Want to get out of SMOG testing your car in CA, use this DMV form!

[Hugh R]

Here's the link, click on "Statement of Facts" (REG 256) it's a PDF. I'd print it out as a double sided form, which is what you get at DMV/AAA.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/formsmost.htm

You complete it and send in with your renewal and you check that the car is out of state. A friend turned me on to this it seems, at least with him, they never sent him another renewal requiring a future smog check.

[djpateman]

I would not suggest all of you trying to do this at once. They would probably catch on!

[mjshira]

a bit late for that!

[Nine17]

I also would suggest that no one here commit perjury, which is a felony.

[TWork]

Seems there's the potential to cause problems with your insurer if there's an accident since you're saying the car is in state to them, out of state with the DMV. Oh, that and it's fraud. :-)

[Zeke]

Unfortunately, most registrations of cars originally sold in CA state that right on the title and registration. "Date first sold" So, unless your car was in fact brought into CA after first being sold in another state, fagetaboutit. Cars that left the state and came back, I have one of those, may not say "date first sold" but the DMV will ask if the car was ever registered here, IIRC. An, they have records, whether they will bother is another matter. Also, beginning in say around '96, cars were being sold as "50 state cars."

I can't be 100 % certain of any or all of this, just the better part of my recollection. MikeZ knows this stuff forwards and backwards.

[Hugh R]

This form is intended for use if say your working, and/or your car is residing in Colorado during the time it is supposed to be smogged.

[the]

There's lots of ways to get out of lots of things . . . if one is willing to lie and perjure themselves.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

This form is intended for use if say your working, and/or your car is residing in Colorado during the time it is supposed to be smogged.

Well, that little difference that I missed might make a difference. I guess what people are saying here is one better be "working" out of state when the registration comes due. Now that brings up another issue. If I go to NV to live and work temporarily, they will give me about 30 days (legally) to register my truck there. If I come back here every 30 days, and retain a residence here, I suppose I can avoid this. But, if I'm here every 30 days, can't I just make it over to smog check? Especially in the DMV's eyes.

Sure, everyone that goes out of state to work can't get back in 30 days to avoid a new registration. But, if you get a ticket, they now know where you are. When the sniffers start to take pics and the airports are taking pics of every car, they know where you are. It just takes a snag to get caught.

I just don't see how this is gonna work.

[scottb]

Above the signature line on this form:

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.

I don't often give legal advice on the internet, but I will here. DO NOT COMMIT PERJURY. If your car is in the state, DO NOT use this form. Do you really want to be subjected to a perjury charge to save the hassle of a smog test? Likely not. People with cars located in California who submit this form do so at your peril.

Me? I'll get my car smogged every two years.

Scott

[mjshira]

dude, seriously come on. how many 'rules' is it gonna take to establish the liberal utopia in California? oh and did I mention the state is going bankrupt!

if they were smart they'd offer a one time fee for a car to never need to be smog'd. that way they get the money, those who have performance cars pay and both parties are happy. They way they do it forces people to act silly.

silly laws = silly consequences

[RWebb]

smog checks are not for money

they are to keep the air at least somewhat clean and to keep the feds from taking over the state program

[mjshira]

a reasonable smog check is one thing. running people with old cars out of the state is another. in my view keeping a car on the road for many many years is much more eco friendly than having a car be 'end of life' in ten years.

sorry, back to the point of this thread.

[RWebb]

no, that is not correct. Besides, the cars are not even made in Calif.

people are dying from air pollution in parts of Calif.

[jtkkz]

some cities in Ca. don't require smogging....

buy a vacation home there, register your cars there...

[mjshira]

I grew up in Cali, spent many years there, never met someone or knew of anyone who died from a car that was not required to pass draconian smog tests.

[Radioactive]

I did this once for a jeep I left in Lake Havasu City, Az.
The lady at AAA said it depends on what state the vehicle is in.
AZ was ok but NV was not.
Didn't ask about other states

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by mjshira

I grew up in Cali, spent many years there, never met someone or knew of anyone who died from a car that was not required to pass draconian smog tests.

It takes awhile, but many of us will die from auto pollution. However, that being said, the % of cars that are collector and special interest cars are not numerous nor driven often. But, a stock '57 Chevy 265 puts out the equivalent pollution of something like 100 cars per mile.

Good thing they are not driven that much. Now, to put the whole thing in perspective, the lawn care industry is one of the biggest private pollution sources we have. We are we attacking a 30 YO Porsche while Jose' is blowing my way with a 2-cycle motor?

[Hugh R]

Will you be saying the same thing when you can't get a rebuilt DME for your car?

If you're worried about the perjury thing, drive the car to Phoenix and mail the renewal in from there. It doesn't say the car is never in CA, just that it's not here now, as in the day I signed the form.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by milt

It takes awhile, but many of us will die from auto pollution. However, that being said, the % of cars that are collector and special interest cars are not numerous nor driven often. But, a stock '57 Chevy 265 puts out the equivalent pollution of something like 100 cars per mile.

- yes, compared to an unmolested late 1980s or newer car. Once you mess with it, the pollution goes way up.

BTW - a '57 and everything before ~~1973 has NO vapor emissions system. That means they pollute just sitting there. Yes, a '57 or a '67 will pollute more than a new Boxster even when the old car is not being driven! [not considering CO2, a greenhouse gas; just regular air pollutants and hazardous things like Benzene; called "HAPS"]

Originally Posted by milt

... to put the whole thing in perspective, the lawn care industry is one of the biggest private pollution sources we have. We are we attacking a 30 YO Porsche while Jose' is blowing my way with a 2-cycle motor?

Yes it is - now that vehicles have been cleaned up. New regs. for 2 stroke pollution (which is egregious per unit) have already been established and will take effect soon - Bush delayed them for a while...

There is no attack against a SINGLE 30 year old 911. The problem is that hundreds on this very BBS have done that. I'm sure thousands in the whole state have done it. That makes it a big problem and is the reason for the rules.

Finally, a [minor] mea culpa. I got nuthin' 'gainst emitting a bit in areas where there are no air quality problems. In fact, I have PMOs on my car. But here, we never have CO, NOx, etc. problems except on very hot summer days, which happen only every few years. I don't drive then. We have nasty particulate problems - mostly from wood stoves.

Lastly, I will echo scottb re being very very careful on the perjury thing.

Calif. is putting mobile sniffer units all over the place - if they sniff your car, they are going to take a very sudden interest in you and it could get very ugly real fast.