Importing a 74 from Europe to CA - Registering

[notchboy]

Once the bus is here, you go to the DMV - give them your OG paperwork for the bus, any customs paperwork required, then sent it to Sacramento then send you a new registration and plates.

Easy as that. The bad part of this is that in Europe - especially Germany the registration is part of the buses history from new if all the owners kept it nice. The DMV will not give you back the OG stuff - they will destroy it. Because of this, you can tweak the system. Like go in with the Vin on a made up bill of sale. The DMV looks for it - not going to be in the system - they register it to you on a one year "temp" registration in your name - no title. Then after a year, they send you a title.

Up to you and your juevos level.
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[Abscate]

You are dead if they insist on that letter.

VW is uninterested in conforming to EPA rules, on so many levels
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.ssS!

[OB Bus]

[Mattink]

[Mattink]

Related question, anyone you all recommend to transport a VW from CA to SC? Looks like my little truck is going to the palmetto state.

[SGKent]

The DMV site explains it all. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/vehicle-ind...-vehicles/

Maybe it wasn't this thread but I said do not register it in California or even start one as the first state of record. The bus will have to adhere to California Regulations for its year and that is why they want the letter from VW. You also need the safety letter. I don't believe that VW went thru the tests on the cabs so you may or may not be able to get the letter. If the cab uses the same VW engine number as the other bays then you should be able to use the letter CARB has already (link to EO below). BUT let's say that the 1974 has a European upright engine that was never tested in CA then you may be in trouble. California will treat that bus as a CALIFORNIA port of entry bus if it is not registered in another state for while first. You don't want that. People misunderstand what the 1975 exemption is - it is exemption from bi-annual testing. It does not exempt a car from having to be smog legal. Any car later than 1966 in California has to be maintained as smog legal. People get around it because there is no testing, and often parts aren't available so there would be waivers. But there will be an inspection when it is imported. If it comes from another state the visual is not as extensive as from a foreign country. Also I think you have to get a weight sticker on it from a certified truck scale listed by the DMV but it has been a while since I helped someone with that.

Also I don't remember where but I have seen the letters from VW's testing online. CARB also has copies. I worked for CalEPA and with many of the CARB people. I can't help you but I can tell you that you will have to jump thru their hoops, they will not jump thru yours, and I advise ALWAYS be polite.

DO NOT register it or attempt to in California unless it is 100% smog legal including visual AND if it is any other engine code that listed in the CARB approval EO and or the VIN is outside the range. Drive it and keep it in another state with your family or something where you don't have the smog issues and then some day bring it to California once you decide to be here with it. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/classic...d8_ta0.pdf The EO says resinded so I don't know what that is about.

edit: Here is another one that says Air Injection instead of fuel injection and it is for a different engine code. Hopefully it is yours, and your bus is still 100% stock smog legal. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/classic...d8_ta0.pdf
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[notchboy]

So yeah, you are fucked. You already gave them the goods.
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[Mattink]

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

[SGKent]

here is a cut and paste from the Foreign Import page at CA DMV

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/new-registration/register-an-imported-vehicle/

Evidence that the vehicle meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California emissions standards.

This includes an EPA and California emissions label attached to the vehicle.
A smog certificate.
This applies to gasoline vehicles manufactured after 1968.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Mattink]

Yes, I started this thread with that link.

It's a 1584cc Type 1 engine, Engine code AS 143155

According to:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/engine_letters.php
It's a 1600cc 50bhp DIN. Non-USA.

It looks like the 74 US engine was:
AH 1973-74 1600cc 48bhp DIN, 46HP SAE-net. USA-only

[metahacker]

is it not as simple as getting it tagged in another state then transferring that and keeping your mouth shut about it's Type 1 engine etc?

[Abscate]

[Xevin]

[notchboy]

[SGKent]

[Abscate]

Smog is the biggest hurdle in CA. A 1964 car is exempt. Anything 1975 1968 and later isn't.
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.ssS!

[Mattink]

Follow up to all of this:

I transported the single cab to South Carolina and had no problem walking out with new plates and a SC state title in about 45 minutes. It is amazing how fast other DMVs can be outside of California.

Once I was registered in SC I called the special import board at the DMV to notify them that I would not be registering the vehicle in state and to please cancel the registration process and refund my fees. A couple weeks later I received 2 new plates, stickers, and registration receipt.

This seemed too good to be true and it was.

I called the DMV to check that the single cab was in their system but was told that the registration was "pending." A few more phone calls and I learned that the plates were issued but I shouldn't drive with them until the EPA emissions were certified by VW or the California Clean Air Resource Board - back to the last request of the import board. That's not going to happen so I requested to cancel the registration process again and submitted the forms to get a refund on the registration fee. It'll arrive sometime around when hell freezes over.

Good news, I have a great single cab that can be driven on the East Coast and now have a excuse to look for a new, old bus or single cab for my daily driver. This time it's going to be a 67' or older.