Getting A Import Legal In California
07-10-19, 03:35 PM
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Getting A Import Legal In California
So im looking to buy a 25 year old JDM Import, Something like a RHD RX 7 FC but i know California blows because of how strict smog is. ive heard you can register your car in another state and get away with driving it down here. i have family in oregon. i just wanna know the draw backs and issues with doing this sort of thing.
Thanks!
Thanks!
07-12-19, 05:05 PM
#2
Driver School Candidate
California really frowns upon registering in other states. They've been starting to go after the people who do the Montana loophole for tax evasion. I would assume they would try to stick the same on you or at least get you with some sort of emissions evasion charge, if such a thing exists.
07-13-19, 10:07 PM
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Anybody in OR/WA has import? Need help
In so close to making a purchase on a import and im stuck between a few cars. im looking for anybody who lives in Oregon or Washington and has an import and has their car smogged. I live in California but want an import but i am not dealing with the bull**** Smog we have here. just looking for info on if cars will pass without any emission equipment. the cars im looking at have these motors, 13B, SR20, RB20DET, Or 1JZGTE.
Appreciate any comments!
Thanks!
Appreciate any comments!
Thanks!
07-14-19, 08:22 AM
#4
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Merged your threads... welcome. Please don’t make multiple threads for the same topic though. Thanks.
Last edited by bitkahuna; 07-14-19 at 09:46 AM.
07-15-19, 02:21 AM
#5
TC20F, if you're serious about this and registering a 25 year old RHD import in California then I suggest you contact Sean Morris' "Import a Vehicle" (although I think it is also called "Toprank Vehicle Importers") company. What you ask asking if you can do in CA including dealing with smog CAN be done. Just not in the normal way. Not even by going through a Bureau of Automotive Repair inspection (BAR) to get your import certified... since you will not have a USA smog compliant engine to begin with.
Go to his company. He can probably even find you whatever vehicle you are looking for. But in this case you would want to work with him in order to put your 25 year old import through special modification and an officially recognized state laboratory process that, if the car is modified suitably for emissions for that model year, can certify it for Cali smog compliance.
The DMV will always be a hassle with a gray import car but basically as long as in some way shape or form the engine powering it is officially deemed to be smog compliant everything can fall into place.
Mind you, none of this is a cheap process. While today it CAN be done in CA with most of the popular JDM 80's-90's imports it is going to cost you a pretty penny.
Rotaries are not the easiest to get to pass smog to begin with but it may be easier to buy a USDM LHD 1986-1992 RX-7 FC Turbo II, go through the entire engine and emission system to make sure they are running tip top and then go and smog and register that.
No matter how you cut it you're going to be dealing with CA smog if you have any car with one of those engines you listed in it.
Go to his company. He can probably even find you whatever vehicle you are looking for. But in this case you would want to work with him in order to put your 25 year old import through special modification and an officially recognized state laboratory process that, if the car is modified suitably for emissions for that model year, can certify it for Cali smog compliance.
The DMV will always be a hassle with a gray import car but basically as long as in some way shape or form the engine powering it is officially deemed to be smog compliant everything can fall into place.
Mind you, none of this is a cheap process. While today it CAN be done in CA with most of the popular JDM 80's-90's imports it is going to cost you a pretty penny.
Rotaries are not the easiest to get to pass smog to begin with but it may be easier to buy a USDM LHD 1986-1992 RX-7 FC Turbo II, go through the entire engine and emission system to make sure they are running tip top and then go and smog and register that.
No matter how you cut it you're going to be dealing with CA smog if you have any car with one of those engines you listed in it.
Last edited by KahnBB6; 07-15-19 at 11:52 PM.
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