California registration

[wencington]

Hi all. I know this is an ever evolving issue with new laws and regulations so asking for anyone that has good current answer:

I bought my bus in Oregon. I’ve been converting for almost a year and about ready for take off. It’s currently unregistered but renovated to meet MH status easily.Bus is 2006 Thomas with cumins Diesal engine. Question is can I even register it here in California? I doubt it passes smog requirements if necessary. Would the Montana LLC be way to go? Hire private registration service?

[s2mikon]

What do you mean it won't pass smog requirements? Motorhomes are exempt from the Truck and Bus 2011 or newer requirements. If you are a resident of CA be very cautious about registering a vehicle in another state. CA aggressively enforces vehicle registration laws. Don't ask me how I know!

[ol trunt]

IF it is registered as a motorhome in Oregon presently, it may help you get around some CARB requirements. Because of its age and CARB diesel regulations you may not otherwise be able to register it in Ca at all without adding a lot of smog equipment.

This would be a good place to start:

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/fac...an-truck-check

Jack

[Renzo_S]

First of all, don’t tell the DMV that the bus has been in CA for a year (they will want $ for penalties). Make up a recent date within a week prior to the day of your DMV appointment. Get a moving permit(various types-research on CA. DMV. GOV). Tell them it’s an RV but needs CA inspection to change the designation. Just my 2 cents-your mileage may vary. It’s not impossible-good luck!

[Rucker]

Originally Posted by wencington

Hi all. I know this is an ever evolving issue with new laws and regulations so asking for anyone that has good current answer:

I bought my bus in Oregon. I’ve been converting for almost a year and about ready for take off. It’s currently unregistered but renovated to meet MH status easily.Bus is 2006 Thomas with cumins Diesal engine. Question is can I even register it here in California? I doubt it passes smog requirements if necessary. Would the Montana LLC be way to go? Hire private registration service?

I'd probably go to the DMV, show them the title, and say you want to bring it down to California and register it as a motorhome. Then I might want to stop dumping money into it, drag it to a CARB emissions check station, and see what it will take to make it compliant.

Diesel Skoolies ARE NOW subject to Cali CARB emissions. Even if it is a motorhome, and even if you register it outside of California you need to comply with CARB if the vehicle is driving California roads.

There's no avoiding this requirement. Like it or not, California diesel skoolie owners have come under the thumb of the man.

Can't wait to see all the replies about how communist Cali is

Can't wait to see all the posts explaining how easy it is to skirt the requirement

[Renzo_S]

Deets here:
https://becarbcompliant.com/resource...e-regulations/

[nikitis]

Originally Posted by Rucker

I'd probably go to the DMV, show them the title, and say you want to bring it down to California and register it as a motorhome. Then I might want to stop dumping money into it, drag it to a CARB emissions check station, and see what it will take to make it compliant.

Diesel Skoolies ARE NOW subject to Cali CARB emissions. Even if it is a motorhome, and even if you register it outside of California you need to comply with CARB if the vehicle is driving California roads.

There's no avoiding this requirement. Like it or not, California diesel skoolie owners have come under the thumb of the man.

Can't wait to see all the replies about how communist Cali is

Can't wait to see all the posts explaining how easy it is to skirt the requirement

You can't require out of state plates to comply with CARB. It violates the constitution with free interstate travel. Try ticketing me with that and I'll sue the state and set that precedent in stone.

I do plan to drive my pre-emmissions diesel all through California as I have friends who live there and plan to visit them.

[LargeMargeInBaja]

Originally Posted by wencington

... issue with new laws and regulations...

.
Once upon a time, law was written in stone.
Folks could count on it for generations.
.
.
a)
If I was me, I would avoid California taxes and fees and inspections to the utmost of my ability.
I can easily imagine you wasting dozens of hours (precious time you will never recover) fussing with California bureaucrats.
.
I can easily imagine bureaucrat taxes in the range of hundreds of fedbux...
... just to get started.
Each year, those same California bureaucrats require you to waste hundreds more fedbux just for the privilege of owning your property.
.
And, as you so astutely recognize, those same California bureaucrats can change the 'laws' in any direction at any time.
You can bet the bank those new scribblings will benefit the California bureaucrats at your expense.
.
.
b)
In your position, I think I might get an address in Oregon, do the paperwork for Oregon registration, and rarely-slash-never cross the line in California.
.
Our Oregon registration is less than a hundred fedbux every *TWO* years.
Ask anybody in California about their vehicle taxes.
I bet they waste ten times that much...
... every California year instead of every two Oregon years.
.
.
c)
If you choose to cross the border, just say you are heading to Baja.
California bureaucrats never do anything more than the basics.
Anything more than the basics sounds as though it might cut into their break time, their union meeting time, their safety meeting time, and their time discussing their benefits packages.
Transiting campers... not worth their investigative effort.
.
.
d)
Lastly, California license plates carry a stigma.
A lot of otherwise peaceful folks get antagonized by the mere mention of Californians invading normal places.

[Renzo_S]

Originally Posted by nikitis

You can't require out of state plates to comply with CARB. It violates the constitution with free interstate travel. Try ticketing me with that and I'll sue the state and set that precedent in stone.

