Topic: Registering an out of state Diesel

[jrock]

Im wondering how to smog or if I need to smog an out of state diesel coming into CA. I am pondering on a 1997 dodge, does it need to have a smog check done to be brought into CA? If so, what needs to be done.

What needs to be done to register a diesel from out of state. Any wierd or hidden costs? Things to look out for?

What other things need to be done and how much will it cost? I bought my 85 toy from out of state and I had to have it weighed and had license plates exchanged, I think I had it smogged.

[Shamb]

Diesel's of that age didn't require smog so I'd assume you don't. Unless things have changed in the past few years?   I recall smog being mandatory on gasoline and diesel engines soon but wasn't sure if that has taken effect or not.

If so I believe it's all vehicles from that point forward.

Hopefully someone else will chim in that knows a little more about it than myself.

When I smogged and registered my out of stated 4runner it was around $150.  That was for the smog itself along with a years worth of back registration.

[Peterbuilt84]

http://dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm

97 diesel should be fine.

[jrock [OP]]

Thats exactly what I looked at. I wasn't sure if it was true, with CA being all CA'ish

[Peterbuilt84]

I think it should be fine The NOTE also says the same thing for nonresident vehicles, which I'm guessing would be this case. You should be within the "law", but like you said it is CA   

[jrock [OP]]

What tips, advice or experiences can some of you offer for bringing an out of state diesel truck into CA?

[junya92toy]

Ya go talk to dmv about it

[jrock [OP]]

Can you go in and talk with them? I thought they would refuse to help with my questions. It is the DMV

[fordh8r]

http://dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm

97 diesel should be fine.

^^^^^ This explains the smog portion of it....



vvvvvvv   here's the rest of the story.....

http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29.htm

Worst case scenario....go to DMV and ask them directly! 

[jrock [OP]]

Ford8r, I read that too but it's covering new vehicles and gasoline vehicles.

This may be as easy as bringing it in with the proper signatures and registering but Im still worried that CA DMV will have some loophole that will swallow me up

[fordh8r]

There is a real brief line in there that states "some deisel models..."

[jrock [OP]]

There is a real brief line in there that states "some deisel models..."

I believe it's referring to 1998 and newer diesels.

[fordh8r]

Exactly!

[zembalayan]

What tips, advice or experiences can some of you offer for bringing an out of state diesel truck into CA?

Pre-1998 diesel?  You're smog exempt.

I recently bought a 1984 Toy diesel 4x4 longbed from out of state, and I reg'ed it at the SF Fell Street DMV office.  I pretty much knew it had never been reg'ed in CA so it would need to be weighed.  Basically all I had to do was complete the application for title, have it inspected by the DMV official on site, have it weighed officially for tax calculations, and then I was good to go.  Your VIN and manufacture plate should indicate that the truck is a diesel powered 1997, which is all the DMV needs to know for your smog exemption status.  

For my Toy, I made sure before I bought it that it had the original EPA sticker affixed underneath the hood showing that it was a US FED 2L diesel engine and that it had the original LN65 VIN tags to show that it was born a diesel and not a swap, which of course could have been Okay, but may have required more work on my part.  

For a 1997 domestic diesel truck, I think that you have little to be concerned about.

[Snowtoy]

All you should need is the same as any other out of state light truck, i.e. inspection, getting it weighed, and a smog test(if applicable).  If the vehicle is smog exempt do to its age, you only have to worry about it passing police inspection. 

[Shamb]

 the inspection consist's of them just checking the VIN's to make sure they match.. other then that you just go in and let them know you need to transfer an out of state vehicle and they'll give you a form to fill out. It's not a big deal...