CA Smog - new resident

[robbajob]

Wasn't sure where to put this. I recently moved to LA and am thinking about getting back into old P cars - I've previously owned a '68 911 and a '68 911S.

This time around though I'm more interested in getting a hotrod. Possibly an early 911 or even a 914 with a bigger engine, so probably a 2.7, 3.0 or 3.6.

I'd be really grateful if a knowledgeable Cali resident could give me a quick cliff notes on the smog before I jump in feet first and end up with a car from out of state that I find I can't register in CA.

Am I worrying about nothing, will early cars be smog exempt even if they're modified? I moved here from NY but am originally from England so have next to no clue about this sort of thing.

[Head416]

Buy a '75 or earlier. They're not officially exempt from smog regulations, but they are not require to have biennial smog checks. Basically you can do what you want and not worry about it. Modifying a car newer than '75 can be a nightmare.

[Noah930]

No longer a "rolling exemption" for smog checks. 1975 is the cutoff. So anything after '75 has to get smog checked every other year. Technically, a car only has to pass the smog requirement levels for the date in which it was sold. But there seems to be some debate on whether that's true, or if the DMV/CARB seems to be making regulations more strict with time, and expecting older cars to pass newer (more clean) smog regulations. FWIW, the 3 or 4 times I've had my car smogged, I've had to have met the same minimum/maximum levels each time. But others on this board claim that they've had to pass ever-stricter limits with their cars.

Some will take an early chassis (pre-75) and put in a newer motor, like you suggested.

Smog checks are done by independent (but licensed) shops--not by any governmental agency. But the computer/equipment these shops use is hooked up to the DMV, so any test they run gets logged by some central computer system.

Our smog check not only has a sniffer test, but also is unique in having a visual requirement. The engine bay must appear stock. It must retain all smog and exhaust equipment as it had the day it was sold. Even if your car passes the sniffer test, it may fail if you've disconnected the smog/air-injection pump, or modified the exhaust. Of course, whether the smog test technician detects those changes depends on the acuity of the tech doing the test.

If you buy a California car, it is the seller's responsibility to get the car to pass smog before the sale. (Something like within 30 days of the sale, IIRC.)

[ossiblue]

Noah 930 has summed it up perfectly. The only thing I would add is that some regions of California do not require the bi-annual smog checks once the car has had the initial check/pass when it was purchased. This does give one the option of buying a post 75 car, pass smog upon registration, then make mods without having to worry about smog checks. Two problems, of course. One, you will have to either live or have an address in one of the exempt regions, which tend to be rural and far from metropolitan centers. Two, when the car is sold, it will still have to pass smog so all changes will need to be reversed.

Best bet, IMO, given the regs and your past experience with Porsches, is to go with a 75 or earlier car.

[robbajob]

Great, thanks guys, this is all good to know. I'm definitely only interested in pre-75 so (hopefully) that will make things a little easier. Wait, did I just refer to dealing with the DMV as easier...

[Zeke]

You can always get a 3.6 OBDII motor and install it with a smog check and examination at the DMV. Your engine needs to comply to the standards of it's year. It's totally legal and you can sell the car anytime. You can also buy one of these out-of-state and if it complies, bring it in and register it.

You can't be busted if you're legal. You could also buy a very nice stock 74-75 CIS machine and put a turbo on it. If it has jugs from a 3.0, all the better.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by robbajob

Great, thanks guys, this is all good to know. I'm definitely only interested in pre-75 so (hopefully) that will make things a little easier. Wait, did I just refer to dealing with the DMV as easier...

Make it really easy, use AAA.

[Steve Carlton]

AAA won't work if the car came from out of state. For one thing, the VIN will need to be verified. If you buy the car in CA, AAA is fine.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

AAA won't work if the car came from out of state. For one thing, the VIN will need to be verified. If you buy the car in CA, AAA is fine.

Unless they've changed within the last two years, that is not correct. They have a person who verifies the VIN--I had it done on the last car I bought from Wyoming. Maybe every field office is not able to do the verification, but AAA still provides the service.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by ossiblue

Unless they've changed within the last two years, that is not correct. They have a person who verifies the VIN--I had it done on the last car I bought from Wyoming. Maybe every field office is not able to do the verification, but AAA still provides the service.

I've used AAA to register an out of state car in CA as well with no issues.

[Steve Carlton]

AAA doesn't do it anymore. If you don't believe me, call them.

[Zeke]

If it's just a VIN check use one of the registration brokers. They go right to the dealer window and all you have to do is pick up the paperwork. They are able to verify the VIN at their location. They don't do smog equipment checks. If you need a smog cert, you have to do that elsewhere.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

AAA doesn't do it anymore. If you don't believe me, call them.

I bought a motorcycle from New Hampshire 2 years ago and AAA referred me to the DMV to get it titled under my name in CA.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

AAA doesn't do it anymore. If you don't believe me, call them.

From the AAA website: www.aaa.com redirect

"Take care of most DMV vehicle registration transactions at your local AAA branch.
Register your car, transfer out-of-state vehicles, pick up disabled placards, and replace lost plates and stickers, conveniently and easily. "

AAA does not do new car registration, nor do they actually title cars--they processes the paperwork and send it off the the DMV. Maybe that's where the confusion lies.

[Noah930]

That may be what the website says, but that was most definitely NOT what the employees told me over the telephone and in person when I tried to title the new-to-me bike in my name 2 years ago. I could have sat and argued with them all afternoon about it, but they feigned any and all ability to perform the transaction/process the paperwork for me in my local AAA office. When I had to switch over registration from out-of-state to CA for vehicles which I already owned though, AAA could do that.

[Steve Carlton]

Linky no worky.

I say it's an error on whatever webpage you got that. YMMV.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by Noah930

That may be what the website says, but that was most definitely NOT what the employees told me over the telephone and in person when I tried to title the new-to-me bike in my name 2 years ago. I could have sat and argued with them all afternoon about it, but they feigned any and all ability to perform the transaction/process the paperwork for me in my local AAA office. When I had to switch over registration from out-of-state to CA for vehicles which I already owned though, AAA could do that.

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Linky no worky.

I say it's an error on whatever webpage you got that. YMMV.

Noah930 and Steve Carlton, not doubting your words at all, I'm just posting my personal experiences (most recently, two years ago) and what the site says. (Steve, the link works for me, maybe you have a filter that blocks it.)

AAA does not title the vehicles and I had all bills of sale and title papers from the out of state seller. AAA performed a VIN check on the vehicle, filled out the paperwork, took my documents and fees, gave me a temporary registration card, plates, sticker, and sent the docs off to Sacramento for my title. Why they wouldn't do that for Noah930, I don't know, unless there is a special exemption for motorcycles, or each office may not have a VIN check service, or (heaven forbid) the AAA employees were pulling the DMV "can't be done" routine because they are unaware of their own services or how to perform them.

[Steve Carlton]

Call a few AAA offices and ask them. They used to do it, now they don't.

[SeanPizzle]

CA Smog will ultimately be the straw that breaks this camel's back. I am so exhausted with dealing with trying to be a car guy in a state that does everything to outlaw being a car guy.