Registering an Out-of-State 370z in California
 

Does anyone know any information about the 370z in relation to California and its adherence their special smog laws?

I currently live in NY, am moving to California within the next couple of months and wanted to buy a 370z before I got out there -- most likely it would be purchased outside of California.

Thanks!
- J

The Z is 50 state legal so as for emissions? you should be fine as long as you smog it when the time comes with the stock cats

Run NY tags so the Cali police don't give you a hard time. The Cali police are really bad out there.

U will get hassled a lot more with out of state tags
Also u have only 20 days to register your car or face fines

I bought my Nismo and it was registered in AZ. It was a bit of a process but not too terrible. I would reccomend if you have AAA it makes the experience MUCH easier because you can do all your registration services thru AAA. Mine was a little bit more of a hassle becuase it had less than 7,500 miles on it and California has an issue with cars that have less than 7,500 miles on it coming in from another state. Had to do a VIN Verification with the DMV and obviously get it smogged. After all that and submitting it to DMV it took about 12 weeks to receive my plates.

Here's the process u must follow to register an out of state vehicle
Registering a Vehicle From Out of State Checklist

You should get it smogged and then promptly switch to test pipes to protest their ridiculous vehicle policy

I'm glad I do not live in Cali. I can not believe you had to wait 12 weeks to get your plates.

Where in Cali? also, Being from NY and transferring between the two a couple times with plates your better off wait until you get out here. Taxes on the car will transfer to just about anywhere, and your yearly registration will be paid in the same deal. This is every year... and a lot more expensive then NY. You pay your first year with your loan... it is better then paying NY and then switching as you will pay for it twice, not to mention gas for travel or shipping.

Another note you pay taxes in CA it will transfer to just about any other state.

In regards to smog, dont bring it with engine mods if you do bring it.

Also with a CA new car you dont smog it for the first 5 years not sure if this applies to out of state bring ins.

Send me a pm if you have any other questions i have not answered!

Custom plates are a wait and now come with the ca.dmv.gov printed on the bottom.

There policy is ridiculous, but if you do stuff smartly you can get by.

If I were you, I'd buy the car here in CA so you don't pay any extra taxes or registration fees when you register it here.

Second, make sure that the car is CA smog legal - in other words, no modifications that would be prohibited in CA. Any mods that aren't CA smog legal will have to be un-done before you can register the car here.

What kind of taxes are we talking about? I assume not sales tax? I did hear you have to pay the greater of the 2 sales taxes if you buy out of state and bring into California. What else is there?

One of the main reasons I want to buy out of CA, is that I'm looking for a very specific used 2011, and it's very unlikely that I can find it in any one state. I'm even having trouble finding it anywhere across the US at the moment.

Thanks in advance!

You will pay the difference if not the full amount CA his one of the highest tax rates. And registration fees for example that was a $337 registration bill i just paid...and a yearly cost. So you would pay all this plus your NY taxes/registration.

What is so specific about the 2011 your looking at? Your going to spend more money to buy it and move the car then it is worth. Im pretty sure you could find one here in CA.

What he says:

I don't know for sure, but I'd be willing to be there are more 370Zs here in CA than just about anywhere else, so you might have higher chances of finding the specific car you're looking for here. Just a guess...

And, yeah - what's so specific about the Z you're trying to buy? Just curious...

I'm looking for a 370z in gun metallic exterior with persimmon leather, sports package. The sports package is easy to find, but the color combination is near impossible. I found one in the Chicago area, and it's the only I've found looking at over 1000 2011s. Persimmon leather interior, in general, seems to be pretty rare.

I'm moving out to Cali for work, and my new company is paying for a full relocation, which includes a car shipment. So, that's no a a big issue. The taxes thing does scare me though, but from what I've heard you only need to pay extra if the car has under 7500 miles on it.