Registering an out of state bike in CA
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
Nevada also sells 50 state compliant bikes. New ones are a little cheaper there too compared to this area...
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 954
Likes: 4
From: CA
oh the taxes...i love how CT also charges you for property tax on my motorcycle, even though I own it and its paid out..so not only do you pay taxes when you buy it, you pay taxes again on how much its worth...every year...nuts.
I need to move all the other states around me that dont charge you vehicle tax, or to some place warmer soon, so I dont have to pay the Motor Vehicle Tax every year.
I need to move all the other states around me that dont charge you vehicle tax, or to some place warmer soon, so I dont have to pay the Motor Vehicle Tax every year.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 11,155
From: San Diego, CA
There are 50 states emissions for fed rules. All HDs meet that spec. In CA, they also need the state of CA certification as dictated by CARB. As of 2012, the only difference between the CA cert and the 50 states bikes, was a filter on the gas tank vent to intake loop.
here's the label on my 2012 Ultra....
The manufacturer/ 50 states federal emissions label is on the other down tube by the shifter......
here's the label on my 2012 Ultra....
The manufacturer/ 50 states federal emissions label is on the other down tube by the shifter......
Last edited by hattitude; Aug 8, 2014 at 10:25 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
I live in chicago and I peeled the label off to clean up the look of the bike prior to even having any idea that such an emission law existed and I have a California guy looking to buy my bike. Uh oh... Any pics of that breather close up???
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 11,155
From: San Diego, CA
The inspection only cares about the manufacturers labels on the bike. Without the CA cert label, even if you showed them it had the necessary extra stuff, they won't care... they just want to see that label..
There is a pic of the "Evaporative Emissions Components" in the 2012 Touring Parts Manual (pages 148-149). It is also covered in the 2012 Touring Service Manual (starting on page 4-38). I'm sure it's in all the parts/service manuals, but the Touring is all I have to reference page numbers. I don't have a pic of it on the bike. On my touring bike, it's buried behind a bunch of stuff, forward of the battery and under the frame/seat....
Good luck....
Road Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 789
Likes: 4
From: Utah
If the bike has over 7500 miles and is 50 states certified (hope you didn't remove that label..) then you won't need the CA cert label... If you removed both labels, you'll have trouble selling the bike...
The inspection only cares about the manufacturers labels on the bike. Without the CA cert label, even if you showed them it had the necessary extra stuff, they won't care... they just want to see that label..
The inspection only cares about the manufacturers labels on the bike. Without the CA cert label, even if you showed them it had the necessary extra stuff, they won't care... they just want to see that label..
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 11,155
From: San Diego, CA
I was under the impression it was either/or on the 7,500 miles or CARB certified sticker. If it has over 7,500 it shouldn't matter that the labels are gone right? Plus, you could always do a VIN check (which the buyer will have to have done anyways to register it) and see if it's 49 or 50 state compliant. I doubt the gov would go solely off the label as there would then be a market for forged labels. The VIN should tell them everything.
I don't believe a vehicle newer than 25 years old can be registered without one or the other...
Anytime you bring a motor vehicle into CA from another state, a peace officer or DMV inspector/designee must "verify" the vehicle. Part of that process is to check the emissions label and the US Federal Certification Label.
If both your labels are missing, I do not believe he will be able to pass the vehicle verification process.
No verification, no registration...
The "Verification of Vehicle" form, REG 31 (rev. 1/2012) can be found online.
On the form, question #8, asks what type of emissions label the vehicle has. It asks if the label "meets US EPA standards", "meets US EPA standards and CA Standards" or "meets CA standards only". There is also a box for "none" but I believe you'll be unable to register it with "none" checked.
Also....
Every vehicle has a "US Federal Certification Label". In a car it's in the door jamb. On my bike it's on the left down tube. It shows, VIN, date of manufacture, GVWR, GAWR front, GAWR rear, and that the vehicle conforms to all US federal safety standards.
The verification form, question 6 asks two questions about the "US Federal Certification Label". It asks if it's present and agrees with the VIN, and if it indicates it conforms to US Federal safety standards. the form states this label "not required for 25 model years and older or OHVs".
It is my understanding that the CA buyer will not be able to register the vehicle in this state with either, or both, of these labels missing.
You should have him call the CA DMV to confirm this.
Sorry to muck up your sale, but that CA guy will hate you if you just sell it to him without warning him of the issues...
Last edited by hattitude; Aug 9, 2014 at 12:02 AM.
Stage II
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: so cal
California has a record of all vehicles that have California smog on them. If the sticker is missing, you can still register it here. I just went through that. The bike was sold here. The guy moved to Arizona. The sticker was removed. The bike came back to California. The California DMV had it listed as originally being bought here.