CARB for military members in California

[Wrencher93]

OK so here's what I'm after. I have a '97 FZJ80 that needs the exhaust replaced. I don't want to cheap out but I can't afford full OEM. My question is for military members who have experience with CARB/smog regulations in Cali. I'm military and may be stationed on the west coast some time in the next year or two. I don't want to dump hundreds of extra dollars into my new exhaust to make it CARB compliant unless I have to. So, if your truck is registered in another state (FL currently) and you have orders to CA, will CA force you to pass smog/visual inspection or will they accept an out-of-state registration at face value? I REALLY REALLY don't want to do this work twice so any helpful advice would be appreciated!

 

[midfat]

Not military, but if your truck isn’t registered in CA, you do not need to smog it in CA. Smog is linked to your registration. Now, this is completely separate from the fact that CA requires you to change your vehicle registration when you move into the state, but that doesn’t generally matter unless you get pulled over with a drivers license that’s from a state different than your vehicle tags.

 

[cme4lyt]

When you register in CA, bring in an out of state car, you have to smog it, that is part of the CA registration process.

 

[ToyotaDon]

From the Smog Check Reference Guide:

1.10.4 Military Personnel Vehicles
Federal law requires a Smog Check inspection for vehicles not registered in California but are owned and operated by non-resident military personnel on active duty in California. This requirement is independently enforced by each military base. Generally, military personnel must obtain a passing vehicle inspection report before a base access sticker can be issued; a certificate of compliance may not be required. The emissions inspection system provides inspection prompts for inspecting military personnel owned vehicles. Following these prompts will prevent the issuance of a certificate.

This means that you may still be required to pass an inspection, but will not be issued a certificate of compliance, which is what is needed for registration.

 

[shermantank55]

From the CA DMV-you are not required to register your vehicle in CA while you have valid DL and veh registration from another state:

Nonresident Military Personnel Operating a Vehicle in California
Nonresident military personnel, and both military or civilian members of NATO who are not citizens of the United States are permitted to operate a vehicle in this state with valid license plates from either:

• the individual's home state or country or
• the state or country where the individual was regularly assigned and stationed when the license plates were issued, if the following requirements are met:
  1. The license plates displayed on the vehicle are valid plates issued by a foreign jurisdiction.
  2. The vehicle registration and license plates are issued to the military person or spouse of the military person.
  3. The vehicle registration and license plates are issued by the foreign jurisdiction where the military person was last regularly assigned and stationed for duty by military orders or a jurisdiction claimed by the nonresident military person as the permanent state of residence.
  4. If the vehicle is a motor vehicle, the owner or driver has insurance.

NOTE: Military orders do not include military orders for leave, for temporary duty, or for any other assignment of any nature requiring the military person's presence outside the foreign jurisdiction where the owner was regularly assigned and stationed for duty.

This section applies to all vehicles owned by the military person or spouse except any commercial vehicle used in any business manner wherein the military person or spouse receives compensation.

 

[Wrencher93]

When you register in CA, bring in an out of state car, you have to smog it, that is part of the CA registration process.

Yes, I understand that. Where it gets interesting is the fact that I'm active duty - which, if I understand correctly, means I do not have to register in California so long as I am registered in the state I was last stationed in (FL in my case).

 

[Wrencher93]

From the CA DMV-you are not required to register your vehicle in CA while you have valid DL and veh registration from another state:

Nonresident Military Personnel Operating a Vehicle in California
Nonresident military personnel, and both military or civilian members of NATO who are not citizens of the United States are permitted to operate a vehicle in this state with valid license plates from either:

• the individual's home state or country or
• the state or country where the individual was regularly assigned and stationed when the license plates were issued, if the following requirements are met:
  1. The license plates displayed on the vehicle are valid plates issued by a foreign jurisdiction.
  2. The vehicle registration and license plates are issued to the military person or spouse of the military person.
  3. The vehicle registration and license plates are issued by the foreign jurisdiction where the military person was last regularly assigned and stationed for duty by military orders or a jurisdiction claimed by the nonresident military person as the permanent state of residence.
  4. If the vehicle is a motor vehicle, the owner or driver has insurance.

NOTE: Military orders do not include military orders for leave, for temporary duty, or for any other assignment of any nature requiring the military person's presence outside the foreign jurisdiction where the owner was regularly assigned and stationed for duty.

This section applies to all vehicles owned by the military person or spouse except any commercial vehicle used in any business manner wherein the military person or spouse receives compensation.

So as long as I maintain a FL resgistration, FL plates, and have insurance I'm essentially good to go? I apologize if I'm making a mess of things but that's what I got out of reading that.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Yes, I understand that. Where it gets interesting is the fact that I'm active duty - which, if I understand correctly, means I do not have to register in California so long as I am registered in the state I was last stationed in (FL in my case).

Was going to copy/paste what shermantank posted. I believe you do not have to re-register in CA.

