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California Emissions....help please.

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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 12:20 AM
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Default California Emissions....help please.

I live in California, and I am looking to pick up a used C6 from out of state. I know that California has new rules regarding SMOG testing on cars 2004 and newer. Does this hold true for OUT OF STATE cars, purchased and brought into California.

I am looking to pick up a '06 thru 08 USED, out of state car that has headers, cams etc....and wont pass California emissions. So my question is, will I need to SMOG the car BECAUSE the car is from out of state vs. a car of the same year which doesnt need to be smoged until 2010.?? (A 2006 car in California doesnt need to be smogged again until 2010. Its now 4 years from build date)

thanks for your help.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 12:40 AM
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I'd like to know too. Just relocated here and waiting for my 06 Z51 and my daily drivers to be shipped out from Boston (or maybe a cross country vette trip vacation).

Suck's finally being close to all these great tuners and not being able to do anything.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 01:06 AM
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You will need to get it smogged for sure, only new cars get the four year smog approval. It has to have over 7500 miles on it if it doesn't CA considers it new and it has to have the CA emissions option. Good luck.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 01:57 AM
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Vehicles being inititally registered in California that were previously registered in another state are exempt from the biennial smog check inspection requirements if the vehicle is a 1975 or older model. All 1976 to current year vehicles are required to obtain a smog check certificate of compliance prior to initial registration in California.

Google for California smog check rules.

Last edited by Chevtech; Jul 10, 2008 at 01:59 AM.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 03:32 AM
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I bought my '06 in North Carolina with 1200 miles on it. Got to CA with 6000 mi. Registered at AAA no smog required until 2010. AAA had to look at the car to verify the VIN, etc, and checked the factory 50 state smog cert under the hood but that was all.

Hope this helps some.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 03:40 AM
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Originally Posted by LloydP
I bought my '06 in North Carolina with 1200 miles on it. Got to CA with 6000 mi. Registered at AAA no smog required until 2010. AAA had to look at the car to verify the VIN, etc, and checked the factory 50 state smog cert under the hood but that was all.

Hope this helps some.
Which TRIPLE AAA did this?
Thats great news.

I found this.......I guess you got lucky.....



2. I own a new vehicle, when will I need a smog check? back to top


Vehicles four or six model years old and newer are not required to have a biennial Smog Check performed until their fifth/seventh year. However, these vehicles must have a Smog Check performed if the vehicle is sold or being registered in California for the first time during that time.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 05:29 AM
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Here's what I tell everyone who has headers in California:

Go to a smog place and pay just for a check (not a certification.) If the sniffer gives it a passing grade, then go ahead and pay for the cert. Then take the cert to the DMV and get the registration.

If it doesn't pass the sniffer check, take the test results sheet to a local tuner and get it compliant and try again



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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by LloydP
I bought my '06 in North Carolina with 1200 miles on it. Got to CA with 6000 mi. Registered at AAA no smog required until 2010. AAA had to look at the car to verify the VIN, etc, and checked the factory 50 state smog cert under the hood but that was all.

Hope this helps some.
Same here but I had to smog mine 05 with 6,600 miles they considered it a new car
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by achilds
You will need to get it smogged for sure, only new cars get the four year smog approval. It has to have over 7500 miles on it if it doesn't CA considers it new and it has to have the CA emissions option. Good luck.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by LloydP
I bought my '06 in North Carolina with 1200 miles on it. Got to CA with 6000 mi. Registered at AAA no smog required until 2010. AAA had to look at the car to verify the VIN, etc, and checked the factory 50 state smog cert under the hood but that was all.

Hope this helps some.
You were fortunate. All cars getting registered in California must get a smog check. I know this for a fact because I had a couple friend buy cars, '05 and up, from out of state and they were required to pass a smog check to get registered in California. I guess they did not want to deal with it. Good for you.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 11:27 AM
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If you register a car you have to get a smog check. I am sure you can do something under the table. Just ask around and someone will do it for ya......but it's gonna cost ya. Where in Cali are you located?
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by keyplyr
Here's what I tell everyone who has headers in California:

Go to a smog place and pay just for a check (not a certification.) If the sniffer gives it a passing grade, then go ahead and pay for the cert. Then take the cert to the DMV and get the registration.

