Buying an FJ40 in California - previously imported to another state

[mokrunka]

Hi everyone. I'm looking at buying a 1983 FJ40 with the 2F motor. The vehicle was imported from the middle east last year into Virginia, and now holds a Virginia title. It is a LHD vehicle with km speedo/odometer.

Anyway, I live in CA, and have done some reading on titling cars that are imported into the state from outside the US, but since this vehicle was already imported, I'm not sure how much my options will be different. Some seem to suggest that it's a bit of a dice roll at the DMV - that they may see that it was titled in another US state and just allow titling/registration no problem - or you may get a finicky DMV clerk that demands more information.

Can anyone that's familiar with this process in CA help me understand what to expect?

 

[e9999]

with an 83, I think (not sure) you'll have to smog test it to register it in CA. I'd suggest being careful about that because that could prove difficult/expensive if it does not pass the test / has been modified / was not originally cleared for sale in the US, etc. CA is actively trying to get rid of older vehicles from what I can tell, owners be damned...

 

[mokrunka]

with an 83, I think (not sure) you'll have to smog test it to register it in CA. I'd suggest being careful about that because that could prove difficult/expensive if it does not pass the test / has been modified / was not originally cleared for sale in the US, etc. CA is actively trying to get rid of older vehicles from what I can tell, owners be damned...

Thanks for the info.

Also, thanks for moving this thread, didn’t realize there was an import section!

 

[e9999]

Not me having moved it.