Moving to NorCal - SR w/ out of state plates

[sill beer]

I am relocating from Mass. to NorCal in July for work. I have a 91' SR'd 240sx and need to know what to expect from California cops and smog tests. I've searched around and found that basically its impossible to legally drive a SR'd 240 in the state of California. My car passed inspection in Mass and i have Mass plates, if i just keep my Mass plates on my car for as long as possible, can i legally drive it in California? If i get pulled over will i be subjected to the cops visual inspection if i have out of state plates? Is having out of state plates a loop hole?

Also, how long can i live in CA and keep out of state plates and a Mass ID?

Thanks

[gerson408]

dude my friend had a 240sx with a sr that was registered in washington and i guess he got pulled over sevral times and i guess the cops let him go because the plates dont show up on there computer.

[ILL S13]

Keep your mass plates as long as you can!

[drift_limo]

keep the plates.
But if they see your car all the time they will ask for you to become a resident.
I could be wrong.
cali guys shime in?

[skavenger]

if your around for more than 7 days,and if they catch on they will tow your car and hold it on a 30 day impound..

[illvialuver]

keep the plates and dont sweat it, if they harrass you just say you go back and forth all the time and you dont want to live here. So, what part of nor cal?

[Ares240SX]

I have a buddy who has family back home in Iowa, all his cars are Iowa registered. Never gets bothered by the police. As long as you don't draw attention to yourself by driving like a fool you'll be fine.

[miravete]

you´re considered out of state resident UNTILL you start earning wages in Cali.

or you setup residence in cali, then you have 30 days to change plates after you start living in cali

but like the previoues guy said, just hold on to your plates, and drivers licence and ride it out as much as you can.

but keep in mind, if you get pulled over, they might tell you that you have 30days to switch plates...

but till then, youre an out of state resident.

oh, if you have a modified exhaust, it doesnt matter if youre out of state, youre still liable for that.

motor wise, not sure.

[sill beer]

its good to hear all these guys w out-of-state plates are "getting away with it".

They can really impound it for a month? I don't drive like a d-bag so i hope i'll be good.

the office is in Alameda. I still haven't found a place to live out there, but i'm looking in the east bay area, any suggestions? I would like to garage it, but a private gated parking lot will do.

[BlueKpS13]

Because the car is not a California registered car it doesnt have to meet the emissions/smog/whateverthefuck standards. But it only last 2 years I believe. Drive it while you got it. But theyll get you on "too low", "unsafe vehicle", "aftermarket exhaust", etc, etc, etc.

[Shadowhunter]

My friend has been driving a turbo gsr for years here with out of state plates/reg. Just don't do anything stupid and no one will look at you twice.

[projekt_s13]

alemeda/oakland area the cops have other things to worry about so they wont bother you as long as your exhaust is not super loud and you dont drive stupid. I used to live down there for over 5 years and i never got messed with.

[sill beer]

i have a GP Sports EXAS catback w/ a test pipe (convinced mass inspection guys it was a cat), so am i basically screwed on that front, even if im out of state?

It isnt loud and obnoxious like those guys in their civics, it actually sounds awesome, a nice low GRRRR at idle...now that i think of it sounds really awesome....they should be paying me for bringing such a sweet sound to their state.

[sill beer]

alemeda/oakland area the cops have other things to worry about so they wont bother you as long as your exhaust is not super loud and you dont drive stupid. I used to live down there for over 5 years and i never got messed with.

Alameda is ghetto? my bro lived there when i went to visit him 3 years ago (he lives in south SF now), but it seemed like a nice little suburb right on the beach.

[Mitsubayati]

I have a friend who has Mass plates too. He just set his residence as the one he had over there. He's been living in Cali forever. You just need to not put your name on things which kind of sucks haha

Oakland is ghetto dude. But Projekt is right, the east bay is pretty chill. I live in San Leandro which is a 10 minute drive from Alameda. Never really got harassed by cops and I'm kitted with 18s haha. Just don't act like a fool and they won't pull you over. Just make sure not to go to San Jose. That's a whole 'nother story. I got pulled over for being too low once. If you are looking for local forums for more info, PM or AIM me . . . gl dude

[slider2828]

All in All where in Norcal are you staying.... its a bit of a micro economy here so every county is different....

[JeremyR]

alright the worst thing that can happen to you is they give you a state ref ticket for the sr.

if you dick with them and be an ass they WILL tow the car, so just take the ticket.

its basically a fix it ticket. but only the state ref can sign it off.

you do have the option of paying a fine, and making the whole thing go away.

if you decide to swap in a ka and go to the ref, the ticket is 10 bucks.

if you decide to keep the sr in and jsut pay the fine, its anywhere from 400-600.

thats how it is in CA. it sucks, but i just deal with it and pay the fine.

don't drive like an idiot and for the most part you'll be okay?

[lame_s13]

As long as you have a drivers license from that state you can usually get away with it. Once you switch to ca they might question you a bit more but cops over here are usually chill as long as you have a good attitude. Just dont give them too many reasons to pull you over. (tint, no front plate etc.)

[xanu8isx]

naw dont trip. as long as u got a way to register ur car and have insurance in another state. the cops cant do shit cuz its legal over there. all they can do is hassel u for not having cali plates. and if they ask y u don't have then just say cuz ur here for work and u don't know when they're sending ur back. trust me on this i have fam in law inforcement and i figured out ways around that shit. good luck on not getting hasseled though.

[ThatGuy]

Post questions like this in the appropriate Regional Section.

:lockd: