How To Register A Grey Market Car In California

Vehicles originally manufactured for sale and use outside the united states but which have been converted to meet federal and california safety and emissions standards.

How to register a grey 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. If the car is currently here in the states and registered to another state it may only be slightly less nightmarish. Grey market cars are illegally imported vehicles that don t meet u s. I m just worried they re going to send me to a smog ref and i m going to be under the microscope. Registering the vehicle is straightforward.

Safety and emissions standards. If you live in california or hawaii the 25 year rule likely does not apply. They re the forbidden fruit of the car world. Registering gray market cars are very problematic here in ca. Warranty return or lemon law buyback.

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. Buying a car in a foreign country is hard transporting the car can be a challenge. If it s coming straight in from another country good luck. How to import your gray market dream car in 3 easy steps. 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.

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. Releasing it from the port is a long task and registering it with the dmv is no picnic. Registering grey market car car in california post by expeditionimports mon may 11 2015 4 26 pm so far everyone lmtv we have had was completely legal for ca. Vehicles which have been returned to the manufacturer under california s lemon law. These vehicles have different smog check inspection requirements.