Miata Mailing List: January 1998, Message #38
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From: 	Jason Wassman and Satori <jgarcia@pacbell.net>

Subject: Re: "Importing" Miata from New York

Date: 	Thu, 1 Jan 1998 14:20:22 +0000







Eric A. Amador wrote:



> <snip>

>

> So, here are my major questions:  I suppose I have to register the car in

> California.  How much is that horrible fee that California charges when you

> register an out-of-state car here?  What's the fee called and how does it

> work?  Is there any way to avoid it?

>



My girlfriend found out about this the hard way when she tried to keep her Utah

registration while living in California.  The fee is $300. Its called an

'enviromental impact fee/tax'. The way it works is that a DMV worker looks on

the underside of your hood and reads the line that says, "This car meets all

requirements of the EPA(and the state of California)" Now your car shouldnt say

anything about the state of California.(Thats why you have to pay) From what I

understand if you can put a new hood on your car, one from a Ca. car for the

day, you should be free of the charge. (it is a one time charge) What really

gets me is the fact that there is NOTHING different between most models

regardless of where they were sold.  Stacy's car, a 93 civic is emitting about

1% of the allowable waste, but alas, she had to pay the fee. Now heres the REAL

inside info....If the car goes on a smog machine in Ca. the DMV knows about

it.  Stacy was going to get her smog test in California, and Utah was willing

to exempt her from the saftey inspection, but before she mailed the check to

Utah, the wonderful State of California sent her a letter in the mail threating

to charge her with some crime and fining her $1000 if she did registar in Utah.

(Guilty before the charges are filed I guess)  Whats even better is that I know

of MANY  people with Ca. plates that have LEFT the state 5, 10 or more years

ago, but I guess that THEY aren't guilty of anything.



When I bought Satori, I hadn't turned in my Idaho DL. for a Utah one. It was

May, so I just drove to Idaho, and took care of business there. I saved money

on the sales tax, and my total yearly expense to registar the car is a

disgusting $29.  I have since followed Stacy to California, and will NEVER give

up my Idaho plates.  Besides the low fees, I can drive like a lost tourist

anytime I like, have the top down in the 'bone chilling cold' of 50f, and

actually have the CHiPs wave to ME!!!



> Also, I have family ties in New Hampshire, New York and Arizona, among

> other states.  Is there any chance I could register the car in one of those

> states?  (Unfortunately, my credit union might not appreciate such a move.)

>



I dont know about this aspect, as I paid cash for Satori.



> <SeriousbandwidthSnip>



> Eric Amador



Jason and SatoriPhredd 91base