[Porsche-O-Phile]

You can get away with out-of-state plates for a while, but eventually if you happen to get pulled over, you'll get absolutely REAMED by the state if/when they cross-check your information and find out you've been living here (W2 reporting can flag you and qualifies you as a "resident" - check the DMV web site for more info on this).

Believe me, CA wants your money and your soul and if you think you can outsmart them, good luck. They're VERY motivated to get at people's wallets right now and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if there's not a deliberate crackdown on out-of-state plates.

There's no way on earth you'll pass smog with your car unless you happen to catch the smog guy sleeping or on a "bad hangover day". If you get flagged, you'll have the biggest nightmare of your life trying to get your car legally brought in and it'll cost you plenty.

If you don't drive the car much, or only for track days it might be worth the risk of leaving the out-of-state plate on it and ONLY driving it to/from the track. You'll probably be safe then, unless you drive like a nut or draw attention to yourself (or have a very unlucky day). Don't park it on a public street with out-of-state plates. Eventually they'll notice you - that happened to me way back when I moved here in 1999 (my truck had out-of-state plates - I got away with it for a few months and then a parking enforcement guy called it in - I got a "courtesy call" from the P.D. informing me I needed to register in-state or I'd be cited).