Importing/registering an older car to California?

Post by **scot850** » 30 Jun 2016, 17:07

Does anyone, or has anyone ever imported an older non-Californian car into the state?

I am fixing up a 1997 Volvo 850 NA and my brother who lives in California is interested in the car for his daughter's first car. Car is a Canadian car so does not have the US emissions sticker under the hood, but only the Canadian equivalent saying it meets the Canadian 1997 Emissions requirements.

I know California is somewhat on its own regarding emissions, but I can't believe no one buys or brings in older vehicles to the state and gets them registered for use there.

If anyone can point us in the right direction I'd appreciate it, as I know guys have imported older Volvos into the US from Canada for their own use.

Strange request but anyone that can add useful input will be much appreciated!

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 30 Jun 2016, 18:55

Yeah, its tough. A 1997 will not be smog exempt which means its needs to meet CA emissions for 1997 - which are even stricter than Federal emissions - maybe they were the same in 1997. Not sure.

There will be two fights - one to get it into the country across the border.

The second to get it 'smog checked' in CA so that it can be used there.

Pre 1975 its easier.

Might be easier for your niece to live with you for a while....

Post by **dyn blin** » 30 Jun 2016, 20:01

It can be done, but it's a contrived and multiple-step pain. The little bit of good news is that vehicles from the other "CA" generally conform to US Federal guidance. This makes it easier to get the certifications needed from Volvo outlined in the pages pasted below. You need to clear it through customs (the easiest part), prove to the state of CA that it meets federal standards, then have it tested by a certified emissions facility in CA, and finally, pay your fees..

These pages will get you started:

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy ... 12/ch12_15

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detai ... wto/htvr9a

Post by **scot850** » 30 Jun 2016, 23:01

Many thanks for your help. I'll have a read and send a copy onto my brother.

We'll see if he can stomach the fight!!

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 08 Jul 2016, 21:08

So Volvo have sent my brother a letter of compliance to say the car is 50 state legal with exception of speedometer needing changed to mph and something about warning lights. Not sure if that would be fixed by the speedo change too?

The next issue is that he thinks the car may be hit by gas guzzler tax. Is that effective for older cars to? He says the EPA combined figure must be 22.5mpg, but looking at what I can find it looks like the EPA figure may be as little as 20-21mpg. The tax is $1000, but is that a one time tax or an annual tax?

Anyone been through this before?

Thanks,

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 08 Jul 2016, 22:14

One time tax for guzzler but I don't think Volvos ever qualified ...on edit, I checked and they do not. It's a $4500 tax so it would behoove him to double check that.

Ministry of funny walks aka EPA

https://www3.epa.gov/fueleconomy/guzzler/

Those lights could be pesky to get fixed. He might need a new dash console

Post by **scot850** » 08 Jul 2016, 23:20

I'm not getting what these dash lights are that are being talked about? If the speedo has to be changed, does that not bring whatever lights with it? What are the lights they are looking for anyway? What are the differences between the US and CDN consoles other than MPH/KPH?

If I read this right, when I look at the guzzler paperwork for 1997 vehicles, the only Volvos listed are 760's and 780's (I'm assuming the 6 cylinder motors). So are the guzzler tax based on the vehicle age (i.e. as per 1997 vehicle listing) or todays laws? From the document you gave in the link that would not seem to be the case. Confused? We should be! Don't you love government services.......

Thanks for the reading,

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 09 Jul 2016, 05:24

Afaik it was based on making the list applicable for the year in question. It was a one time tax you on buying a new car, or importing one. You actually pay it on your US income tax return if you are a onetime importer.

There were not any 1997 Volvos on the list when I looked.

I know the dash lights are a little different. I think you have an engine symbol instead Of CEL and thinks like that. Should be swappable pretty cheap

Post by **scot850** » 09 Jul 2016, 07:45

Thanks again for the input abscate. I guess m brother will have to go to his DMV or whatever, and see if anyone there has a clue, and to whom he has to contact to validate import issues on this particular vehicle, and any taxes to pay on import.

Neil.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 09 Jul 2016, 10:48

Whatever happened to the "Free Trade" agreement? Geeeee!!!!