Question for the Community...


I am Active Duty military, and purchased my 2016 Softail Slim S (now with about 5,600 miles on it) in Florida. Registered in Florida.


My next duty station, permanent, will be in California.


I want to check my thinking here.


As I read the California DMV rules, my Harley would be exempt from the California CARB rules since I am AD military. So, I would be able to add non-California approved aftermarket exhaust systems to my Harley, and bring it to California and register it.


Am I correct in this? Or am I missing something?


R,
Sanjuro

 

I don't know about AD exemptions, but wait till it has 7,500 miles on it and just bring the paperwork to register in CA. No one will check the bike. Very few in CA run EPA or CARB legal exhaust. Mostly not a problem as long as you don't wring it out at every stop light.

Hard to get exhaust and tuners shipped to CA though so you may want to get it set up and tuned in Florida before bringing it.

 

^ Thats true, 7500 miles you should be able to register it. But also I thought you could register it in what ever state your from. And as long as you are Active Duty I think you can keep it registered in that state.

 

The 7500 mile rule is for CA residents buying out of state. No SMOG checks on bikes so you should be fine.

 

Add whatever you want. Nobody checks. There will be a DMV inspection but they just verify the engine and frame numbers. Because you're active military the 7500 mile rule does not apply. If the low paid clerk at DMV says it does, ask to speak to a manager.

 

So when did out of state bikes stop getting inspected by the CHP ? They don't bother with all the CARB bs but they do do the numbers check.

 

Last bike we bought was in May this year. It had an AZ title. 2007 Sportster 1200 roadster. Just a simple paperwork transfer. Title and registration. No physical inspection of the bike.

 

Unless you are taking up residency here I would keep it registered in your home state.
There's no need to give CA your money.

BTW When I registered my bike in CA (1990) the DMV made me pay the sales tax, even though I had already paid sales tax in my home state where I got the bike.

I was in the same situation that you are in. I was stationed in Japan and had gotten PCS'd to CA.

 

Wonder if that's a border state thing ? Went through a spell when I was buying bikes in the midwest and south and bringing them back here and everyone had to get CHP inspected.

 

Don't worry, active military is exempt from importing vehicles from out of state. You will just need to show proof of service.