Registering a 49 state emission car in California

[CrusherCurtis]

What exactly are the rules and regulations for registering a car that's only 49 state emission compliant in California? Its a 97 jeep with well over this 7500 mile number I keep seeing, but it appears that's only for motorcycles.

[reelizmpro]

Keep your Ill plates for as long as you can. There's a car in my neighborhood that has had North Dakota plates for years and it stays parked on the street. Otherwise, they'd probably want the car to have a CA compliant cat and the correct engine. Overall, it shouldn't be too bad as long as your car is running well.

[dnguyen1963]

Don't you have only one year to register your car once you move to that state?

[reelizmpro]

Supposedly but there are exceptions like out of state students, etc.

[Vincent Brick]

And just simply not being noticed. Even with a very unique and recognizable car (low, loud Neon R/T with roof rack, factory skunk stripes, stickers) I got away with it for years.

Keep your existing plates for as long as you can. Even if you do get a ticket after a year or two it is still probably worth it financially if the car ends up needing anything to pass and depending on how much cheaper your old state's registration is (CA is twice as much as Ohio for me). As long as it has a CA-compliant cat, has all emissions stuff intact and passes the sniffer I'm pretty sure you will be ok from what I have been told, but I sold that Neon to my buddy back east when I got my E30 so I never went through it myself.

[flyboyx]

You moving to Cali?

[markseven]

If you don't register in CA, does your old state require annual or biennial smog check?

[Das Delfin]

I believe the CA Jeeps had 4 O2 sensors instead of two. But there is a clause in the CA smog laws that says if a car was originally designed as a 49 state car, then you are allowed to register it.

You will have to search the dmv website for the exact page and wording. I found it years ago.