Emission Condition

Registration Requirements
First, and this is the most basic of all recommendations, study the state's DMV emission regulations. There should be a category that addresses bringing in an out-of-state vehicle. If there isn't a straightforward answer then call any appropriate number provided and speak to a human being. Don't rely on what the local smog check operator says; rules change so often that he may be blissfully unaware, even though most states send out appropriate updates.


Second, the potential new owner also needs to watch dates. Many states require that the imported vehicle be registered within a very short period of time, weeks or days, of its arrival in the state. This applies both to the smog check, adjusting, or correcting, any modification required; visual inspection (of the VIN) by a DMV, law enforcement officer, or a licensed vehicle verifier (an AAA-authorized official, for example); and title transfer. If it's legal, don't have the seller date the bill of sale at the time of the sale, particularly if the vehicle is to be transported to the state, which may suggest delays. Have the paperwork reflect the exact date of the vehicle's entry into the buyer's possession. This should be legit: it is when the car or truck has arrived into the state.

Countdown to Certification
This countdown to certification includes the smog inspection, so the operative words are: don't delay. A correction may be as simple as replacing the air cleaner to stock or installing a new gas cap, something the smog facility may be able to supply, for a fee, of course. It's smart to inquire from the seller if he or she has removed the smog equipment or modified the engine in any significant way.


A word of caution here: Even if one's vehicle qualifies for a smog waiver and the vehicle's factory-installed smog equipment is no longer necessary, enabling the owner to remove it if he so elects, do NOT discard it. Save the parts and place them somewhere where they may be accessible at some point. Chances are good that these pieces will likely become hard to replace, and may have to be reinstalled if the state reneges on its existing laws, or if the current owner finally decides to eBay the vehicle and someone from across the country purchases it and needs the equipment. Think ahead; think long-term.


Another important note: In California, the law prohibits importing and/or registering a new vehicle with less than 7,500 miles at the time of purchase unless it meets or is exempt from California Emission standards. If a California resident acquires a 49-State vehicle (manufactured for all states except California) from another state or country, he or she may not be able to register the vehicle in this state.