT in December and its taken the DMV in Washington till now to finally tell me they cant register it because its not emission's compliant! So i got a little upset and said your crazy they wouldn't sell it to me if I couldn't register it! Well sure enough looked under the hood and its says not Legal in California:frusty:. So my only option is to register it in Utah where I have my house address I can use and then transfer it over to Washington when it reaches 7500 miles on the ODO... Hopefully I wont get pulled over with out of state registration... Does anyone know if I can get in trouble for having another states reg/plates? This just seems like a GIANT pain! Have anyone ran into this? I'm kinda not sure what to do exactly and not get in trouble with "Big Brother" or have to drive nice as to not draw attention to myself... which isn't the reason I bought a fast Muscle car! The only plus i see with this is I'll end up paying $700 less in sales taxes. But again Thinking this might be a big no no when the law comes around.

pretty sure the car isn't ILLEGAL in california. something seems off. also california != washington. Why would it matter if the car was illegal in CA if you're registering in washington?

 

[Todd15Fastback]

We have owners in California. Never heard of this. Something seems odd with them telling you the car is not legal in California.

 

[badass03ragtop]

First, as others have mentioned, I am not understanding why you cannot register a car in WA because it is not legal in CA. I have heard of other states adopting CA rules though. Is WA one of them?

Second, if you have a home of record in UT, it shouldn't be an issue. Being in the military for 24 years, I have had similar problems and experience with numerous state laws, including changes to the laws while I was residing in different states. I have had my cars registered in one state and had my DL in another. I had a PA driver's license up until I retired and officially became a resident of NC. I lived in NC for 12 years by that time and had purchased cars and registered them in NC, but I still had one registered in PA since that was my home of record. I know that different states have different rules and some have rules specific to the military. I would call the DMV in WA and find out EXACTLY what their policies are. As I started out this section with, I do not see an issue, but I am not familiar with the laws in WA, nor am I a lawyer. To me, if you have a home in UT and got pulled in WA, it would be no different than if you had just driven there for the weekend or something.

Lastly, these cars should be 50 state compliant, but I could be wrong there since CA has some messed up laws! Where did you buy the car? If it was in WA, which I'm assuming it was not, then I'd be headed back to the dealer because they cannot sell you a car that is not compliant with that state's laws.

 

[Dirtleg]

I got a new car in Texas once when I lived in California. Took it to the smog station where they tested it. It passed the smog test so no problem. Registered it right after.
I can't imagine they don't have testing in Washington. And why would they be so adamant on CA emissions when CA themselves have a system for out of state compliance. Crazy

 

[stoli]

http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/cleancar.html

What is the Clean Car Law?
The Clean Car Law (RCW 46.16A.060) requires vehicles across Washington State to be certified to California emission standards. Starting with 2009 models, vehicles must meet these strict clean air standards to be registered, leased, rented, licensed, or sold for use anywhere in Washington.

Types of vehicles that must meet Clean Car standards
All new passenger cars, SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks with a model year of 2009 or newer must be certified to California emission standards. New vehicles that don’t meet California emission standards cannot be registered, leased, rented, licensed, or sold for use in Washington.

Did you buy it in Washington State? If so, it's on the dealer; they can't sell it.

As for out of state registering, most states require you register where your primary residence is and that it matches your license...

 

[humster21]

Luckily Pa. is a Ca. emissions state, so when I moved to Ca. I didn't have a problem w/ my 99 Mustang back in 2000. I can remember back in Oct/Nov where a guy was moving from Arizona to Ca. and he was having problems registering his car due to the Ca. emissions.

 

[Trent W]

I bought it in Utah for a Christmas present for my wife while we were down there for Vacation/Holidays with my family. They told me that it wasn't compliant after they ran the VIN. Thanks stoli for looking up that code! So basically I only have one option.. register it in Utah and then transfer it at 7500 miles and just hope i don't get pulled over.... even If i did I cant imagine it being that big of a deal as long as they know who owns the car and its not stolen. I'm going to drive down to the Dealership by my house and see if they cant just give me a certificate of compliance.

AH HA! I found a loop hole!
The following types of vehicles aren’t required to be certified to California emission standards:

• 2008 or earlier vehicle models.
• Passenger vans and buses with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) greater than 10,000.
• Heavy-duty cargo vans and trucks with a GVWR greater than 8,500.
• Previously-registered vehicles with more than 7,500 miles at the time of sale.
• Vehicles purchased by a nonresident before establishing residency in the state of Washington, regardless of the mileage on the vehicle.
• Vehicles transferred by inheritance or as a result of divorce, dissolution, or legal separation.
• Vehicles acquired and used by Washington residents while they were members of the armed services stationed outside of Washington on military orders.
• Vehicles to be registered and used only outside the state of Washington.
• Vehicles only available for rent to a final destination outside of Washington.
• Military tactical vehicles.
• Emergency vehicles, if the public safety agency has demonstrated to the Department of Ecology’s satisfaction that there isn’t a California emissions-certified vehicle available to meet the agency’s needs.

Technically I didn't officially move to WA before I bought the car! Now I have to pay an extra $700 dollars in sales taxes though, why must there be states that love being Nazi's asking for papers for everything...

 

[fionic]

I bought it in Utah for a Christmas present for my wife while we were down there for Vacation/Holidays with my family. They told me that it wasn't compliant after they ran the VIN. Thanks stoli for looking up that code! So basically I only have one option.. register it in Utah and then transfer it at 7500 miles and just hope i don't get pulled over.... even If i did I cant imagine it being that big of a deal as long as they know who owns the car and its not stolen. I'm going to drive down to the Dealership by my house and see if they cant just give me a certificate of compliance.

it is 50 state compliant. how can they tell you it isn't compliant based off the VIN?

the state of washington said they wouldn't register? did you take it to get an emissions test or something?

 

[stoli]

it is 50 state compliant. how can they tell you it isn't compliant based off the VIN?

the state of washington said they wouldn't register? did you take it to get an emissions test or something?

It's not 50 state compliant - that's exactly why there is a sticker on the underside of the hood stating such.

 

[Strokerswild]

Wow, and I've thought I've heard it all..... :doh:

 

[stoli]

My '14 GT has a statement on the sticker under the hood..that it is NOT CALIFORNIA compliant. When I ordered my ''15...the GM and I talked about this...and he could have ordered it how I wanted....I chose to stay with the 49 state laws.

Sounds like the Wash. dealer forgot to code the car for Wash. emissions. It's on them..it appears at this point. Or...Ford could have messed up too..IF it was ordered correctly. I'd dig into this....and not have to worry about where you have to register.

He bought it in Utah...

 

[fionic]

It's not 50 state compliant - that's exactly why there is a sticker on the underside of the hood stating such.

I honestly don't understand this. CA sucks.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

I honestly don't understand this.

Extra components in the emissions system to ensure California compliance:

http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/programs/emissions/FFMXV05.0VIM%20[A-010-1852-1].pdf

Sponsored