I picked up a 1990 Prado LJ78 EX5 diesel 80k miles in close to perfect condition. This was after researching and calling CARB to see if I could register this truck in CA; "Yes, no safety or emissions test required." I have Indiana title signed over to me. CA DMV okayed it and sent me to CHP. Oops; must have original import documents (from 2 owners previous), proof from Toyota that it meets safety regulations (crash test results), and must be modified at the CARB certified lab in Santa Ana. Three strikes and no way Jose. I plan on flying to South Dakota (when temps are in double digits), set up an LLC for ownership, establish residency with a PO Box, get SD drivers license and registration. It will not be my daily driver, but will be taken on trips to the desert and Baja. My first car was a '64 Scout. I feel like I'm fifteen again in this Prado.
California Title and Registration of Diesels (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter DrivingMissRosey
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I could be mistaken but I'm almost certain you can get SD plates without ever going there. That's why all the ex-pats living in Mexico get SD plates. No in person inspections or residency required. Maybe someone else can chime in on this. Good luck.
Anyone else registered in AZ? I drove to the nearest Arizona DMV from Los Angeles back in 2021 and registered my HJ61 there. 5 year registration, no smog, no proof of residency (cause I asked for a non Real ID) and a used a service called postal one as my mailing address. Cost about $200 total and they didn’t even look at my truck.
Not sure if anything has changed or if I just got lucky, but CHP doesn’t bat an eye at my AZ plates.
Not sure if anything has changed or if I just got lucky, but CHP doesn’t bat an eye at my AZ plates.
100% this is correct
Keep your residence in CA and mail the plates here. (Former South Dakotan and current out of state registrations)
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I don’t know but maybe you guys in Cali shouldn’t be posting about how you are side stepping Cali law?
Cheers
It’s only a small $10,000 fine and maybe some time for the misdemeanor.I don’t know but maybe you guys in Cali shouldn’t be posting about how you are side stepping Cali law?
Cheers
Some consider it a calculated risk.
“Officer, don’t you see, this is a company leased car”
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I'm in the process of buying a 1997 diesel 70 series that is registered out of state.
I went through this in 2017 and I came away with the opinion that if I had all my paperwork in line (customs, EPA, DOT, Title) and went straight to CHP for VIN verification, I would have been fine. CHP loved my 1990 HiAce. They were just concerned with the Frame number passing for the VIN. They found the same number on several plates, stamped on the chassis, saw it on all my forms and were happy. At the time I had already got Certificate of Conformance but the whole process really just made me feel like DMV would have tried to enter my short VIN, seen the all powerful CHP say the VIN was fine, called the manager over and...NEXT in line please step up to the counter.
I'm really not sure how common physical inspections are for these little stickers. If the VIN process doesn't set off any red flags, then do they really even inspect?
Back to the Certificate of Conformance. I went to G&K/CEE in Santa Ana. They seemed a bit sketchy and raised red flags for me the entire time but at the end of the day, communication wasn't horrible, they quoted the lower end of what I was expecting and stuck to the figure ($7k), and I had my truck back in about a month. They also sent my vehicle to a diesel shop in town to repair an issue I had failed to find a mechanic to fix earlier and charged me a fair amount for facilitating this. They also express shipped me some work keys I had accidentally left in the crack of the seat.
I have the ability to register this out of state, but it's going to be my daily so the CEE shake down seems worth it at the end of the day to get a low mileage 70 series that will run forever for the all in price of a new, mid range model Toyota Tacoma. It's certainly way ****ing cooler. Not happy with the situation in California and wish it was different, but it is what it is. Going to email CARB and make sure I'm on the same page as them first. They were helpful 8 years ago.
