Relocating to California

930LDR · 02-15-2009, 10:15 AM

So my wife and I are moving from Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area. Among the myriad of details to work out, I need to figure out what I'm going to do with my highly modified 930. Here in Chicago its exempt from emission testing. Clearly its going to be an issue in California. We're keeping our Condo in Chicago. Any chance that I can keep the car registered here in Illinois and maintain Illinois plates in CA? Any ways around having to register the car in CA? Its really just a track car and gets driven very infrequently outside of that. I'd really like to NOT have to deal with buying a trailer though.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Unless it's a 76 or earlier, yer pretty much hosed. It will need to first pass the visual test. Meaning stock intake and exhaust configuration OR parts that have CARB Executive numbers and/or documentation. THEN, you get to go on the rollers for the tail pipe test.

SF is in the tighter testing area....meaing other parts of the State don't do the roller tests. They all have to pass the exhaust numbers as when original sold, but the roller does it various gears and under load.

I would be on the phone with the Bureau of Automotive Repair and soon. With the budget mess and the "time off" of State employees you will be lucky to get a quick answer.

Steve Carlton · 02-15-2009, 10:58 AM

If the car is to be kept here, it'll need to be registered here. Soon or later you'll get a fix-it ticket for out-of-state plates.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

You CAN get a track only registration in CA, but you'll never be able to drive it on the street. You can't even park it on the street. You have 30 days to get it changed over after entering the State. You MIGHT get away with driving it if you maintain a Illinois driver's license, but cops have long memories and the DMV fees support their salaries.

pwd72s · 02-15-2009, 11:05 AM

Welcome to California...part of the land of the free.

Eric Coffey · 02-15-2009, 11:12 AM

Personally, I'd go as long as possible on the IL plates. You would just have to maintain an IL driver's license, registration, and insurance as well. If you ever get stopped, they will just issue you an "X" number to put you in the system as a non-resident. That's what CHP did with me on a couple speeding tickets when I lived in SoCal for a couple years on WA plates/license/reg./insurance. I never admitted I was a CA "resident" though. YMMV.

Jim Bremner · 02-15-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric coffey

personally, i'd go as long as possible on the il plates. You would just have to maintain an il driver's license, registration, and insurance as well. If you ever get stopped, they will just issue you an "x" number to put you in the system as a non-resident. That's what chp did with me on a couple speeding tickets when i lived in socal for a couple years on wa plates/license/reg./insurance. I never admitted i was a ca "resident" though. Ymmv.

this.

legion · 02-15-2009, 02:36 PM

You're going the wrong way!

Still, I'd be happy to keep your 930 safe for you while you move to CA.

Ronbo · 02-15-2009, 02:46 PM

You're required to register the car within 30 days of moving to the state. No doubt you can fudge this a bit, but sooner or later you're going to have to deal with it. I really don't know what other option you have other than to buy the trailer you don't want to take it to the track.

FWIW Los Angeles does the roller test too.

trekkor · 02-15-2009, 02:56 PM

I'll see you at the track!

KT

stomachmonkey · 02-15-2009, 02:59 PM

Have had the 911 in TX for 16 months.

Got my TX drivers license in Jan 09

Just got TX inspection a couple of weeks ago.

Still have NY tags on it.

I say if you only drive it occasionally just leave the IL regi till you are forced to deal.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

I think Tyson has WA plates on his car. How many years has he lived in CA?

fumanchu · 02-15-2009, 05:29 PM

good for you. Welcome to the best place on the continental US..IMHO.

mikester · 02-15-2009, 05:42 PM

If you take it with you and it can't pass the inspection here you'll be left with few options other than restoring it back to factory condition to pass inspection.

California sucks for cars. The laws we have are one of the primary reasons I don't have a porsche anymore (but Pelican carries Volvo parts so I get to stay).

Zeke · 02-15-2009, 05:48 PM

Put a diesel in it and be exempt.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Or electric.....

cl8ton · 02-15-2009, 06:57 PM

You can always get a NON-OP filed for a while, else gotta register it (CARB)
Welcome to CA....please bring your checkbook with ya

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

You're certifiably insane to be moving to CA. I can't get out of here fast enough. You'll see why if/when you get here. Trust me. It's not what it once was.

fingpilot · 02-15-2009, 07:58 PM

You have the condo in Illinois? Been there 2 years? It will remain your primary residence. Whatever you get in CA will be a 'second residence'. Keep a small suitcase in the car, and a hanging white shirt in a dry cleaners bag hanging at all times. Of course, Il drivers' license, Il insurance.

You're visiting. Talk to your IL tax man about the rest.

jyl · jyl's Garage

If you keep a residence in IL and a IL drivers license and keep registering the 930 in IL, I bet you can get away with it for a long time. Pretend you split time between IL and CA, like a snowbird If you have to get a CA license, I think it will be harder to get away with, at least when an officer pulls you over. You will have to surrender your IL license to get the CA license, I think. At some point you may be forced to make it a track car only. So move to a place in the Bay Area where you can store a trailer. And hopefully you can delay that moment for many years.

Welcome to the Bay Area, it is a very nice place, assuming you pick the right spot.