Registering imported euro car in other state
 

Can you guys clarify / point me towards how to register a 25y exemption rule car in the US..... if you live in CA?

I know CA won't let you because "never imported here /SMOG". I also see a lot of those cars at gatherings with montana plates. I know about montana, the CHP also does and will pull over any non-minivan with Montana plates on principle these days. I heard from guys at the latest rally that it's best to register the vehicle in a neighboring state such as Nevada or even AZ. How exactly does a CA resident register a euro car in those states ? create an LLC ?

It's not something I'm gonna daily, it's a childhood dream car, relatively cheap, that I may drive twice a month discreetly. Until I move elsewhere... Tips welcome, TIA !

Nothing huh? Damn.

Do you have a friend in AZ. or Nevada? Ask them if you can use their address to register the car in their state. They would receive the renewal notices and any other DMV related mail and have to forward it to you somehow.

You would obviously have to go to the DMV in their state to transfer it. It's technically illegal to have a vehicle registered in another state but as long as it isn't an exotic registered in Montana, most cops don't seem to give a schit. YMMV. :cool:

This is what I would do.

Ups Store mailbox addresses look just like an apartment address.... just FYI.

If you do register in AZ, don’t use an address in Maricopa or spinal county or you’ll have to deal with emissions...

First step is importing the car.
Second step is taking all the paperwork to the dmv to get an American title and registration.

If the car cost under $2500 you can informal import yourself. Over $2500 you need a broker.

I imported a kei truck myself. Very easy to do. Title was just as easy in AZ.... 130$ for 5 year registration as well

Get a cop who cares and there's the ID with matching address thing to consider.

_

You would need a drivers license to match.

Shouldn't be too hard once you get the mailing address.

That... That's what I don't get. You need a DL for the state you register in. Can you have 2 ?

AZ has private title services shops everywhere who do everything DMV does for a modest added fee. I'm sure you can go to one in a town just across the border (Parker, Quartzsite, Yuma, etc) and get the paperwork done. All DMV renewal and fee notices are done by email now and you can set up an account on ServiceArizona.com to receive and store messages from DMV. The only thing you might need to physically be in AZ for is for the initial inspection for titling. You probably can't get the plate decals mailed to you in CA, but someone in AZ can probably grab them from your Mailboxes or UPS Store mailbox and send them to you.

AZ Third party won't touch foreign titles, or sf-97's. Trust me I've tried.

Holy crap this is giving me flashbacks.

I brought a E34 M5 back from Germany. The EPA gave me a waiver bc I was a service member. Then I got a questionable US conversion by a company in Houston. I say questionable because they used red ink for the mph on speedo and the instrument lights were Red. Nice huh? Then the door reinforcements were only tac welded on place. Took months as well.

Bu the Texas registration was a breeze. Went to an independent place that charges a fee.

Good luck