cost of converting out-of-state 2003 vehicle to 50 state vehicle (buying, DMV)

[cgallegos49]

Can someone give me a ball park figure of what it will cost to convert a 2003 out-of-state Buick Regal to a 50 state vehicle? We are relocating from Boston to California and I hear its "kind of expensive." We all have a different definition of expensive, so can someone give me a somewhat realistic figure?

Thanks.
C

[JackSparrow]

it's no "cost" if it has a certain number of miles on it. Cars and motorcycles only need 7,500 miles on them to be registered. RV's need something closer to 60,000 miles on them to pass the out of state thing:

Before Buying a Vehicle From Out of State—Be Sure You Can Register It in California (FFVR 29)

Good luck!

[TonyT]

Well it was always my understanding that if you moved from another state and the car you bring to California was smog legal in that state, then there is no registration issue in California. You would be required to have the car smogged before registering it, but the car would be tested based on the Federal smog standards, not California's. Since this is exactly what you will be doing, I can't see why you would need to convert the vehicle in any way.

[TonyT]

Now that I think about it for a second, I may need to correct myself slightly. Given the age of the car (2003), you may not have to get it smogged before you can register it in California. I know there is a formula that they use to determine when a car needs to start being tested, I believe based primarily on year of manufacture, but I don't know the specific details.

My guess is though that it will be a simple matter of going to the DMV closest to where you're going to be living, presenting them with the title for verification of ownership, surrendering your out of state plates, and paying your license and registration fees.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by cgallegos49

Can someone give me a ball park figure of what it will cost to convert a 2003 out-of-state Buick Regal to a 50 state vehicle? We are relocating from Boston to California and I hear its "kind of expensive." We all have a different definition of expensive, so can someone give me a somewhat realistic figure?

Thanks.
C

what is a "50 state vehicle?"

[TonyT]

Katenik:

A 50 state vehicle refers to a car that was manufactured so that it would meet both Federal and California emission control standards.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by TonyT

Katenik:

A 50 state vehicle refers to a car that was manufactured so that it would meet both Federal and California emission control standards.

thanks. learn something new every day, as they say.