Emission laws in CA?

[gordyzx9r]

I've never had to deal with emission laws before, and need some information. My car may be stored in CA with family while I'm out of the country for awhile. The car will still be registered in TN during this time (or I can register it in MT if that makes a difference).

Will I need to get an emissions test done even though it's not registered in CA?

Will CA have issues with an out of state registered car occasionally being driven over a two year period (I've heard of some states having a six month max. out of state registration policy)? What if your military?

What happens if for some reason someone is driving my car around the block and they get pulled over? I have no cat, so is it exempt if it's registered in another state?

[weeee_6]

What!?!?! Emmisions laws in California, since when???

I wouldn't worry about it, How are they ever going to know you aren't just visiting? The cop is just going to treat it as an out of state vehicle, and is definetly not going to soil his pretty uniform to crawl under the car. Just keep it registered, insured, and titled out of state.

Bob

[instro84]

If you're in the military like i am just get a dod decal from the base your at now, the military started getting in line with the state a couple years ago, i have my car registered in missouri but to get a decal to get on base i gotta get it smogged. may have a hard time passing visual this time made alot of changes.
Dale

[Taffy]

As long as your drivers license is out of state, you are good to go. You do not need to smog in Ca unless you are going to register it in Ca.

I am sure that the cop will give you greif if you are pulled over a bunch of times with the same excuse.

[gordyzx9r]

Thanks for the info.

[mikeelia]

I've been in SoCal for four years with a NY driver's license and running NY plates on my T. My brother has been doing the same with his Mustang Cobra which he drives more often than I drive the T. [I bought an Escort ZX2 registered here for a commuter car after putting almost 40k on my T!]

Mike Elia
SoCal
87 T - breathers, cold air, frame braces, GNX dash, fuel pump, etc.
[the breathers are the part that I think would cause a smog test problem]

[Taffy]

Damn Mike, you still have not gotten it registered in Ca? Good on ya!! I still have my NY plates on the GN also. Hav enot yet registered it in Ca either. Need to soon though.