If it doesn't pass the sniffer check, take the test results sheet to a local tuner and get it compliant and try again


It may very well pass out the pipe, but if the cats. have been moved, headers don't have a Cal. approval label, or small aftermarket cats have been installed, it will fail the VISUAL.

Last edited by Chevtech; Jul 10, 2008 at 11:48 AM.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by LloydP
I bought my '06 in North Carolina with 1200 miles on it. Got to CA with 6000 mi. Registered at AAA no smog required until 2010. AAA had to look at the car to verify the VIN, etc, and checked the factory 50 state smog cert under the hood but that was all.

Hope this helps some.
It may not have needed a smog if it was built as a 50 state car. Not sure, but that is the only way I can see no smog required.
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Old Jul 10, 2008 | 11:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Chevtech
Originally Posted by keyplyr
...Go to a smog place and pay just for a check (not a certification.) If the sniffer gives it a passing grade, then go ahead and pay for the cert.
It may very well pass out the pipe, but if the cats. have been moved, headers don't have a Cal. approval label, or small aftermarket cats have been installed, it will fail the VISUAL.
I guess you missed my point.

This is a method of getting it passed w/ headers. Just let them use the sniffer for a "check." If it passes, then say OK, here's the extra money for the cert and you'll likely not get the scrutiny of the visual inspection especially if they're now busy with the next guy. Anyway, it's worked for me.


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Old Jul 11, 2008 | 12:20 AM
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I did the same thing out of Las Vegas , after a transfer of ownership it's every two yrs . But that was what the NV DMV did to me . good luck .
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Old Jul 11, 2008 | 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by bssofro
I live in California, and I am looking to pick up a used C6 from out of state. I know that California has new rules regarding SMOG testing on cars 2004 and newer. Does this hold true for OUT OF STATE cars, purchased and brought into California.

I am looking to pick up a '06 thru 08 USED, out of state car that has headers, cams etc....and wont pass California emissions. So my question is, will I need to SMOG the car BECAUSE the car is from out of state vs. a car of the same year which doesnt need to be smoged until 2010.?? (A 2006 car in California doesnt need to be smogged again until 2010. Its now 4 years from build date)

thanks for your help.
IMO It's not worth the headache every two years for ~15-20hp. R&R-ing my Cobra's x-pipe is a PITA & you want a car w/ headers. If you have a lift in your garage then I say go for it

My .02
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Old Jul 11, 2008 | 04:30 PM
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Just to let you know that I purchased a new 2006 out of state and had the car drop shipped to a local Chev dealer here in CA. The dealer was suppose to register the car for me since I paid for the delivery fee to them however they were going to wait a week until they have other cars so they can do it all at once.

I decided I didn't want to wait and took the car to the DMV to register it myself.

DMV made me get a smog test even though it is a brand new car. It turned out that if the dealer had taken my car to the DMV then they would not need the smog but a regular person would have to get a smog (even for a new car). My car does have the 50 state sticker since I ordered it that way.

The short story was that I had to get the car smog which it passed without any problem but had to find the right smog station with the correct equipment. Went to 3 smog stations before I found one.

So I think you will find that you will have to get the car smog here in CA.

I hope it works out for you.
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Old Jul 11, 2008 | 06:05 PM
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Check out the Calif DMV website, few counties where no smog check required,
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Old Jul 12, 2008 | 12:51 AM
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I feel sorry for you guys especially since its likely that a great tuner package will pass a sniffer and run cleaner than most cars on the road.

For CA, I now understand why FI s so common.....stock exhaust and plenty of power. Its a no brainer. The ATI has a carb number.
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Old Jul 12, 2008 | 01:59 AM
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From factory if not altered or modified, almost all c6's from 2005 to present has 50 state emission compliance.
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