[CPTLOU]

Lucky ?
Nope.

Followed the CA VC and DMV regs to the letter
1. Diesel
2. Pre 1995
3. Nothing altered
4. Previously titled in CONUS
5. Not a recent import
6. Active duty military.

It probably helps that I am not a car flipper or reseller, or one of these guys bringing these in to make a quick buck.
Will probably come with me to my next duty station anyway.

 

[LiquidMoose]

Lucky ?
Nope.

Followed the CA VC and DMV regs to the letter
1. Diesel
2. Pre 1995
3. Nothing altered
4. Previously titled in CONUS
5. Not a recent import
6. Active duty military.

It probably helps that I am not a car flipper or reseller, or one of these guys bringing these in to make a quick buck.
Will probably come with me to my next duty station anyway.

Number 1-5 applies to my experience with the addition that my 110 was registered in CA then moved to OK then I I bought it, brought it back to CA before that CA registration expired, retitled/registered in my name, two years later CA DMV would not allow me to reregister it, no grace period, no explanation. Hello Arizona, where I now live.

 

[Davis]

Unfortunately…. True. My moms there. I have obstacles….

 

[CPTLOU]

What a nightmare.
I feel for the prospective Defender buyers. I wished there was a roundabout way, legally.
My CA title finally showed up yesterday. I am thankful everything worked out.

 

[LiquidMoose]

A title is a legal document that only shows ownership and is separate from registration.
Maybe your military status allows you to register your truck, idk.

 

[CPTLOU]

A title is a legal document that only shows ownership and is separate from registration.
Maybe your military status allows you to register your truck, idk.

I am aware of that. I've owned a car or thirty..
Registered until AUG 2024.

I went by the criteria explicitly stated in the DMV website. Military status was only one of them.

• This car has previously been titled in the US already ( MI ).
• It's not a recently arrived import flip.
• It's Diesel.
• It's pre 1995 ( diesels 95' and up require emissions inspection).

The one thing I found interesting, a gasoline powered car CAN be registered without smog if in one of certain specific counties ( San Bernardino, San Diego, Humboldt, El Dorado among others).
I wonder if someone has tried that.
Because according to that, if you have a US title you could register it without major problems.

 

[njonas]

I am aware of that. I've owned a car or thirty..
Registered until AUG 2024.

I went by the criteria explicitly stated in the DMV website. Military status was only one of them.

• This car has previously been titled in the US already ( MI ).
• It's not a recently arrived import flip.
• It's Diesel.
• It's pre 1995 ( diesels 95' and up require emissions inspection).

The one thing I found interesting, a gasoline powered car CAN be registered without smog if in one of certain specific counties ( San Bernardino, San Diego, Humboldt, El Dorado among others).
I wonder if someone has tried that.
Because according to that, if you have a US title you could register it without major problems.

I'm considering purchasing a '91 Diesel Defender 90 200TDI, imported from Italy but it's been in the country for > 7 years and registered in NY. I want to bring it to California at some point so I'm trying to figure out if registering the vehicle will be a problem.

Can you point me to where you see this criteria? When I look at the CA website I see:

• Evidence that the vehicle meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California emissions standards.
  • This includes an EPA and California emissions label attached to the vehicle.
  • A smog certificate.
  • This applies to gasoline vehicles manufactured after 1968.
  • This also applies to diesel-powered vehicles manufactured after 1980.

 

[CPTLOU]

I'm considering purchasing a '91 Diesel Defender 90 200TDI, imported from Italy but it's been in the country for > 7 years and registered in NY. I want to bring it to California at some point so I'm trying to figure out if registering the vehicle will be a problem.

Can you point me to where you see this criteria? When I look at the CA website I see:

• Evidence that the vehicle meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California emissions standards.
  • This includes an EPA and California emissions label attached to the vehicle.
  • A smog certificate.
  • This applies to gasoline vehicles manufactured after 1968.
  • This also applies to diesel-powered vehicles manufactured after 1980.

Look on the website under EXEMPTIONS.
ALSO,
There is another fairly consequential footnote, also on their website:
If in a County that is exempt, there is no smog requirement.
San Bernardino, San Diego, Humboldt, El Dorado among others.