Vehicle Information for Military Personnel in California

 

[Wrencher93]

Sweet. I will do some more reading but if that's true it's going to completely change how I was going about this. I have no intention of living in CA on my own time (no offense to anyone who does), so as long as I can legally have a modified exhaust while I'm military that's all I care about.

 

[cruiserbrett]

I am active duty, and back when I lived in California long enough I finally registered my vehicles in California after getting hassled by local LE as to why I don’t have CA plates...

Most of not all bases, in California where smog check is a requirement for that county used to require a smog check to get base stickers. Since base stickerswent away, I really doubt it will be an issue.

No smog guy I ever had run a smog check looked at anything close enough to tell it was this or that 49/50 state legal. Make it look stock, have no check engine light on, and pass smog and you’re golden.

 

[ElPolloBlanco]

OK so here's what I'm after. I have a '97 FZJ80 that needs the exhaust replaced. I don't want to cheap out but I can't afford full OEM. My question is for military members who have experience with CARB/smog regulations in Cali. I'm military and may be stationed on the west coast some time in the next year or two. I don't want to dump hundreds of extra dollars into my new exhaust to make it CARB compliant unless I have to. So, if your truck is registered in another state (FL currently) and you have orders to CA, will CA force you to pass smog/visual inspection or will they accept an out-of-state registration at face value? I REALLY REALLY don't want to do this work twice so any helpful advice would be appreciated!

I was stationed in CA and my dumbass decided to stay. My vehicles were registered in Texas. Never even thought about a smog check. If you’re vehicle is registered in FL because you’re there for school and that’s where you got it I’d recommend registering in your home state cause they usually have military exemptions. Once you get to California, never ever ever register your vehicle here. Even if you buy one here, register it to your home state.

 

[bajaphile]

I drive by Coronado North Island everyday on my way to work down towards the border and there are more cars on the road with Texas, Virginia and Florida plates on the road than California.... so I'm assuming you'll have an exemption.

As far as your original question goes... your can have whatever exhaust you want, you just need a CARB compliant catalytic converter. I always say this, but once you're sitting in traffic with 5 million other drivers everyday, you'll see why we have a smog program here.

 

[danthman114]

keep it registered in florida. what branch?

 

[smritte]

leaveing it registered in Fla is fine, your issue will be if you order a non CA exhaust, most wont ship it here. When I ordered my non CA cat, I had to have it shipped to my sisters house in Nevada.

 

[BILT4ME]

See, I told you they'd know the answer......

 

[Wrencher93]

keep it registered in florida. what branch?

Marines.

leaveing it registered in Fla is fine, your issue will be if you order a non CA exhaust, most wont ship it here. When I ordered my non CA cat, I had to have it shipped to my sisters house in Nevada.

I'm having the work done in FL so that won't be an issue. I'm just trying to think ahead instead of doing this once and having to do it all over again.

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

Heading to MCAS Pendleton? Winger or pilot I'm guessing since you're in Pensacola. I think that's 22 area/ Chappo? I left my rig back home when I was there and leased a newer car that had been smogged. I wouldn't take anything there that you care about it getting damaged by idiots. My first day on base I checked into my new duty station and while leaving was rear ended by a female marine from their admin. She had been in so many accidents she had pre-filled accident packets in her glovebox with a photo copy of her ID. Went to the 13 area PX for a hair cut and a few things and was looking for a parking spot when a colonels daughter backed straight out of her spot into the front of my rig as I was passing behind her; and then tried pulling the daddy is a colonel card. Californians are terrible, rude drivers. They will not respect your stuff so be prepared for some damage. Only state I've ever been to where I was passed on the freeway like I was driving backwards while doing 85, only to have that person cut me off, brake check me then hammer down and rear end the mercedes 10 car lengths ahead of me hard enough to immobilize it on the spot...on a moving freeway!

 

[Wrencher93]

Heading to MCAS Pendleton? Winger or pilot I'm guessing since you're in Pensacola. I think that's 22 area/ Chappo? I left my rig back home when I was there and leased a newer car that had been smogged. I wouldn't take anything there that you care about it getting damaged by idiots. My first day on base I checked into my new duty station and while leaving was rear ended by a female marine from their admin. She had been in so many accidents she had pre-filled accident packets in her glovebox with a photo copy of her ID. Went to the 13 area PX for a hair cut and a few things and was looking for a parking spot when a colonels daughter backed straight out of her spot into the front of my rig as I was passing behind her; and then tried pulling the daddy is a colonel card. Californians are terrible, rude drivers. They will not respect your stuff so be prepared for some damage. Only state I've ever been to where I was passed on the freeway like I was driving backwards while doing 85, only to have that person cut me off, brake check me then hammer down and rear end the mercedes 10 car lengths ahead of me hard enough to immobilize it on the spot...on a moving freeway!

And yet these people try to regulate the rest of the country

 

[Wrencher93]

And yes, more than likely Pendleton. Got some time before then though, just covering my bases, no pun intended.

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

And yet these people try to regulate the rest of the country

It sounds like we may think alike.