People in California

[katsi]

To all my Fiat friends in California, do you still have to get your cars smoged? I thought that all cars had to have a current smog cert in order to sell them unless you are selling for parts only. Is their a time when it becomes exempt? Do you have to have it smogged and registered B4 you can claim exempt status? How does that work now? When I tried to register an old car that I built, I had to get a current smog certification B4 I could register it and reap the benefits of smog exempt status. I remember when I left CA 7 years ago, you could not sell a car without a smog cert unless it was for parts only. And, you could not claim smog exemption with a lapse in registration untill the car had a current cert. How does that work now?

[So Cal Mark]

all cars 1976 and newer have to be smogged on change of ownership and every other year for registration renewal. All emission equipment has to be in place for the visual inspection and the car has to pass a two speed running test. Some areas only require a non-loaded test so emissions are tested at idle and at 2500 rpm while high emission areas require a two speed dyno test at 15 and 25 mph. The dyno test includes measuring for Nox. On both tests the ignition timing is checked and has to be within 3 degrees of factory spec.
There was a time when each new year dropped out cars that were 30 yrs old, but our buddy Arnold changed the law to keep 76 and newer cars forever smogged

[fiathead]

What about sales to out of state buyers? I'm guessing that an out of state buyer could pick up the car and would not give a hoot about the smog status if the buyers home state did not require a smog check. Then again, I lived in CA for 14 years and know that logic does not always apply when dealing with CA government. I keep looking at the LA area CraigsList ads and think my next project may come from that market. Fortunately, Indiana does not require any smog check in the Indianapolis area, so I wonder if I could find a deal in a late Spider that does not pass smog.

[htchevyii]

In some rural areas, (such as where I live), they only require smog checks for change of ownership, there are no bi-annual smogs and no chassis dynos. I don't believe it applies to out of state buyers. I has a friend that had a car that wouldn't pass smog and had $800 in back fees at the CA DMV. He sold it to his nephew in Oregon and he registered it for two years for $40. Might make for a good deal for an out of state buyer.

[So Cal Mark]

no restrictions if the car goes out of state. With the exception that Calif keeps the car on the books here. If the car comes back at some time, Calif wants the back fees. They used to drop cars out of the system after about 5 yrs of non-registration but when the state computers were updated they increased the capacity and now keep cars listed forever

[katsi]

Wow, thanks for the info. My car is a 79 that originally came from Los Angeles. Although I still have all the smog parts - they are now kept in a taped up box on a shelf in my garage. My nephue asked me about this and I did not have an answer for him. Thanks again.

[19spider79]

Wow, thanks for the info. My car is a 79 that originally came from Los Angeles. Although I still have all the smog parts - they are now kept in a taped up box on a shelf in my garage. My nephue asked me about this and I did not have an answer for him. Thanks again.

im in California looking for the parts you have stored in the box. I have a 79 that I got from oregon with no smog parts, If you ever want to get rid of that box of smog parts im your buyer.

[Daniel]

Just wanted to ad some of my experience in here mid 75's and on will be smog'd as a 76. I found this out
the hard way after purchasing a fiat that was intended to be used with a modified engine thinking i wouldn't
need to deal with smog. After learning the that i had missed out on the exemption by a month or 2 very
disappointing news. I went to the DMV called around and did everything possible to get this car
registered as a 75 DMV wasn't going to help me out. It was built in june or july 1975 but had a plate in the
engine bay stating the car had to be smog'd as a 76.

[ThomasPR]

You could form a cheapie asset proection corporation (an LLC) in Wyoming or Montana and retitle your car to the LLC, and pay their DMV fees. You'll get new plates and can drive the car in Ca. It does not belong to you but to the LLC. The downside is you have to pay about 500 up front for the corp and title transfer but never have to worry about getting the car smogged in draconian CA. Once a year you'll pay about $60 - $100 for your registered agent to renew your veh and take care of the LLC filing report. Insurance is not problem as long as your classic car agent knows the car is domiciled in another state. People do this with RV 's to avoid the outrageous DMV fees in Calif as well as the smog test. A lot of work Calif makes one go through. I always get p--d off driving my Fiat which polutes very little compared to the Metro bus in down town Los Angeles spewing it out by the gallon full.

[So Cal Mark]

if the car is operated in Calif for 3 months, it must be registered here or you're subject to tickets and penalties for non-registration

[Daniel]

This is what one of my buddies did he registered his 76 Lancia Scorpion as a classic car it took 2 attempts the first
one he sent in the registration form which was declined the second attempt he sent a photo of the car parked in
front of a Car museum with the form that one was accepted. You have limitations on mileage per year with a
classic car title but your insurance is lower and no more smog requirements.

[So Cal Mark]

Historic Car classification only allows you to drive to and from events only

[19spider79]

Historic Car classification only allows you to drive to and from events only

Hi Mark do you have a smog pump in your shop for my 79 Spider?

[So Cal Mark]

I'll have to check tomorrow to see if I have a good one

[fiathead]

Historic Car classification only allows you to drive to and from events only

Every time I drive my Fiat, it's an event. I hold a one man car show out in the corner of the parking lot away from other cars.