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Registering MA car in CA

9uns

Autocross Champion
Location
92870
Car(s)
gti
I'm expecting my new-to-me car this week and need to get the registration sorted out. I have the title in my possession and will complete that and pay taxes when I go to the DMV to get the car registered. However, I have a question about the smog requirements. The car is coming from MA and is a 2014 S4. Do I need to ask the seller for a copy of the most recent smog cert or do I have to get it re-smogged in CA?
 

Coach Beard

Passed Driver's Ed
Location
CA
Car(s)
MK7 GTI
You’ll also have to likely take it to the DMV for an inspection. I had a CA car I took when I moved to Texas. I moved back a few years later and in order to register it again in CA I had to get a smog check, and an inspection that was a giant waste of time and the lady couldn’t figure out the chassis code for a hatchback.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handb...gistration-information/vehicle-verifications/
 

HelloNewman

Go Kart Champion
Location
SoCal
Car(s)
Mk7
You’ll also have to likely take it to the DMV for an inspection. I had a CA car I took when I moved to Texas. I moved back a few years later and in order to register it again in CA I had to get a smog check, and an inspection that was a giant waste of time and the lady couldn’t figure out the chassis code for a hatchback.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handb...gistration-information/vehicle-verifications/
Yep, complete waste of time. Sat in line forever, middle aged woman that knew absolutely nothing about cars came out and "inspected" my car. I had multiple cars to I had to go back several times. Pretty much the most ridiculous PITA process that accomplished absolutely nothing aside from ensuring I had a front plate on the car.
 

9uns

Autocross Champion
Location
92870
Car(s)
gti
Yep, complete waste of time. Sat in line forever, middle aged woman that knew absolutely nothing about cars came out and "inspected" my car. I had multiple cars to I had to go back several times. Pretty much the most ridiculous PITA process that accomplished absolutely nothing aside from ensuring I had a front plate on the car.
oh great, so they're going to make me drill holes into a new grill?? fucking awesome.
 

9uns

Autocross Champion
Location
92870
Car(s)
gti

Coach Beard

Passed Driver's Ed
Location
CA
Car(s)
MK7 GTI
Yep what everyone said above. If you have AAA, much easier and faster.
They do not do inspections


Just zip tie the plate. I believe the law only applies to minimum/max height. Doesn't have to be in the center. I challenged a sheriff deputy on that and won (while he was signing off on my ticket).

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/...division=3.&title=&part=&chapter=1.&article=9.

The rear license plate shall be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 60 inches from the ground, and the front license plate shall be mounted not more than 60 inches from the ground
 

2LEEGIT

Go Kart Champion
Location
City of Angels
Car(s)
GTI MK7
They do not do inspections


Just zip tie the plate. I believe the law only applies to minimum/max height. Doesn't have to be in the center. I challenged a sheriff deputy on that and won (while he was signing off on my ticket).

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/...division=3.&title=&part=&chapter=1.&article=9.

The rear license plate shall be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 60 inches from the ground, and the front license plate shall be mounted not more than 60 inches from the ground
Unless something changed after Covid-19, I registered my out of state s13 at AAA.

https://mwg.aaa.com/frequently-asked-questions/kbid/906
 
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