looking to move a F355 spider from FL to CA

Make sure it's a 50 state car. When you try to register it here in CA, as I did with my TR from Oregon, if they don't find the CA compliance label somewhere on the car, you're in for a loooong and costly process... Passing CA emmision isn't enough, it has to have something that proves it's a 50 state car, and not a 49 state one.

 

where would one find this sticker on a 1992 348 ? I am looking at a 348 but want to bring it into Calif. I am worried about the smog stuff and thinking I should pass on the 348.

Some people have said, if it has a cat converter its fine, others said forget it its not worth bringing a car here.

 

Mine was around the engine bay.

My understanding is that whether it has cats or not, without the CA certification it just won't register.

All Testarossa are CA compliant, except 91' models because CA had changed the smog requirements... Still the same car, same cats, but not CA legal...

I'd be really surprised if the 348 wasn't a 50 state car.

 

That rule only applies to new cars (ie, with less than 5000 miles, or something like that).

Contrary to popular belief, you dont need to have that CA emissions stamp on a used car. That said, it still has to pass smog...

 

Hey G. (haven't seen you in a long time, I hope you're doing well!)

I could be wrong, but my understanding was that you simply could not register a car in CA with less than 5000 miles, regardless. But for other cars, you needed the California BAR certification if it didn't have it out of the factory. When I took my TR to the DMV, after having passed smog, the inspector, before even looking at it, asked me where the CA certification label was. Once he saw it, it took 30 seconds to get the stamp.

Again I could be wrong!

 

Good to hear from you, hope all is going well. Are you going to FC at Infineon?

The rules and information out there are terrible. I made dozens of calls to the DMV and the CARB and both provided conflicting information.

After reading and re-reading, i interpreted the rule to be for a new car (and new they classify as having less than 5000 miles) you must have the CA Carb sticker/plaque on the car. For all other cars, I dont think its necessary.

I was concerned as I was going to buy a new (1987) car and it had no sticker at all, not even an EPA sticker. Well, I took it to the DMV, they looked for the sticker (you can download teh form they use), and in the end I asked if it would stop me from getting plates and they said no, as long as it passes smog.

So now, all I need to do is pass smog. My first attempt I was labeled gross polluter!

Like you said, I am no expert either so take all this with a grain of salt.

 

here is the only definative thing I could find

"Definition of a nonresident vehicle
A nonresident vehicle was last registered outside the state of California. Anyone who brings a vehicle into California, or purchases a nonresident vehicle while in California, should be aware of the registration requirements.

NOTE:California law prohibits California residents or businesses from 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 you acquire a 49-State vehicle (manufactured for all states except California) from another state or country, you may not be able to register your vehicle in California.

Reference:Health & Safety Code Section 43151(A)"

To me this implies, any old car (ie, with more than 7500 miles) that is brought into the state does not have to meet these requirements.

 

we will find out, or at least I will in 2 weeks.

 

Keep us posted!

 

I recieved my CA plates today

My car, a 1987 with over 7,500 miles was brought into the state from IL where it was previously registered. It has no CA smog sticker (no EPA sticker for that matter). I did the DMV inspection and they checked the box "No CA or EPA certification". I passed smog after a bit of effort, then got my plates.

If the car comes into the state from another state in the US where it was registered, and it has over 7,500 and will pass smog, you can get it registered. That is what I think based on my reading of the literature and personal experience.

 

I stand corrected! Thanks for the info, Geno!

 

I could have gotten lucky. Depending on who you talk to at the DMV and CARB you get substantially different guidance.

 

Btw, how's the TR these days?

 

Problems and lots and lots of costs that it would make better sense to buy one off craigs list, I think you should look into Chris's 348 being the car is properly a CA USA version car that is fully legit.

Do not bring to so.cal just that, if your set on doing this and hopefully the DOT/EPA was all properly done as a 49 state car you might be able to talk with GNK Auto in Costa Mesa, Ca the cost might be an extra $7k

give him the vin # and he will tell you if the car had proper paper work done on the car, I cant believe how many cars have been illegally imported and titled in the USA/FL area.

