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Old 05-16-2010, 12:57 AM
mbehensky mbehensky is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 56
Purchasing out of state vehicles in CA

Hi,

I live here in Santa Cruz, and have looked into purchasing out of state vehicles. As I understand it, you can purchase an out of state car that is 49 state emissions legal, and register it in California if:

1. It has at least 7500 miles on it when you bought it. (No buying it new and driving 7500 miles before you return to CA.)

Or

2. Your current car became disabled while you were driving out of state. If this happens, you can purchase a new 49 state vehicle and register it in CA.

You cannot, however, purchase a grey market import car that may be legal in another state and register it in California. Likewise CA has special rules for engine conversion, and just because it was legal to put that diesel engine in a gas car in another state it doesn't mean that it works in CA.

Please double check this with the DMV before you plunk down your money..

Max Behensky
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1982 240D 4 speed manual
1987 300TD wagon
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