Update on CA: SPCN Registration

[Rick Parker]

rockindad: SPCN is the key here. In Calif there used to be what was called in "Impact Fee" for an out of state (Non Calif Smog Compiant) vehicle that was brought into California and was collected by DMV or dealers when the car was initially registered in California, 1 time fee $300 plus any and all other fees required to license the vehicle. This was repealled several years ago and the monies were refunded to the people who had paid, but it was in force for several years. For years California had its own set of rules for accepted emission output levels for Production vehicles (Chevy, Dodge,Ford etc), 49 State emissions and then California emission systems.
At one point people were buying cars out of state (Oregon, Nevada, Arizona) without paying for the California Emissions systems that were required on the cars sold by the dealers within the state, bringing them in and licensing them. It was a loophole that was closed when it became a requirement to have 7500 miles on a production car/truck before it could be registered here, there is no flexability in this whatsoever.
In 2001 the New Car Dealer I was employed by received 3 new Domestic High Line Vehicles that did not have Calif emissions on them. They were shipped as part of an allocation and we did not realize they lacked the required emission systems, they were shipped in error. We sold one and did not realize the error until about 6 weeks later. Apparently there was some sort of "Checks & Balances" in place because it was my understanding the registration application was bounced by DMV because the car did not have Calif Emissions. We ended up replacing the vehicle for the customer and sold the original car as used to to a Dealer in Oregon. It was an expensive lesson.