california smog rules

[mtiberio]

thinking of moving to california. I have a 1974 Eldorado which I assume because of its age will not have to be tested.

What would be the rules on my 2009 California Vintage? Would it have to be checked every 2 years? Will the evap canister have to be in place?

Thanks,
Mike

[jlburgess]

there is only a DMV inspection for the VIN and EPA  legality sticker on your newer bike.  there is no smog test and they won't notice a missing charcoal canister.

[johnk]

We don't have annual bike inspections yet. I'm certain what the current rules are when importing to the state. I know last I looked, about 15 years ago, when bringing an out of state bike into the state they'd want to see the original emissions sticker showing it had been legal to import.
But things may (probably) have changed since then.

johnk

[Robert]

How many miles on your Vintage?

7500 or over makes things easy.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29

[twhitaker]

I would imagine Mike covered that many miles while under warranty.

[Arizona Wayne]

How many miles on your Vintage?

7500 or over makes things easy.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29

As it says in this State reg. mileage does not pertain to MCs brought to Kalif. from out of state.

[ITSec]

Having sold a lot of motorcycles in Nevada (many of them Guzzis and Aprilias), some of them to California residents, I have some experience in this.

Your 2009 machine WILL need to have an emissions sticker, which WILL be checked. Chances are it says the bike meets both 49-state and California requirements; virtually all MGs imported in recent years are 50-state bikes.

The 7500 mile requirement IS applied to used motorcycles purchased and ORIGINALLY REGISTERED outside California. A California resident with a cabin in Arizona, for example, can buy a 49-state bike and register it in Arizona to that address. Once the bike has a minimum of 7500 miles on it, it can be registered in California (but will still need that emissions sticker!).

The web page referenced is not the legislation or the regulation, it is a plain-language version intended to be informative (not authoritative). For example, the section on imports is misleading, since Canadian-sourced vehicles (for example) often already do meet CA and US federal requirements. The page does say:

"If you are moving to California from another state, you may register a new 49-state vehicle if it was first registered by you in your home state, or for military personnel, in the last state of your military service. When applying for vehicle registration in California, you must provide evidence that the vehicle was registered."

No distinction exists between vehicle types - this rule applies to all personal use vehicles; pickups, cars, motorcycles. I have heard of some questions being raised by California officials when the vehicle is purchased immediately prior to the move to California, as that is obviously intentional avoidance of their laws.

As others have noted, the Eldo is grandfathered in - given its age, maybe that should be 'great-grandfathered' 

[rbm]

This is a timely thread.  I'll be importing my M-G V7R from Canada to California soon (part of a job move).

About the EPA sticker.  Canada doesn't have an equivalent of the EPA so there's no such sticker that I can find on my bike.  Anyone know if this is going to be problematic for me?  Can a letter from Piaggio suffice that the bike meets US EPA standards.

I've done a cannisterectomy on my bike but a prior post says the lack of a cannister won't be a show-stopper.  I hope this is correct.

Any recommendations for a brokerage who can do the import?  I've got a 28 year old BMW and a 4 year old M-G to bring.

[guzzista]

Based on I was told a while back by Mr Dave Richardson( Yes, the guy  who wrote  Guzziology) all EFI modern Guzzis  are 50 State bikes, which means you wont have any problems. 7500 miles on the clock rule is only for current year vehicles. As someone else pointed out , the emission sticker is important and it will be checked out  As far as any bikes go these days, DMV may very well require  a VIN verification and will refer you to the Highway Patrol ( State troopers) which can do that for you . Asides from that , Welcome to california

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

DMV may very well require  a VIN verification and will refer you to the Highway Patrol

Yes, VIN & for M/C engine number, will be verified.  But this can be done at the California DMV officer, not necessary to involve the CHP.  I just went through that last week at the Jackson DMV office. 

7500 miles on the clock rule is only for current year vehicles.

Not in my dealings with California DMV. Again, last week the bike I was registering was a 2014 model,  not current model year, with less than 7500 miles, so it must meet the California emissions requirements.  The DMV person verified mileage, emissions sticker, VIN and engine numbers.

[kirkemon]

Yes, VIN & for M/C engine number, will be verified.  But this can be done at the California DMV officer, not necessary to involve the CHP. 