Can you let me know by pm who this dealer is who gave you the wrong info on this as this lack of info can be very extralegal costly.


For ****sake people if you got a euro car and its not already titled in california do not bring it here unless you want drama on an un= believable level.

 

Plain and simple I'd not suggest it but before you buy, DOT/EPA/NHTBS areas are the ones to call for info to call

1) give them the vin
2) they in return will give you
3) Date of import
4) Bond info
5) who was the Registered importer (RI) who performed the task
6) who is the (ICI)
7) once you have that info you contact the above person who is the (RI) (ICI) then that company can tell you if its a 49/50 state car.

49 state is every state except California. 50 state is every state including California.

now if any of the above is missing do not buy, as there are a lot of cars here that were imported on temp import bonds (TIB) and some have bent the laws / broken them and sold them off to other people when it was supposed to leave the USA.

Ok for those who got past at the DMV missing a certification letter go back and present all of the proper documents its clearly not worth it if you circumvent a critical part of the registration process. reason it slipped past the DMV is something I will not post but just for any one else dont play game with stuff like this and post it on line.

I think all you need to do is this call the NHTSB on this regarding the question on the VIN # on the car you want this way it will tell you if your car is 49/50 state. If its not again it can be 7500=15,000 on the emissions for California.

Best not to generalize this each euro car is different and who did the import and paper work / EPA is really a critical expensive thing so best referral to the EPA vehicle team regarding this then guessing.

sorry bud this is regarding new cars that are 2007 and newer.

this is only newer cars 2007 Euro car/ gray market cars the law has completely changed. so
gotta read up on this. only reason you got around this is **********************
cant post but if something was amiss you got lucky.

got only 24 days before state of california requires registration.

cars that are 2007 and newer.

that you did and I'd not brag about it going forward from this point and should you get to the point of selling the car sell it out of state and if you sell it in California make sure the proper smog and certification is completed. Why ? legally covering your self.

dont take it in the wrong or condescending from me just giving yall a heads up on this.

 

just for curiosity, where does it state 2007 or newer? I can vaguely remember seeing it somewhere, but cant find it now.

not bragging at all, just stating what happened to me, based on my experience and research.

Assuming the 2007 fact is correct, for cars older than 2007 that have been registred in another state, they dont need to be "50 state cars" to get registered in CA assuming you can pass smog. That was my question when I bought my car, and one that i could not find conclusive guidance on, but I bought it anyway.

Can anyone point to the specific literature/guidance stating otherwise?

 

other than valid smog certificate (which you need to register it) and valid california registration and title, what other documentation is there?

 

by all means not ment to offend just giving you some 411 on this for down the road when you get your 288 GTO , just never title one in California unless you want a really crappy experience.

it's hidden in there and I got the shock when I bought an auction car and got hit with oh btw you need to visit CHP. I got an ear full from the guy there and was helpful but very stressful run.

nope. taking a gray market car from 49 state and making it a legal compliant 50 state legal car is very frustrating and costly, that said 1st off a visit to GNK automotive in Costa Mesa and run it by them on the details but its a matter of catalytic coverters and evap items that are needed, and last I heard they do not allow any aftermarket parts to be installed and has to be OEM new items from the dealer making the cost go from $7,000-$25,000 that's if the car was properly document and imported correctly with all of the proper EPA/DOT paper work, in a nutshell if its not the car has to be exported and then re-imported in to the USA with all of the proper documents and items paid.

 

would a 355 be a 50 state car ? at some point and I don't know what year Ferrari stopped making 49 state cars and made them all 50 state, I would think a 355 is new enough to be a 50 state.

For my 360 I will find out next week when I register it, there are no tags anywhere that state its a 49 or 50 state car but I was told the 360's in another thread that 360's are 50 state.

Right now I don't care I just want it to be Saturday so I can be driving home in it I will worry about registration next week, but with the exception of passing smog I am not concerned.

 

any specifics? I have read everything....looking for facts, plenty of speculation out there already.