What is required to register a 90 911 into California from another state?

[indigowhale]

My car may be going to CA from VA to its new owner. What is required in CA to register an out of state car? I think the 90 911 is up to CA smog standards? Correct?
I know at one time Porsche had to add some extra cats to get their 911s to pass the CA standard.

Thanks for any insight.

[zippy_gg]

A 90 model should already be fitted with a cat and there should be a sticker somewhere (check the door pillar) saying that the car complies to 50 states emission controls.
My 86 came from MD to CA and it passed the smog like a champ (after solving the overfilled oil tank issue).
If the transaction is from a private party to private party my best advice is to use the AAA to do the transfer; much nicer than the DMV and no appointment needed. They (AAA) will inspect the car, check for cat, verify VIN and odometer.
You write a fat check to pay the CA sales tax (varies by county) and license fees.
I found out it was easier to go to the AAA office and get the paperwork started, then go to the smog station with the aforementioned paperwork, and then go back to the AAA with the smog certificate.
Because my car entered CA without a license plate the AAA gave me a temporary permit to allow me to drive it to get smogged.

[80-911SC]

+ 1
on the 50 state sticker without it its not worth it, a total p a i have done myself once would never do it or tell any one to do it without the 50state it sucked and cost quite a bit

[H-viken]

A question on a similar tangent; my fiancee' is lobbying for us moving back to San Diego from Sweden. I have a Euro spec 3,2 from -84. Someone told me I would have no problems bringing the car as it will be over 25yrs and thereby a veteran. Is this accurate?

[indigowhale]

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

A 90 model should already be fitted with a cat and there should be a sticker somewhere (check the door pillar) saying that the car complies to 50 states emission controls.
...

Is this the sticker that you refer to?

[KNS]

H-viken,

Cars need to be built in 1975 of earlier to be smog exempt in California. A euro model may have a difficult time...

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by H-viken

A question on a similar tangent; my fiancee' is lobbying for us moving back to San Diego from Sweden. I have a Euro spec 3,2 from -84. Someone told me I would have no problems bringing the car as it will be over 25yrs and thereby a veteran. Is this accurate?

My 86 cab was originally bought in Germany by someone in the armed forces, then brought over to Maryland and "converted" to US standards way over 10 years ago. Other than the installation of a catalytic converter I am not sure what was involved, but that is the car I just registered in California this week.

[Nine9six]

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

You write a fat check to pay the CA sales tax (varies by county) and license fees.

That is correct, however sales tax is predicated upon the stated purchase price. Usually, cars sold in non-running condition, sell for significantly less than normal

[zippy_gg]

Quote:
Originally Posted by zippy_gg View Post
You write a fat check to pay the CA sales tax (varies by county) and license fees.

Originally Posted by Nine9six

That is correct, however sales tax is predicated upon the stated purchase price. Usually, cars sold in non-running condition, sell for significantly less than normal

I am sooo busted!!!

[TT Oversteer]

AAA will not register out of state vehicles. You must go to the DMV for a VIN verification then take the car to a smog test station. If if passes you go back to the DMV, pay registration fees and you're good to go. If the car is stock you should be fine. If anything has been removed or modified you are in a world of burecratic hurt.

[Joe Bob]

As long as ya diddn't Fuchwid it....you should be cool. Bring $$$$$

Sales tax is only assessed if the sale was within 90-120 days.....I think ya needs to look that up....AND they look at mileage. I know a guy that got screwed on a 30 year old motorcycle that only had 3k miles on it....

YMMV

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by TT Oversteer

AAA will not register out of state vehicles. You must go to the DMV for a VIN verification then take the car to a smog test station. If if passes you go back to the DMV, pay registration fees and you're good to go. If the car is stock you should be fine. If anything has been removed or modified you are in a world of burecratic hurt.

Unless they recently changed their policy (like within the last year), AAA will register out of state cars as that is how mine was done. The agent did the VIN check and the smog check was not necessary for my particular year car. You may wish to call AAA to confirm as they are much better to deal with than the DMV.

"Use tax" in California is essentially the sales tax rate applied to the selling price, is due upon registration, and is required if the car is brought into California within one year of purchase date.

