[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by E90SDGUY

There are not many counties in CA that are smog friendly. If you live in those counties then you are golden. Just having a PO Box address does not exempt you from getting smoged. You must reside or have a mailing address of that counties right? Correct me if I'm wrong.

you have to register the car to an address in that county. Registration in that county requires at the minimum a PO box, but also might require some sort of proof of residency such as a bill with matching address. I cant remember what I had to provide for registration last time but I dont remember having to prove anything. Then again, im not registered in one of those counties, it could possibly be harder there.

[stevers314]

Register it in kentucky. They check the vin and give you ONE plate - no crap hanging off the front of the car, and no stickers plastered all over the place.

I've informed my wife we will not move to any two plate states again.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

It can be daunting BUT!! lets say you parents live in Florida, register your car under their name in Florida then take all the BS out of emission and drive in L.A. like your borrowing your parents car and BTW get your car insured in Florida by them its CHEAPER!!

[Pig_in_Soup]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

It can be daunting BUT!! lets say you parents live in Florida, register your car under their name in Florida then take all the BS out of emission and drive in L.A. like your borrowing your parents car and BTW get your car insured in Florida by them its CHEAPER!!

I know for Florida your car needs to be present at the time of tag transfer, so that's at least a 6000 mile trip to start. Florida will want some proof of residency as well, pay stub, electric bill tied to a local address, etc. I would assume most states are like that. At the end of the day it's probably cheaper just to put the car back to stock every 2 years.

I don't envy you guys your smog checks. I drove my 733 down to the DMV after I bought it, belching smoke and cat-less. $150 and I had a nice, shiny Florida tag in my hand.

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

It can be daunting BUT!! lets say you parents live in Florida, register your car under their name in Florida then take all the BS out of emission and drive in L.A. like your borrowing your parents car and BTW get your car insured in Florida by them its CHEAPER!!

There are a few ways in CA to register your car and not have to smog in CA, but its not particularly easy. Its a lot easier if you live in or near a grey area on this map. Those areas are smog on transfer only, so if you never sell your car you never have to smog it. If you live near one of those grey areas but not quite in one you can easily get away registering your car there (not legally though). If you live deep in one of the orange areas its tough because you have to come up with a lot of excuses if youre ever pulled over, like why you are 6 hours from your house but look like youre on your way to/from work. I conveniently work about 1/2 hr from a grey zone

[Whitbread]

Man, you guys need to come to Michigan. One plate no emission checks, and car doesn't need to be present at time of registration. Just you and a title at the DMV.

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

well, pay off the smog guy is one option. I would say you would need to know the person personally for that to work since I think thats a tough one to get these days. Another option would be to register the car in a non biennial smog county.

Hooper this is really helpful. Christ what is up with CA. It sounds like J. Edgar Hoover is running the damn DMV. It must cost them a fortune to keep what is probably few thousand drivers from modifying their cars.

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

There are a few ways in CA to register your car and not have to smog in CA, but its not particularly easy. Its a lot easier if you live in or near a grey area on this map. Those areas are smog on transfer only, so if you never sell your car you never have to smog it. If you live near one of those grey areas but not quite in one you can easily get away registering your car there (not legally though). If you live deep in one of the orange areas its tough because you have to come up with a lot of excuses if youre ever pulled over, like why you are 6 hours from your house but look like youre on your way to/from work. I conveniently work about 1/2 hr from a grey zone

Fantastic.

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by Chief Orman

Fantastic.

Double fantastic...my dad lives in a grey county!

[dixy2k]

South Lake Tahoe looks like a winner.

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

There are a few ways in CA to register your car and not have to smog in CA, but its not particularly easy. Its a lot easier if you live in or near a grey area on this map. Those areas are smog on transfer only, so if you never sell your car you never have to smog it. If you live near one of those grey areas but not quite in one you can easily get away registering your car there (not legally though). If you live deep in one of the orange areas its tough because you have to come up with a lot of excuses if youre ever pulled over, like why you are 6 hours from your house but look like youre on your way to/from work. I conveniently work about 1/2 hr from a grey zone

After 30 years of living on my own, me and my 335d just moved back in with my dad in Calaveras county