Possibly a stupid question, but if I buy a Prius outside of California, it still is California emissions certified, correct? California has more stringent rules that state the car must specifically be certified for California. Thanks, --Dan
My understanding is that the Prius qualifies for use in California no matter where you purchased it. Part of the incentive for Toyota to produce it was the strict emissions requirements in California, and, as far as I know, there is only one version of Prius (options notwithstanding) sold in the entire US. If you are moving to CA with a car purchased out of state, you have to have it checked by CA DMV people when you register it. This might not apply to a new car, however. Bob
If you buy the car outside of CA, even if it's brand spankin' new, you still have to have it smog certified. You have to take it to a "referee" station because the car can't be checked by the regular tailpipe test because the car doesn't idle. You have to make an appointment and the referee stations are not necessarily in convenient locations (they seem to be associated with schools for some reason, the closest I found new me was at UC Irvine). You can't get your CA registration until you complete this test and bring it with you to the DMV (or AAA).
I've done/am still doing this. The referee station here was Alameda's College. It cost a total of $8.25 and all they did was take the mileage, look at it, take the vin and send me on my way. (Once I found the place.) BTW, I made an appointment as soon as I had a VIN. It did take a week or two to get it. Also, if you buy outside of California you have to have the dealer send your paperwork to your local DMV office. Realize that there is a catch 22 scenario in that you have to register the car within 20 days of entering the state. You can't register the car until you get it smogged. You can't get it smogged until you have a referee look at it. Etc, etc. Bascially I drove around unregistered until I got smogged. That same day I paid my taxes (California state sales tax about $2,000) and am awaiting for my next appointment set up on March 25th before I can actually register the car. So, I'm without any plates, but I have all my paperwork in my car whenever I drive.
They have info on California's state website - http://www.ofa.dgs.ca.gov/Alternative+Fuel...SmogInspect.htm Referee Scheduling Center at 1-800-622-7733
Hi there - I called this number to find and setup an appointment with at a referee station: 1-800-622-7733 It was quick and painless when I got it done. --Dan
Thanks a lot for the info. Its confusing buying my first car, buying it from another state and trying to figure out where to register it (California or Utah) as I move for graduate school to Utah. Does anyone know how you determine if you are a resident of state? I wasnt a resident in NJ for undergrad, but does it change for older students? Thanks for all the help. Rebecca
I "think" to be a registered resident of California state you must be in the state more than half of the last year. Or at least that was what the requirements were for out of state students that went to school here back in my day. ('92) Each state was different. Like Nevada all you had to do was say you were. I'd bring it up with your admission office since each state is different. Your choice about registering the car.
We discussed this on the Prius 2004 group. A lot depends on whether you first register the car in another state or just pick it up and use temporary plates to get it back to California. Toyota's response to my emissions query is a more strict interpretation: "Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. We appreciate the opportunity to address your inquiry. We apologize; Prius’s specifically manufactured for states outside of California normally have a 50 state emissions label that may not meet the DMV’s requirement to import into California with less than 7,500 miles. Toyota highly recommends that customers who plan to operate their vehicles in California purchase their vehicles in California as well. Thanks again for your email." They're basically saying that it'll pass CA emissions but it doesn't have the CA label. That's part of why you have to go to the referee station. If you bring the car in and register as a used car, it also has to be at least 90 days since the purchase date. I've heard from people offline that said they just paid tax in the other state and then paid the difference when they got it to California and generally had no problem other than finding the referee station Cheers, --Jared
This isn't completely correct... Toyota is probably covering it's butt with the email. But my car came from Wyoming and had the 50 states label and the language that included California. It was all part of one label. The referee station has nothing to do with the label, though. It has to do with the fact that ANY car that comes from outside of California has to be smog certified (there are some exemptions, but few). Normal smog stations in California cannot certify the Prius because it does not idle at a high enough rate. The referee station is authorized to inspect and certify the Prius as smog compliant with a few minor tests. I had no trouble at all registering my car here in the Bay area. It had never been registered anywhere else. --Dan
Just FYI: I bought my Prius in Washington and the CA label was on it. The DMV personnel (when they were checking it for a second time) showed it to me located right under the hood.
