Registering Japanese 1996 850R in CA

850wagn · Post by **850wagn** » 27 Feb 2023, 13:02

I recently purchased a 1996 850R from a dealer in PA. It was a Japanese car and it is on its way to CA. It was already imported. I was wondering if anyone else has done something similar and what the emmissions requirements were for it?

It looks to be bone stock with 68k miles on it. I know CA is very strict on emmisions. I have another 96 turbo wagon as well here in CA that passes smog no problem.

What would be the difference emmissions wise between the 2 because from what I can find they should be the same?

TIA

Post by **scot850** » 27 Feb 2023, 13:36

Has the car ever been registered in the US? If not that is where the fun can start.

My brother imported a 850 base to CA from Canada. When we got to the border they refused entry as it had a KPH only speedometer. They told us we had to change it to an MPH one before they would let us enter with the car. The speedo had to also be done by a repair shop. We did it with one supplied from another MVS member in the US, and then a friend who runs a repair shop enter the details we gave him for mileage on both units and gave us a receipt to say they had done it. We also took the old speedo with us just in case, as this contradicted what the DMV in CA said which said we had to arrive at a testing station with the original speedo fitted and the change it. Turns out the border guards were idiots and did not know the correct rules.

The other thing we had to get was a letter from Volvo to say the emissions equipment on our car was the same as fitted to a US/CA car. Sometimes Volvo had a sticker under the hood which gave this info, but the one we had was not clear.

Volvo were helpful on that, but maybe you should talk to your DMV in CA and check what current practices are. If it has the KPH (I believe Japan is in KPH not MPH unless the speedo has both as per US cars?)

Other than that they need the purchase documents and then the emissions were tested and the car passed with no issues. Car has just moved to CO were it had to go through a process again to register it there.

There was someone recently on MVS who had a low mileage Japanese car which I believe they had registered somewhere on the US left coast.

Neil.

850wagn · Post by **850wagn** » 27 Feb 2023, 13:49

Thank you for yout reply I saw your past thread and was wondering the exact steps. It is already in the states at a dealership in Pennsylvania so there should be no issues with importing documentations etc.

I just kept seeing that people had to pay $7500+ to get their nissan skylines registered in CA to make them CARB legal. I did not know if it was the same procedures for a volvo 850. I just wanted to double check that. The emmissions is what I worry about but I believed that they are all the same from the factory weather it is US, JDM or Euro

The car is In KPH it looks like. I have no issue swapping the cluster out for a US spec one as I have had to repair my own before for a fualty odo gear.

Do you know if you talked to corporate volvo or a local dealership for that emmissions info?

I appreciate your response and insight

Post by **scot850** » 27 Feb 2023, 14:03

My brother spoke to Customer services at Volvo US headquarters. Using a local dealer may help as they should also be able to do that, but hearing of issues folks have with dealers in the US it may be easier to go direct.

I would talk to your local DMV first though as my brother found them actually very helpful. The bonus you have is the car is 25+ years old which I think in CA makes a difference.

Neil.

850wagn · Post by **850wagn** » 27 Feb 2023, 14:52

I am talking to a chat rep from volvo now and they say:

"I was advised that we cannot provide emission letter for Japan imported vehicles unfortunately because they do not meet US regulations."

I am not sure why it doesn't but I will follow up. I will possibly go in and talk to the dealer when I get it serviced for the first time next week.

Post by **scot850** » 27 Feb 2023, 15:14

They said the same for Canadian cars, but eventually figured out they were the same. I'm not sure why Japan would be different as they had stricter emission requirements than Canada back then.

It makes more sense to talk to the DMV first. As I said, at 25+ years old there is I believe a lower standard to be met.

Neil.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 27 Feb 2023, 18:48

*

"If you have imported your vehicle directly from another country (a direct import), you need to register the vehicle with DMV."

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-r ... d-vehicle/

*

Post by **abscate** » 27 Feb 2023, 23:21

If it has a PA title and a CA emissions sticker under hood you will be ok.

If it missing either one, it’s trouble

850wagn · Post by **850wagn** » 28 Feb 2023, 13:04

MoVolvos wrote: ↑27 Feb 2023, 18:48 *

"If you have imported your vehicle directly from another country (a direct import), you need to register the vehicle with DMV."

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-r ... d-vehicle/

*

I know that, that is what I am trying to do. I am trying to get compliance paperwork from the manufacturer as the DMV suggests

Post by **scot850** » 28 Feb 2023, 13:33

I seem to recall my brother went through a challenge with this. I think it depended on who he spoke to.

One thing to check is what engine is it fitted with? I believe in North America the 850R came with a 2.3 liter 5 cylinder, but I know due to tax laws in some countries they may have been fitted with a 2 liter 5 cylinder engine (I believe Italy may have done this for example). I don't know what Japan had. If it is a 2 liter engine then this may be a bit of an issue as that engine was never imported to North America so it will not have been certified here. That will definitely be an issue.

Neil.