Need some CA DMV advice

[Schumi]

Alight guys, it has been a while... and I haven't lived permanently in the USA for several years and have forgotten a bit how things work...

I have my Lotus with California plates on it in storage in Missouri. The registration is on CA non-op. The tags on the plates are several years expired. I have the non-op paper that I can send in and re-register the car, but since the car is overdue for smog, you are supposed to smog the car first before you can get tags....

Except I can't smog the car when it is 1600 miles away from CA. And I can't just drive back on expired plates and smog the car first.

What does one do in this situation? Is there a CA temp tag that is smog exempt for a month or two? I have thought about returning soon to CA and want to drive the car back there when I do.

I figured someone here will know the answer to this easily. Searching the CA DMV website just took me in circles.

[SoCal911T]

Maybe what is known as a "One Trip permit"?

One Trip Permit(CVC §4003)
A one trip permit may be issued for a fee, in lieu of California registration, to move a vehicle required to be registered:

When unladen, for one continuous trip from a place within California to a place in or outside California or from outside California to a place in California (by the most direct route).

[Cajundaddy]

You can trailer it back, get it smogged, and re-register. That is probably what I would do. Otherwise LEOs across the country *may* stop and investigate your paperwork all the way back. Maybe find one of the CA teams currently running Mid-Ohio and see if they have room for another car coming west. Since they are already doing a drive-by it might be pretty reasonable shipping.

[Schumi]

That permit seems like it would be the correct way to do it..

Yeah, having LEOs stop me every 200 miles because they see a "17" year tag on the out of state plate is my fear, even if I have some sort of permit. That said, on my last trip from CA to MO I went through UT>CO>KS on hwy 70 and I think I saw 1 highway patrol unit the entire time.

I do want to drive the car however, for several reasons- I love taking long trips in it, and have a multitude of people along the route to stop and meet, and also I have a huge distrust of having it trailered. An Elise is not a normal car and there are no small bumps or scratches into one. It is a fiberglass china doll. I am rather protective of it.

I have done a few back and forth across the southwest US in it, the last doing 26 hours nonstop; people have thought I'm nuts as most find them uncomfortable for more than an hour, but I quite enjoy the cockpit. I fit well, and nothing beats the driving position IMO. Traversing the desert at night in one is a trip. The requirement of earplugs takes getting used to however.

[Hugh R]

This is what you want...https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/407b2792-be32-47cf-8307-fb23b9102bc7/reg5103.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

[john70t]

Continuous registration will probably follow the owner's permanent homestead filing for official address and IRS state of residency.

This must be proven by USPS mail/ phone/CC/utilities/other.
(Non-citizens exempt of course.)

You might be staying half the time with friends in lone places but not have the paperwork available yet..idk.

[Noah930]

Why not just register the car in MO?

[Embraer]

I had my Ferrari in California for 3 years and kept Indiana plates on it. Got pulled over, and just said I was TDY for work....never once caused an issue. No smog, either.

[Schumi]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Why not just register the car in MO?

This may be what I do, but it would require me to have someone from my family do it for me, have the car driven to be inspected in MO (NOT something I trust someone doing on my behalf) and waiting on the plates. I'm trying to find a way that allows me to submit paperwork remotely and get a temp tag or renewed tags with a smog exemption for some period of time. I want to fly into STL, be there just long enough to prep the car and then hit the damn road.

The form Hugh linked is the way I think I was told once before- just apply to take the car off non-op and back onto road, you will get the notice to smog, and apply for a smog exemption; then get fresh tags in the mail. take them with me, stick on car, drive back to CA.


Seems simple enough. I have money, can pay for tags, this shouldn't be so hard.

I think my next step is to just call them and ask. Although I dread explaining anything over the phone to a DMv.

[porsche4life]

Register it in MO or OK on the way back and forget smog...... can’t imagine registering it in MO wisp take more than an a day or two.

[Steve Carlton]

I don't see the point in registering it in MO just to turn around and register it in CA. You might even wind up surrendering or removing the CA plates and making it more difficult in CA.

I find your average DMV employee has a high probability of giving you bad advise. I was told long ago to talk to the main office at (800) 777-0133. The form that Hugh posted seems like the right form- hopefully you can do this via mail.

I could probably come up with a DMV service for you. The woman I used to go to is retired, but she could probably recommend somebody. They'd probably charge around $50 and be well worth it.

[Rodsrsr]

California is the absolute last state I would chose to register a car if given a choice.
There's no easy fix for your situation. If your stuck on registering it in Cali, you'll have to have the smog done there as well which obviously means bringing the car there, no exceptions and if its 76 or newer it will need smog every two years going forward. It wasn't clear if the OP actually lived in Ca though.

[craigster59]

Some smog places in Cal can give you plates and tags right there, no need to go to DMV at all.

[Noah930]

Advice will be as hit or miss accurate as a DMV employee, but to avoid the DMV lines, you could always ask AAA for advice/help on getting all the paperwork done remotely.

[Radioactive]

I did this,

Originally Posted by Hugh R

This is what you want...https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/407b2792-be32-47cf-8307-fb23b9102bc7/reg5103.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

[Schumi]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

California is the absolute last state I would chose to register a car if given a choice.
There's no easy fix for your situation. If your stuck on registering it in Cali, you'll have to have the smog done there as well which obviously means bringing the car there, no exceptions and if its 76 or newer it will need smog every two years going forward. It wasn't clear if the OP actually lived in Ca though.

Yes I lived there, the car is from there, I just had it in long term (free) storage in MO as that was convenient as I have lived outside the US for several years. I'm planning on moving back to CA and the car would live there again permanently.

That is the reason I want it registered there. I have no motor mods done to it and have no problem passing smog, I did so for years.

[nomore]

First call DMV in Sacto. and tell them what you need. Since the car is on non op it shouldn't be too hard to get a temporary registration. Second, go to or call AAA as they can handle almost all registration matters.

[smadsen]

The one time move document is the way to go.

However, if you haven't paid the non-op fees for a few years I think the penalty can become punitive very fast and may equal the reg. fees you have avoided plus some penalty. If you don't declare non-op and pay the annual $15 or whatever, the DMV assumes you've been driving the car with expired tags. I could be wrong on this issue, but I believe it was a nightmare for a friend several years ago. And smoging a Lotus in California, you get "degree of difficulty" points for the attempt.

[Noah930]

∆∆∆ There is no annual fee once you register a vehicle as non-op. It is a one-time payment. If/when you re-register the car, then you just pick up where you left off.

There're only fines and back fees if you've allowed the registration to lapse. Then the DMV assumes you've been driving the car the whole time and getting away with it.

And considering the Lotus has a Toyota motor, I'd imagine smogging the car will be a pretty pedestrian affair (once Mike gets it to CA).