AnabelleT
Newbie
Posts: 1
Registered: 4-13-2007
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Smog check - Car in Baja???
What can I do if I need to get my registration sticker and a smog check is required. My car is in Cabo San Lucas now but I have California License
Plates???
Help!!
Thank you!
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tehag
Super Nomad
Posts: 1248
Registered: 1-8-2005
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smog
Went through that for years. Cal DMV was very uncooperative. A certificate of non-operation works, but you don't get tags. You might buy a diesel or
something old enough to be exempt. Or you can import your car and get Mexican plates. Good luck.
Almost forgot the most common dodge for expats: register the car in another state. Idaho, Arizona, Nevada are all popular here.
[Edited on 4-13-2007 by tehag]
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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It can be done. We did it for years before we imported all our cars. The problem is that all Cal DMV's do not know the law. If you are patient and
talk to them with authority you can get it done. If you are near Walnut Creek go in there. I educated them years ago. The important thing is to
explain that even though the exemption states on it "except Mexico" if you are in Los Cabos which is 1000 miles from the border, that doesnt apply.
You can download the form from the DMV website.
also here is a thread about this
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=18365#pid1592...
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oldjack
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smog
remove Idaho from that "easy" smog inspection state... it doesn't apply... I am from Boise and my MX vehicles are registered in CA... using the
exemption mentioned above
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bajalou
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Registered: 3-11-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tehag
Almost forgot the most common dodge for expats: register the car in another state. Idaho, Arizona, Nevada are all popular here.
[Edited on 4-13-2007 by tehag] |
But Az and Nev require you to have US insurance all the time or they will cancel the registration. Understand CA has gone to this also. I don't like
paying for insurance that isn't good where the car is located.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
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Yes you have to have insurance in Cal. I dont believe that is new.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajajudy
Yes you have to have insurance in Cal. I dont believe that is new. |
It is new that they will cancel you registration if the insurance company notifies them you aren't insured. Up to now, for cars in Baja, you could
buy 1 day or 1 week insurance and they would renew your registration. If the car is NEVER in the US, I really don't want to have to buy US ins.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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oxxo
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Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by AnabelleT
What can I do if I need to get my registration sticker and a smog check is required. My car is in Cabo San Lucas now but I have California License
Plates???
Help!!
Thank you!
|
There was a time, long, long ago when the Los Angeles basin had the same air quality as Los Cabos. That changed unfortunately, with a burgeoning
population and more polluting cars (sound familiar in Los Cabos?). However, this has changed for the positive recently in the LA basin with improved
air quality through the implementation and enforcement, among other things, of a rigorous smog check program.
Do we really want the air quality in Los Cabos to be like that of LA? Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Oh, I know, the
Mexicans don't have to have their cars smogged so why shoud I? Because it is the right thing to do. Sure, there are ways to get around the smog
requirement in Los Cabos, and it is inconvenient to drive all the way back to California to have it smogged, but get your car smogged, it is the
responsible thing to do. What kind of world do you want to leave for the children of Los Cabos?
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
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I didnt know that you could buy 1 day and get away with it. DARN!
We have always kept our ins policy in the states on our us vehicles. There was a time when Mex Ins was only valid with a us policy in force.
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