I am very upset cause CA DMV says I may not be able to register my new 03 SE, 6 speed in CA. That's cause I bought new from Portland OR. Cant bring new car to CA and register it. Maxi is 50 state legal car I dont understand the problem. The car has only a trip pass no OR plates.

 

What reason and who are you talking to about registration?

it does not seem right info is getting your way cause if you can buy one here, there is NO reason you cannot bring one here.


good luck!

 

Don't cars sold in CA have different emmissions systems? Or at least tuned toward CA specs? I'm sure you can get it corrected at a Nissan dealer...although I wouldn't want to get that bill!

 

I bought a 2k2 6 speed from Alabama last year and had no problems registering it in California. These are 50 state cars now. Passed smog with no problems and the DMV didn't blink. The car was used.

 

some cars come with a different emmissions systems in CA, but others use the CA "benchmark" for emmissions and make the particular car 50 state legal.

Some cars aren't even offered in CA because of the stricter emmissions. That happens less and less, and 50 state legal is happening more and more.

-vq

 

So if I wanted to move to California, I would have to sell my car before coming out there?

That sounds fishy. Maybe you just have to get it smogged first??

 

Do you live in CA, then bought the car in portland to save on tax?

 

You should not have a problem getting it registered in CA. The only possible problem I think they are having is that it may not be showing up in the OR records yet because you just bought it.

I registered a 95 Camry (Fed-spec) from Alabama about 6 months ago. They smogged it as a Fed-spec car with Fed-spec requirements so it definitely is possible to bring a car into Cali.

How much do you save on not paying the sales tax? A couple grand? Then registration in Cali...and smogging. Well maybe you saved $1500, less the cost of your trip, about $500. So in total you probably will save how much for buying in OR? Just curious...

 

Friend of mine did something similar to his Yahama R6. DMV told him that the bike needs to rack up a couple of thousand miles and a few months of ownership before he can register it. Go figure. Perhaps they are trying to prevent illegal transfering of cars.

whew...that was a load...

 

When I bought my car, the dealer couldn't find any that met the specifications I had asked for in CA. He had to go to Arizona and pick up a car for me. Even though my car came from AZ, I had no problems registering... I wonder why you are having troubles???

 

Actually you don't really save on taxes. Federal law is you pay taxes based on your home address, not where you got the car. They do this so people won't buy cars in cheaper tax states. It sucks because IL is 8.75%, while IN is only 5%.

 

obviously, this is because he is trying to bring in a new, previously unregistered car. A used car is fine...

Not sure what you'll have to do.. If you register the car in another state, you'll have to pay that state for sales tax and CA for bringing it in

I know someone who had this happen when they drove out of state to get an M3 (waiting list too long in CA). When he got back, they didnt want to let him register it. I wasnt really paying attention to what he had to do tho. Its not really about emissions anymore, its more about sales tax and I guess protecting car dealers in state. bizarre. I'm sure it can be done.. just not easily.

 

Californis law says a new car with less than 75600 miles must be built for California and meed smog specs to be registered. 2002-2003 Maxis are 50 state legal cars and are identical anywhere in the country so I feel Ishould be able to register it. By the way I am paying the full 7.755 taxes on top of registration and licensing.