What cars aren't CA emissions compliant?

"GreenN_Gold" (GreenN_Gold)
04/10/2015 at 11:50 • Filed to: None

I got the renewal letter recently for my vehicle tabs. I noticed a small paragraph on the back of the letter along with some other notices. It said basically, "If you purchase a new vehicle, make sure it is CA emissions compliant. Washington State requires all vehicles model year 2009 or newer to be CA emissions compliant in order to be registered."

So....what kind of cars are we going to miss out on now here in WA State? I assume 99% of vehicles are compliant, but there must be some out there that aren't. And I also wonder what happens to the poor SOB that owns or buys a non-compliant vehicle.

DISCUSSION (11)

dogisbadob > GreenN_Gold
04/10/2015 at 12:01

Note that it only applies to new cars, not used :)

Also, the only ones not to met CA standards are probably some exotics and maybe a couple diesels

Aaron M - MasoFiST > GreenN_Gold
04/10/2015 at 12:01

The era of 49-state vehicles is pretty much over, though not entirely. I was looking into BMWs the other day, and the E46 330ci had a standard and a SULEV engine for different markets. Even that was ten years ago, and these sorts of situations are way more rare than they were at the beginning of the CARB era in the 80s and early 90s.

iNvDrZiM > GreenN_Gold
04/10/2015 at 12:08

You're right that most new vehicles ("new" based on 7,500 miles or less on the odometer) sold in the US are CA compliant. In the past vehicle manufacturers would oftentimes make vehicles with the required emission equipment for sale only in CA (they were called 50-state vehicles). As a California resident you can not buy a non-50 state compliant vehicle that has less than 7,500 miles and register it in the state - but anything after that is fair game.

The reality is that you probably will not miss out on anything. Remember, California is a big market and to not sell there would make a dent in most manufacturers sales figures. Also other historically-lax states are now starting to implement more stringent emissions regulations. It makes much less sense now for manufacturers to split manufacturing up into 2 batches of the same car when they can eat the cost of simply including the required equipment in all their vehicles.

More info: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/det…

GreenN_Gold > dogisbadob
04/10/2015 at 12:21

The message doesn't stipulate that. It simply states that any model year 2009 or newer has to be CA compliant to be registered. The wording was addressed to future new car buyers though, so maybe you're right.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > GreenN_Gold
04/10/2015 at 12:22

I'm never moving to California. Fuck that place.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > GreenN_Gold
04/10/2015 at 12:27

I would think...most of them? Most manufacturers have PZEV cars for the CA emissions states; those states in the center of the country don't require it and those cars therefore aren't PZEV'ed. I know at least until recently, the Subarus I bought in NM were not CA compliant.

AM > GreenN_Gold
04/10/2015 at 12:57

I don't think you can really find a new car that doesn't meet CA standards. Even the Hellcat twins are CA emissions compliant, both are classified as LEV II vehicles.

GreenN_Gold > iNvDrZiM
04/10/2015 at 13:15

I work (not live, mind you) in a wealthy area so I luckily get to see a lot of exotic cars. I'm wondering if this law means there are some exotics I'll never see because they can't be registered in my State.

GreenN_Gold > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/10/2015 at 13:15

Me neither most likely, but it keeps moving up here, in more and more ways.

GreenN_Gold > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
04/10/2015 at 13:16

Maybe it varies by region, but nearly all of the Subarus I see around here have PZEV badges on the back, unless they're WRX's and STi's.

GreenN_Gold > AM
04/10/2015 at 13:25

I know the Hellcats are compliant, because I've seen two on the road already! : )

I'm just wondering if there are some exotics I'll never get a chance to see because they're forbidden fruit in WA State.