California emissions, uggh
Thread Starter
BluTTo
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: Santa Clara County, CA
California emissions, uggh
I'm planning my acquisition of a 225 Coupe and I'm prepared to fly almost anywhere in the states to get one. That being the case, I'm wondering whether it's better to get a car with California emission control, or an out of state car and have the mods done later (after I bring the car back to California). I'm not just thinking of cost, but also about any possible performance differences.
I've also heard rumors about the DMV slapping on sales tax at registration time here, even after having paid sales tax in some other state. Can this be true?
Any words of wisdom out there?
I've also heard rumors about the DMV slapping on sales tax at registration time here, even after having paid sales tax in some other state. Can this be true?
Any words of wisdom out there?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,394
Likes: 1
I read last week that...
someone in the midwest was surprised to find their TT to be California emissions compliant. I have no idea if this is true for all TT's or just a rare occurence.
as for taxes, I dunno. DMV and IRS love money though....<p><A HREF="mailto:evan@evan.com"><IMG SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/EVAN_RING_SIG.gif" BORDER="0"></A>
as for taxes, I dunno. DMV and IRS love money though....<p><A HREF="mailto:evan@evan.com"><IMG SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/EVAN_RING_SIG.gif" BORDER="0"></A>
New Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
Re: California emissions, uggh
Get california emissions straight away.
Otherwise you'll be sorryyyyy.
The only way to avoid sales tax is to drive the car continuously 3 months out of state, proving you did so with hotel & gas receipts, etc... with no entry to california in that time. See the franchise tax board publications.
Otherwise you'll be sorryyyyy.
The only way to avoid sales tax is to drive the car continuously 3 months out of state, proving you did so with hotel & gas receipts, etc... with no entry to california in that time. See the franchise tax board publications.
New Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
CA Emissions REQUIRED, but you usually can't get it outside CA...
In short, California Emissions are REQUIRED by the state in order to get your license, but I've never known a manufacturer to make CA emissions available on a vehicle purchased OUTSIDE the state of CA. Sort of a nasty Catch-22 for CA residents.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,907
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FWIW, I live in CA and ordered my car from a dealer in PA...
When we were completing the ordering process, he asked me which emissions I wanted on the car. I could have had CA emissions if I wanted them. I am a PA resident temporarily living in CA, so I opted not to get CA emissions.
It's a pretty sure bet that if you don't order the car with CA emissions, you won't get them. I don't imagine any dealer outside CA would ask for CA emissions. If you can order the car rather than purchase one already on the lot, you should be able to get what you want.
My $.02<p>225 TTQ Roadster silver/black/black
(May 2000 delivery)
It's a pretty sure bet that if you don't order the car with CA emissions, you won't get them. I don't imagine any dealer outside CA would ask for CA emissions. If you can order the car rather than purchase one already on the lot, you should be able to get what you want.
My $.02<p>225 TTQ Roadster silver/black/black
(May 2000 delivery)
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 571
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An individual cannot import a non California smogged auto. (more)
This is from the DMV web site...
What should a California resident look for when buying a new vehicle from another state?
Individuals are prohibited from importing, purchasing, or leasing a new vehicle from another state, unless the vehicle was manufactured for sale in California, and the Environmental Protection Agency label certifies
the vehicle has California smog equipment. California considers a new vehicle to be any vehicle with less than 7,500 miles on the odometer at the time of purchase.
For more information, please call DMV at (916) 657-7669.<ul><li><a href="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/osregfaq.htm#BM2559">http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/osregfaq.htm#BM2559</a</li></ul>
What should a California resident look for when buying a new vehicle from another state?
Individuals are prohibited from importing, purchasing, or leasing a new vehicle from another state, unless the vehicle was manufactured for sale in California, and the Environmental Protection Agency label certifies
the vehicle has California smog equipment. California considers a new vehicle to be any vehicle with less than 7,500 miles on the odometer at the time of purchase.
For more information, please call DMV at (916) 657-7669.<ul><li><a href="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/osregfaq.htm#BM2559">http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/osregfaq.htm#BM2559</a</li></ul>
New Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Re: California emissions, uggh
I am not sure about new cars, but when I registered my 3 yr old Honda Accord (which I bought in TX), i was assessed a $300 "emissions tax". The fact that my car (being a Honda) met all emissions standards did not matter...the CA DMV reamed me a new one anyway. I had heard that this practice was declared unconstitutional (regulation of commerce or something) and that CA was gonna send out refund checks, but I have yet to receive one. Maybe I was just dreaming...HAHA.
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Thread Starter
BluTTo
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: Santa Clara County, CA
Re: CA Emissions REQUIRED, but you usually can't get it outside CA...
Maybe true. But what I'm talking about is getting the mods made IN California by a 3rd party. Owners are obviously allowed to bring in cars to California that have been bought out-of-state. Furthermore, many (most?) of those cars are not Calif emmisions-compliant. So just where in the process does the DMV tell the owner that the emissions mods need to be made? At registration time? Or at the binannual smog check. There must be an after-market 3rd party mod that can be made.
Sales-tax issues aside, I'm just trying to find out how such an after-market modification is different from the original Audi option, both with regards to price and performance.
Sales-tax issues aside, I'm just trying to find out how such an after-market modification is different from the original Audi option, both with regards to price and performance.
Thread Starter
BluTTo
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: Santa Clara County, CA
Re: California emissions, uggh
I know I will need to get California emissions, I'm just trying to figure out when I should have them done (by Audi as part of the original configuration, or by a 3rd party).
Regarding the sales tax issue, the question is, what are the conditions that need to be satisfied for a car to be exempt from California sales tax? You're suggesting 3 months. While I'm not crazy about that, I suppose I could live with that. In fact, I may be a year or more before I move my primary residence to California. Are you sure there are no additional mileage requirements?
Regarding the sales tax issue, the question is, what are the conditions that need to be satisfied for a car to be exempt from California sales tax? You're suggesting 3 months. While I'm not crazy about that, I suppose I could live with that. In fact, I may be a year or more before I move my primary residence to California. Are you sure there are no additional mileage requirements?