Bringing cars from Toronto to California

[shaul]

We 're moving from Toronto to California and want to bring Toyota Sienna 2006 and 2009 Honda Civic. Can we bring them to CA?
Can anyone please explain me "NOTE:" below in simple English... I don't understand anything.

from California DMV HTVR9 - How To Register A Out-of-State Vehicle (Nonresident Vehicle)
"Definition of a nonresident vehicle
A nonresident vehicle was last registered outside the state of California. Anyone who brings a vehicle into California, or purchases a nonresident vehicle while in California, should be aware of the registration requirements.
NOTE: California law prohibits residents or businesses from importing and/or registering a new vehicle with less than 7,500 miles at the time of purchase unless it meets or is exempt from California Emission standards. If you acquire a 49-State vehicle (manufactured for all states except California) from another state or country, you may not be able to register your vehicle in California."

[Steven]

What it means is your car has to meet California emission requirements unless it's got at least 12,000km on it already.

Which sounds really dumb to me because all it does is make people drive up to that limit before they register their vehicle, which makes enforcement of the traffic laws harder. Typical Californian legal stupidity.

Bear in mind you have to comply with the Federal import requirements first, which to begin with means you must own the vehicles, i.e. have a bill of sale or title for them.

More info in this thread: Bringing a Canadian Car over to the USA

[shaul]

How I can figure out if the car is California certified?

When I checked emission sticker under the hood, I found only:
EPA: t2b5ldv
ARB: LEV II ULEV PC.

P.S. wE HAVE 2ND car TOYOTA Sienna and on it sticker was clearly written that car is California Certified

[Steven]

Well the older it is the less likely it is to be certified, but that shouldn't normally matter because it will be over the 12,000km limit if it's old so the test doesn't matter.

The only way to know for sure is to contact the California DoT.

Basically you only need to worry about this if the car doesn't have at least 12,000km on the odometer.

[shaul]

1. So, if I drove my Toyota Sienna more than 12,000 km, do I still need to request compliance letter from manufacture?


2. I'm confused. if i bring cars from Canada, I understand that I need to register them in DMV California in 20 days to avoid penalty, but to get SSN, I have to wait at least 4-6 week. So, even in theory I cannot do it (same regarding driver license).
Is anyone knows if for first couple of months, I can drive my car with Ontario plates and license (like tourist). And go to DMV after I get SSN???

[Steven]

You're getting confused between Federal and State law. Anywhere you move in the US you have to comply with the Federal law, i.e. compliance letter (which I have to say I don't think I ever had when I did it, but it was years ago) but you need to do the HS-7 etc. which is covered in the thread I linked to above.

The 12,000km thing is a California State law which is entirely separate from the Federal requirements. Once you've completed the Federal requirements, you need to get a California title for the vehicle and register it there, which is what you need the Federal paperwork for (to show it's legally in compliance with Federal law).

I don't think you need an SSN to register a vehicle in California, only to get a DL. And even then, if you're waiting on your number, you can go to the SSA office and get a letter to that effect and show the DMV that letter instead of your SSN card.

Frankly I'll be astonished if you manage to do the EPA test, get the full CBP clearance, and get the title sorted within 20 days let alone the actual registration, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Usually you can get a temporary title and register the vehicle all in one go, not sure if California is one of the States that do that.

[shaul]

What is it "full CBP clearance"?

[Steven]

They conditionally let the car enter, then you have to get the EPA test and the inspection done, then you go to the CBP office to complete the process. Like I said, check the thread I linked to above.