I do plan to drive my pre-emmissions diesel all through California as I have friends who live there and plan to visit them.

You are correct. I believe the post was concerning CA Residents who try to skirt the law by registering their RV in another state

[nikitis]

Originally Posted by Renzo_S

You are correct. I believe the post was concerning CA Residents who try to skirt the law by registering their RV in another state

I just got done reading the CARB requirements. It's hilarious cause it starts with busses from 1996 and newer. (Mine is 1995),and requires a 2010 or newer engine. They did allow up to 2020 to get a Diesel Particulate filter but you can no longer register a bus with a DPF only, it now requires a 2010 engine or newer. It's funny because my bus is so old even California didn't even account for it, and the idea of me driving through that state with this old as heck bus crop dusting diesel across their state when I visit is just funny to me because they are such tightwads about all of this.

All of this is of course for, and this is key, "Registration" in california. If you are not registering your vehicle there, and just passing through, there's nothing they can do.

Potentially, and I don't know how they would take this, but you could call up the DMV and ask for a 3 day pass which if you get pulled over can show the pass and they have to let you go. But again this only applies to "Operators" which is the exact wording. A privately owned Bus which is not "Operating" as in owner operator shipping goods, it doesn't apply to you. And thus because of the specific wording, it doesn't legally apply to visitors. So you shouldn't even need to ask for a 3 day pass, though I wonder if it would help in the event of an ignoramous police officer pulls you over anyhow.

Nothing I read stated anything about visiting. There was data on out-of-state operators assuming trucking businesses who operate from out of state delivering goods within CA.

Also in addition to those who try to upgrade their busses, for operating as a school district use, not private use, to make them compliant, they would work with you to try to find parts to make your vehicle CARB Compliant, but if either the parts are TOO expensive, you can find an arbitor who can deem your vehicle exempt because parts are difficult if not impossible (most likely is) because the companies that made emissions upgrades for these older vehicles don't make them any longer, you can likely get a legal exemption for your bus and then register it. But it has to go through the process. The process can't force you to go too expensive to retrofit the vehicle. If it costs more than the vehicle is worth they have to exempt it.

None of what I've said here should apply to visitors to the state.

[Rucker]

Originally Posted by Rucker

I'd probably go to the DMV, show them the title, and say you want to bring it down to California and register it as a motorhome. Then I might want to stop dumping money into it, drag it to a CARB emissions check station, and see what it will take to make it compliant.

Diesel Skoolies ARE NOW subject to Cali CARB emissions. Even if it is a motorhome, and even if you register it outside of California you need to comply with CARB if the vehicle is driving California roads.

There's no avoiding this requirement. Like it or not, California diesel skoolie owners have come under the thumb of the man.

Can't wait to see all the replies about how communist Cali is

Can't wait to see all the posts explaining how easy it is to skirt the requirement

I took another look at the Cali CARB requirements. It turns out, out of state motorhomes are exempt. In other words, if you are NOT a Cali resident, CARB doesn't apply to you. Except if you live in Connecticut, Maryland and a couple more East Coast states that reciprocate.

Another tidbit: you can get a 5 day pass to operate in Cali if your vehicle is subject to CARB, not yet a motorhome, and registered elsewhere. This may help the OP. Details by googling 'clean truck check faq'.

[s2mikon]

Correct me if I am wrong about the reciprocating part. If the state you are in has adopted CARB emission requirements, then you must be CARB compliant? I know some states have adopted CARB regulations and others have not.

[cadillackid]

yep im gonna be that guy who says why the heck would anyone live in cali? sorry.. just no.. too many other places where they dont care about my diesel engines and welcome my $$ ...



once san fran became a homeless "paradise" I no longer even have much of a desire to travel to cali... I loved san fran once upon a time..

[Rucker]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

yep im gonna be that guy who says why the heck would anyone live in cali? sorry.. just no.. too many other places where they dont care about my diesel engines and welcome my $$ ...



once san fran became a homeless "paradise" I no longer even have much of a desire to travel to cali... I loved san fran once upon a time..

Sadly, San Francisco is no longer in our 'visit rotation' unless it's work related or a specific thing, like hitting a museum for a show. I hope that changes but it feels like the new norm.

It's the geography that drives CARB. The LA basin and Central Valley get hit with really bad smog.

Things are much better than they were in previous decades, thanks to the regulations. And personally I think they are doing the right thing by shifting the cost to polluters and not leaving it a hidden cost to society.

[nikitis]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

yep im gonna be that guy who says why the heck would anyone live in cali? sorry.. just no.. too many other places where they dont care about my diesel engines and welcome my $$ ...



once san fran became a homeless "paradise" I no longer even have much of a desire to travel to cali... I loved san fran once upon a time..

My wife is from San Fran and she has no desire to ever go back to visit even. When I married her, I asked where do you want to live, back to your home or mine. She was like "Take me the hell away from CA" so We moved to the other coast in South Carolina. Polar opposite states. We haven't been back since I married her 17 years ago.