How To Register A Gray Market Car In California

They re the forbidden fruit of the car world.

How to register a gray market car in california. It s an original ca blue plate car imported into ca at the height of the gray market era shipped from the dealer in ge direct to the gray market importer in so cal i have original window sticker. That means i m shafted with little chance other than historical vehicale registration. I m just worried they re going to send me to a smog ref and i m going to be under the microscope. The epa normally covers direct import vehicles under the ici program but if a vehicle is going to be registered in california it needs to meet the. Safety and emissions standards.

Talk about a sucker punch that i didn t see coming. Registering the vehicle is straightforward. How to import your gray market dream car in 3 easy steps. Releasing it from the port is a long task and registering it with the dmv is no picnic. Grey market cars are illegally imported vehicles that don t meet u s.

Warranty return or lemon law buyback. These vehicles have different smog check inspection requirements. If you live in california or hawaii the 25 year rule likely does not apply. Since it s a post 1975 car it is required to have certain smog devices and a test to get registered. Buying a car in a foreign country is hard transporting the car can be a challenge.

A grey market vehicle i e direct import is not manufactured to meet u s. Direct import or gray market vehicles are vehicles that were manufactured outside the united states for which the original manufacturer did not obtain california or federal certification. All grey market vehicle inspections are only performed at the wethersfield inspection lane. Views them regarding smog and registration. Since it spent very little time in germany and the rest of it s life in so cal it s rust free.

Federal motor vehicle safety standards and or california emissions standards and is not intended by the manufacturer to be used or sold in the u s. Vehicles which have been returned to the manufacturer under california s lemon law. Even that s a big maybe. When i purchased 9193 i was unaware of grey market cars and how ca.