TIP# 1
* Get a VIN verification done by an outside source ( registration service ), NOT at a DMV. The minions there have zero clue. Completely legal.

TIP #2
Do your fee calculator sheet off the website and MAIL it in along with all required paperwork and a check for the estimated fees.
If more $ is required, they will send the paperwork back with a note to add additional money. If over, they will refund you in about 30 days after conclusion of the registration.

TIP #3
PATIENCE. It takes weeks as it will go all the way to the main in Sacramento. Don't call, don't inquire. Just wait.

TIP #4
A repeat. MAIL your paperwork in. If you blow a day at a local DMV, they will find something to kick your paperwork back.

Good luck !

 

[gravitysucks]

Look on the website under EXEMPTIONS.
ALSO,
There is another fairly consequential footnote, also on their website:
If in a County that is exempt, there is no smog requirement.
San Bernardino, San Diego, Humboldt, El Dorado among others.

TIP# 1
* Get a VIN verification done by an outside source ( registration service ), NOT at a DMV. The minions there have zero clue. Completely legal.

TIP #2
Do your fee calculator sheet off the website and MAIL it in along with all required paperwork and a check for the estimated fees.
If more $ is required, they will send the paperwork back with a note to add additional money. If over, they will refund you in about 30 days after conclusion of the registration.

TIP #3
PATIENCE. It takes weeks as it will go all the way to the main in Sacramento. Don't call, don't inquire. Just wait.

TIP #4
A repeat. MAIL your paperwork in. If you blow a day at a local DMV, they will find something to kick your paperwork back.

Good luck !

I'd say wait a month or four to see if you get a holdout letter from the DMV prior to giving out advise on bypassing the DMV and/or BAR's processes. Typically the letter isn't sent out until your paperwork has a final review in Sacrament where they see your motive power listed as "D" and wonder why there's no BAR paperwork attached due to the non-conforming VIN.

 

[LiquidMoose]

From the CA DMW:
If your direct foreign import vehicle was not originally manufactured to meet California emissions standards and DOT FMVSS, the vehicle cannot be registered in California, unless the vehicle is modified and tested under CARB’s direct import program.

Motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, and diesel-powered vehicles cannot be converted to California emissions standards at this time. Therefore, they cannot be registered in California unless they were originally manufactured to meet U.S. and California emissions standards.

Imported Vehicle Registration - California DMV

If you have imported your car from a foreign county, you must follow state laws for registering your vehicle and complying with state emission standards.

www.dmv.ca.gov

 

[CPTLOU]

I'd say wait a month or four to see if you get a holdout letter from the DMV prior to giving out advise on bypassing the DMV and/or BAR's processes. Typically the letter isn't sent out until your paperwork has a final review in Sacrament where they see your motive power listed as "D" and wonder why there's no BAR paperwork attached due to the non-conforming VIN.

Nobody bypassed anything. Everything done according to the letter of DMV regs posted.

So I didn't feel like contending with some ignorant clerk. That makes it illegal ? Nothing bypassed. Followed the stipulations to the letter and met the criteria.

I shared my own experience. Not telling anyone what to do.
I suggest you read the regs on the website, before you give advice yourself.

 

[CPTLOU]

From the CA DMW:
If your direct foreign import vehicle was not originally manufactured to meet California emissions standards and DOT FMVSS, the vehicle cannot be registered in California, unless the vehicle is modified and tested under CARB’s direct import program.

Motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, and diesel-powered vehicles cannot be converted to California emissions standards at this time. Therefore, they cannot be registered in California unless they were originally manufactured to meet U.S. and California emissions standards.

" DIRECT FOREIGN IMPORT ".
That would be all the car flippers bringing stuff in to resell.
A vehicle already titled in the US already for over 6 Months does not constitute a direct import, but an out of state vehicle. Asked DMV in Sacramento.

Imported Vehicle Registration - California DMV

If you have imported your car from a foreign county, you must follow state laws for registering your vehicle and complying with state emission standards.

www.dmv.ca.gov

 

[LiquidMoose]

"Therefore, they cannot be registered in California unless they were originally manufactured to meet U.S. and California emissions standards."
This is all they care about, direct foreign import or out-of-state import, same thing to them.

 

[CPTLOU]

"Therefore, they cannot be registered in California unless they were originally manufactured to meet U.S. and California emissions standards."
This is all they care about, direct foreign import or out-of-state import, same thing to them.