I went through this in 2017 and I came away with the opinion that if I had all my paperwork in line (customs, EPA, DOT, Title) and went straight to CHP for VIN verification, I would have been fine. CHP loved my 1990 HiAce. They were just concerned with the Frame number passing for the VIN. They found the same number on several plates, stamped on the chassis, saw it on all my forms and were happy. At the time I had already got Certificate of Conformance but the whole process really just made me feel like DMV would have tried to enter my short VIN, seen the all powerful CHP say the VIN was fine, called the manager over and...NEXT in line please step up to the counter.
I'm really not sure how common physical inspections are for these little stickers. If the VIN process doesn't set off any red flags, then do they really even inspect?
Back to the Certificate of Conformance. I went to G&K/CEE in Santa Ana. They seemed a bit sketchy and raised red flags for me the entire time but at the end of the day, communication wasn't horrible, they quoted the lower end of what I was expecting and stuck to the figure ($7k), and I had my truck back in about a month. They also sent my vehicle to a diesel shop in town to repair an issue I had failed to find a mechanic to fix earlier and charged me a fair amount for facilitating this. They also express shipped me some work keys I had accidentally left in the crack of the seat.
I have the ability to register this out of state, but it's going to be my daily so the CEE shake down seems worth it at the end of the day to get a low mileage 70 series that will run forever for the all in price of a new, mid range model Toyota Tacoma. It's certainly way ****ing cooler. Not happy with the situation in California and wish it was different, but it is what it is. Going to email CARB and make sure I'm on the same page as them first. They were helpful 8 years ago.
I feel sorry for diesel owners in Calif.
Even brand new US made diesel trucks are finding it increasingly difficult to get a registration in Calif.
The metro area of Portland, OR is cracking down on larger diesel trucks: Breaking Down Oregon’s Diesel Retrofit Compliance Program - DES - https://dieselemissionsservice.com/2022/05/13/oregons-diesel-retrofit-compliance-program/
I live in WA county, but fortunately both my diesel vehicles do not fall within those parameters. However, I expect that in the future, Oregon will keep getting stricter and stricter about diesel vehicles.
As for going out of state for registration, many states, such as WA & Calif. have been cracking down on this for decades. If they find that you actually reside in Calif. (i.e., spend the majority {50%+} of your time there), then you can get hit with fines and back taxes. I had a friend back in the 80s who registered his Toyota pickup at my house in Oregon, who got away with it for a couple of years before they caught up with him when he enrolled in a Calif college as a resident - then he had to bring his pickup back to Oregon, sell it, buy a car here, take it to Calif. and register it there.
Even brand new US made diesel trucks are finding it increasingly difficult to get a registration in Calif.
The metro area of Portland, OR is cracking down on larger diesel trucks: Breaking Down Oregon’s Diesel Retrofit Compliance Program - DES - https://dieselemissionsservice.com/2022/05/13/oregons-diesel-retrofit-compliance-program/
I live in WA county, but fortunately both my diesel vehicles do not fall within those parameters. However, I expect that in the future, Oregon will keep getting stricter and stricter about diesel vehicles.
As for going out of state for registration, many states, such as WA & Calif. have been cracking down on this for decades. If they find that you actually reside in Calif. (i.e., spend the majority {50%+} of your time there), then you can get hit with fines and back taxes. I had a friend back in the 80s who registered his Toyota pickup at my house in Oregon, who got away with it for a couple of years before they caught up with him when he enrolled in a Calif college as a resident - then he had to bring his pickup back to Oregon, sell it, buy a car here, take it to Calif. and register it there.
Hey man! I have been trying to go through with this for 2 years now. If you're still active on here, I'd absolutely love to know which CHP office you visited
I am desperate at this point. Thanks!
Yep sounds like you got very lucky
Hello you guys,,,,,So, does anyone happen to know ( 2025 info ) if I can take my 1978 BJ40 Diesel ( all original ) Land Cruiser that I bought in Florida that has a Florida Title and go into a CALIFORNIA DMV and EASILY re-register it and obtain a California Title without having to jump a bunch of additional hoops. The cruiser came into Florida from Costa Rica. Again, I have it with a Florida Title. Thanks for any updated information.
