Registering in California

[Surfergeek]

The smog check is pretty easy though. OBD scan without sniffer I believe so long as you have enough drive cycles and visual pass you’ll be fine. But yes, that is the process.

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[kilobravo]

I did this before when I came back to CA from Texas in 2017

Dave: That's the wrong direction. :-) Hope the move was necessary.

 

[CaptDave]

Dave: That's the wrong direction. :-) Hope the move was necessary.

unfortunately it was for work. But 3X the salary helps a little bit even with the higher cost of living

 

[kilobravo]

Oh yeah, that's good news, Captain! We all gots to do what we gots to do.

 

[VooDoo387R]

I bought my GT500 from PA, had it shipped to CA. I had to get the Smog check done. The car had less than 20 miles on it and passed the smog check just fine, as previously stated there was no sniffer test as that is only done for older vehicles.

DMV then verified the VIN on the car and collected their check for taxes and registration fees.

Walked out same day with new license plates, stickers and registration card.

Overall, an easy process just a lot of hanging out at DMV.

 

[CaptDave]

I bought my GT500 from PA, had it shipped to CA. I had to get the Smog check done. The car had less than 20 miles on it and passed the smog check just fine, as previously stated there was no sniffer test as that is only done for older vehicles.

DMV then verified the VIN on the car and collected their check for taxes and registration fees.

Walked out same day with new license plates, stickers and registration card.

Overall, an easy process just a lot of hanging out at DMV.

Thanks VooDoo. Unfortunate California can’t make it any simpler.

Thanks to everyone else who provided input as well.

 

[Snoopy49]

I wonder if you will have to get a smog check every 2 years? My 2013 hasn't had a smog check and I bought it new in Jan 2013.

 

[CaptDave]

I wonder if you will have to get a smog check every 2 years? My 2013 hasn't had a smog check and I bought it new in Jan 2013.

I hope not Earl. For now I’m planning on “normal” new car rules once it’s registered. I’ll cross that bridge when I have to.

 

[Trackaholic]

The smog abatement systems have a number of self checks that must be passed in order for the initial smog check to be successful. Depending on how the car is driven those checks can take a while. So usually you want to put some miles on the car before getting it checked.

it is strange that you still need to get it checked when they are all built the same way, but the process is pretty simple.

I did this with my GT350 and it wasn’t difficult. They biggest key was making an appointment at the DMV so you minimize the wait.

-T

 

[CaptDave]

The smog abatement systems have a number of self checks that must be passed in order for the initial smog check to be successful. Depending on how the car is driven those checks can take a while. So usually you want to put some miles on the car before getting it checked.

it is strange that you still need to get it checked when they are all built the same way, but the process is pretty simple.

I did this with my GT350 and it wasn’t difficult. They biggest key was making an appointment at the DMV so you minimize the wait.

-T

thanks for the info. I’ll have about 1,200 miles on it by the time I get it back to CA, hope that’s enough.

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