I guess then the inspector I talked to at the downtown Sac office does not know that, then.
I will let him know.😆

 

[gravitysucks]

Nobody bypassed anything. Everything done according to the letter of DMV regs posted.

So I didn't feel like contending with some ignorant clerk. That makes it illegal ? Nothing bypassed. Followed the stipulations to the letter and met the criteria.

I shared my own experience. Not telling anyone what to do.
I suggest you read the regs on the website, before you give advice yourself.

I believe all I said was you bypassed a large portion of the process which will likely lead to a FOD holdout letter from the DMV. And I might know more about the process than you think. Take the DMV REG 31 you had filled out by a private verifier. If you look on page two of that form towards the top right, you’ll see private verifiers are prohibited from filling that out in this case. Your Rover wouldn’t have a US Federal Label, which DMV policy lists as a “shall” send to CHP for a verification. DMV’s registration manual is available online.

I did wonder if something had changed recently with the BAR referee process as it’s been a while since I’ve helped someone deal with it. So, I reached out to a local ref I’ve dealt with in the past and nothing’s changed. A 90’s grey market diesel (and gas) would need to go through the referee process (which would include G&K) when it’s first registered in California, whether direct import or previously titled in another state. Once the process is completed you’d be exempt from the biennial inspections as yours is pre-98.

You wouldn’t be the first to think you’ve found a way around the process, and probably won’t be the last. I still say you should keep an eye out for a letter from the DMV, might come…might not.

 

[gravitysucks]

From the CA DMW:
If your direct foreign import vehicle was not originally manufactured to meet California emissions standards and DOT FMVSS, the vehicle cannot be registered in California, unless the vehicle is modified and tested under CARB’s direct import program.

Motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, and diesel-powered vehicles cannot be converted to California emissions standards at this time. Therefore, they cannot be registered in California unless they were originally manufactured to meet U.S. and California emissions standards.

Imported Vehicle Registration - California DMV

If you have imported your car from a foreign county, you must follow state laws for registering your vehicle and complying with state emission standards.

www.dmv.ca.gov

There is a process in place through BAR and the DMV to register most diesel grey market vehicles here, it’s just expensive and time consuming so many try and find a way around it. G&K is licensed through the state to bring vehicles into CARB compliance, but they aren’t cheap. Not sure why the DMV hasn’t updated that info on their site. Although if you ask the DMV about the OHV red sticker program they’ll say it’s still in place, BAR will tell you it was supposed to sunset January 2022, so they aren’t always on the same page.

 

[WeBeCinYa]

I just want to know who came up with all that bullshit and why anyone would tolerate it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bulldog33]

You guys have me scared. I live in San Diego (San Diego County) and I just purchased a 1995 Defender 110 300 TDI. The car was imported to Florida last year (Euro Spec from France) and registered in January in Florida.

1. Diesel

2. Pre 1997

3. Nothing altered

4. Previously titled in Florida (January, 30th - so it has been 8 months)

I am a A A A member and was thinking of going into the office near my house and trying to register it there. I believe they can do VIN verification. Is there any reason why I wouldn't want to give this a try?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Has anyone ever tried registering in Montana or South Dakota as a back up? I have seen advertisements for this, but wonder how you would get car insurance...

 

[J!m]

Insurance is usually based on where the car is garaged, not where it is registered. So that might not be so bad.

 

[gravitysucks]

You guys have me scared. I live in San Diego (San Diego County) and I just purchased a 1995 Defender 110 300 TDI. The car was imported to Florida last year (Euro Spec from France) and registered in January in Florida.

1. Diesel

2. Pre 1997

3. Nothing altered

4. Previously titled in Florida (January, 30th - so it has been 8 months)

I am a A A A member and was thinking of going into the office near my house and trying to register it there. I believe they can do VIN verification. Is there any reason why I wouldn't want to give this a try?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Has anyone ever tried registering in Montana or South Dakota as a back up? I have seen advertisements for this, but wonder how you would get car insurance...

Look up Defender Traders down in San Diego, they can walk you through the process. They’ve taken numerous diesel Defenders through the registration process and can give you a better idea what’s required as well as what to expect cost wise.