I do this a The Auto Club, much easier than the DMV.
http://www.calif.aaa.com/home.html?zip=90068&stateprov=ca&city=los+angeles&devicecd=PC&referer=www.aaa.com

[guzzista]

2014 is still considered current , apparently. My 07 bike from Texas brought to Cali in 2011 had 4500 miles and it did not matter to DMV at the time( non current). Also, if you are lucky your local DMV offices have intelligent ( and willing) VIN verification  employees,( as in when I got some  cars verified) otherwise once someone stamps on the app that you must see CHP for verification, you know the rest.

[jdgretz]

I went through the VIN verification on the Norge (purchased new from Moto International) and shipped to California.  DMV will do the VIN verification IF they can easily see the VIN plate.  On the Norge, it is hard to see due to the fairings.  DMV didn't want to work that hard at reading it and sent me to CHP.  Had to get an appointment there (two or three week wait) for the one guy who does it to take two minutes and a mirror to read it.

Since mine was a new purchase, it had to have all the stickers and then I paid the CA sales tax (but I knew that at the get go).

AAA is probably easier, but they don't do out of state dealer sales of new vehicles.

jdg

[guzzista]

Ditto for the various Guzzis purchased new  by me from MI and brought into to California. As the bikes were from from out of state ,although compliant with California emission laws, I was sent by AAA to DMV who passed the buck to the Highway Patrol where it was sorted out. In the case where a car was involved, no problem, easily done at the DMV. As per old bikes, AAA (  years ago,when they still had an office in San Francisco) sent me off to DMV  ( who then sent me to CHP) when I tried to verify an old Norton so it would be refreshing to walk into AAA to get  your old Guzzi ( or any motorcycle) verified...

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

I do this a The Auto Club, much easier than the DMV.
http://www.calif.aaa.com/home.html?zip=90068&stateprov=ca&city=los+angeles&devicecd=PC&referer=www.aaa.com

Yes, out of state transfers can be taken care of at the Southern California Automobile Association, and is a very worthwhile service.  Unfortunately not at the Northern California AAA, they are different organizations, or at least have different service rules for out of state transfers. 

DMV didn't want to work that hard at reading it and sent me to CHP. 

I can definitely see that happening. The bike I brought in was "naked" so VIN was easy to see.  The old gal was not to happy having to get on her knees to read the engine number.  Come to think of it, she appeared to be unhappy about everything.

[guzzista]

About 25 years ago this summer, I brought in a Ducati 750 Sport (purchased from the famed EuroSport dealership outside Portland) into California, a bike that was not California compliant, and while I was sweating bullets, the DMV employee, an older guy signed it off simply because, as he said: I am too old to get on my knees to read all that BS!, and handed me the paperwork to get my reg..

[Arizona Wayne]

About 25 years ago this summer, I brought in a Ducati 750 Sport (purchased from the famed EuroSport dealership outside Portland) into California, a bike that was not California compliant, and while I was sweating bullets, the DMV employee, an older guy signed it off simply because, as he said: I am too old to get on my knees to read all that BS!, and handed me the paperwork to get my reg..

If you are able to go to a small DMV office in a small town, this whole episode is easier. BTDT   

[jlburgess]

I was denied a title on my 2005 Husaberg supermoto because it only had 5500 miles on it.  It had been originally titled in Washington then in Oregon for another 5 years.  It was a gray market bike intended for Australia so had no EPA sticker.  Luckily I was able to trade it in on a Dorsoduro and the dealer resold it to an out of state resident.  The DMV lady got down on her knees with a toothbrush trying to read the VIN and engine serial number.   

[Arizona Wayne]

I was denied a title on my 2005 Husaberg supermoto because it only had 5500 miles on it.  It had been originally titled in Washington then in Oregon for another 5 years.  It was a gray market bike intended for Australia so had no EPA sticker.  Luckily I was able to trade it in on a Dorsoduro and the dealer resold it to an out of state resident.  The DMV lady got down on her knees with a toothbrush trying to read the VIN and engine serial number.   

There's a guy in norCal who rides his registered MGS-01 around legally. I've met him 2X.  Some times he posts here.