Question for those knowledgeable on CA smog laws

[darkspork]

My wife and I are residents of California residing outside of the state (North Dakota). We live in North Dakota because I am active duty military and I have orders here. Her car is registered in California and will be due for a smog test next year. The problem is that we will not be able to return to California for a smog test before her registration expires. The simplest and least expensive option is to register the car here (ND), but she wants to keep her California plates.

Is there a way around needing to smog her vehicle to register it next year? I researched on DMV's website and couldn't find anything helpful (I can't imagine why they would want to miss out on registration fees). I don't know that this is the right forum to post in but it seemed most appropriate.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

I am almost sure you have to get it tested on california test equiptment. How long do you plan on living in SD it is probably cheaper to just change the plates there. You can call the DMV in california and ask if the SD emissions test will be good enough to register my mail. It seems we have to change plates here in WA every other year anyway.

 

[darkspork]

I live in ND, there are no emissions laws. As long as you can pay registration fees you can register your car. I'll be here another 3 years (probably), it's way cheaper to register her car here but she wants to keep her California tags. Oh well, California's loss.

 

[MakerOfBeast]

if i remember right the military has some sort of exemption for people stations out of there home state for smoging their cars. but damned if i can remember what it is.

 

[94xlt4.0]

i just completed a smog cousre but for some reason i cant remember the law on that, but for some reason i think there is an exemption for military but i dont know for sure

 

[Viper Command]

The first thing that popped in my head, is to (non opp.) your ca plates its under $20 and get your ND plates and when you return, do your smog and reg.

 

[tbirdsps]

Why don't you just ask the DMV? Or look around the site.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/