BTW, mikez makes a good point about the mileage. If there is a large discrepency between the mileage on the bill of sale/title and the odometer when registering, you could be in a world of hurt.

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by TT Oversteer

AAA will not register out of state vehicles. You must go to the DMV for a VIN verification then take the car to a smog test station. If if passes you go back to the DMV, pay registration fees and you're good to go. If the car is stock you should be fine. If anything has been removed or modified you are in a world of burecratic hurt.

That is absolutely not true. The only caveat is that the transaction must be between private parties with no dealer involved.
Just last week I completed the registration of my 86 cab from MD to CA.
All transaction done at the AAA, and of course at the smog station.

[H-viken]

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

My 86 cab was originally bought in Germany by someone in the armed forces, then brought over to Maryland and "converted" to US standards way over 10 years ago. Other than the installation of a catalytic converter I am not sure what was involved, but that is the car I just registered in California this week.

Does anyone know what the limits are on the gasses they measure? My car gets pretty good numbers. I'm more worried about the visual inspection (headers, 2-in 2-out, MAF kit, no heat).

/Johan

[Joe Bob]

Is your question for registration in Sweden or CA?

If CA, and post 1976 it has to have original intake or CARB certified replacement. Fail the visual, you stop.....they don't care what the tail pipe puts out.

[H-viken]

For registration in CA.

I still have the original intake, so that can go back on. Don't have the original exhaust though.

[Revvin 911S]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Is your question for registration in Sweden or CA?

If CA, and post 1976 it has to have original intake or CARB certified replacement. Fail the visual, you stop.....they don't care what the tail pipe puts out.

This is true, however..... How many people working at smog only stations really know what the smog equipment is or what it looks like on a 70's or 80's 911? I had a '77 911s that ran like a champ despite having nothing like the original equipment/smog pump ect. It took me a couple of tries but I found a test only smog shop where the tech popped the hood, stared at the engine for a minute and then shrugged and put the tester in the tailpipe. The car ran clean and passed with flying colors. Went back to that shop to get it smogged every time until I sold the car and never had a problem. You might have to look around but those guys are are out there who figure as long as the car runs clean thats good enough. I am sure they will get more and more rare. Good luck.

[Joe Bob]

Those old timers have been getting busted by the local smog enforces.....they will take in an old beater and when the tech hooks it up, they bust him. Fine and/or license pull depending on his record.

Also, they have online descriptions on what is required......and if I'm not wrong, the guy in Sweden is asking about a 90s vehicle.

[H-viken]

Originally Posted by Revvin 911S

This is true, however..... How many people working at smog only stations really know what the smog equipment is or what it looks like on a 70's or 80's 911? I had a '77 911s that ran like a champ despite having nothing like the original equipment/smog pump ect. It took me a couple of tries but I found a test only smog shop where the tech popped the hood, stared at the engine for a minute and then shrugged and put the tester in the tailpipe. The car ran clean and passed with flying colors. Went back to that shop to get it smogged every time until I sold the car and never had a problem. You might have to look around but those guys are are out there who figure as long as the car runs clean thats good enough. I am sure they will get more and more rare. Good luck.

That's kinda what I am hoping for. Just need a back-up plan if that fails.

Will have to search the DMV site to see if I can find what they measure and what the limits are.

Worst case I'll sell my car here before going back, but I'm just getting it to where I want it to be and I really like the way it drives now.

[eastbay]

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

That is absolutely not true. The only caveat is that the transaction must be between private parties with no dealer involved.
Just last week I completed the registration of my 86 cab from MD to CA.
All transaction done at the AAA, and of course at the smog station.

hmmm if that worked for you great. Was both buyer and seller AAA members? I just wonder because AAA told me to get f00ked since my buyer was not a AAA member and I had bring the buyer to the DMV.

I brought in two post 75 cars in 2000 and the process was smog, then DMV VIN inspection and the DMV did look for smog equipment at the DMV station. Was easy, but both non p-cars were in compliance.

Things may have changed since

Adding a CA compliance exhaust should be rather simple, they are for sale on CL all the time for reasonable amounts.