My car has to pass a smog test without being registered so I can't drive it, what do I do?
Posted by TheMegaMagikarp@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 52 comments
So my car is a 2001 Toyota Camry. It's not registered in my name, the registration went out at the end of October, and I only just got my permit this last Friday. Since I'm uninsured, I was gonna get practice with my friend's dad and have him take me to some open lots to get some reps in, that way I have the practice to feel comfortable going for the license test and get insured, but the registration is expired. So, okay, I just need to re-up the registration.
But it's not in my name, and to put it in my name, I need to get a smog test done. No big deal, except my car's battery died. I didn't realize that's make a smog test fail, but from what the lady who ran it told me, she said it looked fine besides the stuff that was affected by the battery dying.
Since I can't get it in my name, and the person who technically owns it is a whole state away in Oregon (I'm in CA), I feel like I'm in a trifecta of issues, and I don't know the best way to get out of it. What should I do?
jeepsies@reddit
Replace the battery and go get the smog test.
TheMegaMagikarp@reddit (OP)
That was already done, but only was able to get a few miles from my friend driving it. I need to put some 50 miles on it, which I can't do on my own with just a permit. Driving it for the necessary miles will be able to happen as soon as next week, but then the matter of insurance and registration comes up.
jeepsies@reddit
Wait a week, get smog test, register it, insure it.
TheStig827@reddit
The car has to be driven a certain amount of cycles in order for the onboard ECU to collect enough data to validate emissions compliance, and declare ready. You won't get that from being parked and trying again in a week.
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
My god why do people still live in California?
Baranjula@reddit
34 states test for emissions, California has nothing to do with resetting the ECU, what exactly.is your point?
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
Yeah my state tests for emissions but I don't have to drive it a certain amount of miles I bring it to the shop it passes it passes
Baranjula@reddit
They have to drive it because the battery died and the ECU was cleared has nothing to do with California
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
Okay well if my battery died I can put in a new one and get it's yearly inspection done and I drive away. No miles regardless. I let a car sit for a year. Needed a new battery and was not registered or inspected. I put in a battery and took it to the shop passed inspection and registered it. So again don't know what this miles bs is.
bentripin@reddit
OBD2 Readiness Monitors are requires to be in the "Passed" status, every modern car has these as they self test the emissions gear.
Most states w/Emissions Inspections do "Readiness Checks", they plug into the OBD2 port and will fail if the Readness is incomplete or failed. The Readiness monitors are cleared when the ECM loses power, a short drive cycle at operating temperature is typically adequate to get the monitors all to complete their tests.
Its to prevent you from having a CEL light for something like a failed catalytic converter, and clearing the code in the line at the emissions testing place so it dont have enough time to come back on while they are testing.
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
Never knew that. My buddy failed smog and he wasn't even throwing emissions codes but he was throwing something else in one bank i can't remember. It might have been a cat code but i can't remember. I didn't clear his codes because he doesn't do his own work and I wanted whatever shop or whoever to see the codes. But I used to have a chrysler that constantly threw a evap code and I would clear it constantly just cuz it pissed me off and 2 mechanics nor myself could find it. Never knew if I got it inspected I could pass smog so easily.
bentripin@reddit
yeah most OBD2 scanners will show you the readiness status.
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
Thank you. Idk why I'm down voted lol
TheStig827@reddit
If California was a nation, it would be the 4th largest economy on the planet.
It is the single state with the highest GDP in the entire united states, representing 14% of the entire economy.
The weather is basically excellent almost always.
There's a diverse mix of cultures all within arms reach.
Basically, everything you enjoy comes from California.
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
I live in NYC. Well make it without you I'm sure
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
And don't worry I hate it here too.
mmmmmyee@reddit
Get temp tag from dmv, may help to bring fail sheet with you so dmv person believes you
KlueBat@reddit
Its not just a matter of replacing the batter. The car has to go through sufficient drive cycles to set the monitors, that is going to be difficult for OP if the car is not road legal.
RabidAcorn@reddit
It just needs to be driven a bit for all the systems to be ready, catalytic converter and o2 sensors primarily. I'm sure I'll be heavily down voted for this but I'd just drive it until the systems are ready, your chances of getting caught are insanely small. But then again I haven't renewed plates or gotten an inspection sticker since 2018 đ
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
Damm ur wild I can't do that in nyc with all the cameras. Plus traffic cops now just can scan our stickers and if they r not there or bad they can ticket or possibly tow.
RabidAcorn@reddit
I try to be by the book but I just can't get down with paying $80 for some guy to jack my car up and fail it because he's in a bad mood or something that day. Same with the plates, $200 every 2 years for what? Because some random person somewhere decided that they have to be "renewed"? They can tell who I am from my plates still if they need to.
Sad_Win_4105@reddit
Does the number of start/stops matter, or can it reset from one long trip. I believe it needs to be run through a certain number of cycles but I could be wrong.
RabidAcorn@reddit
It might be cycles too. It's been forever since I worked on cars for a living lol
secondrat@reddit
Get insurance first. You can get insurance on a car even if itâs not registered yet.
Then get a trip permit and get a friend to drive it or take you along to drive it. Or just drive it with expired plates. If you get pulled over explain that you are trying to get the emissions to pass.
I highly recommend getting an OBD2 code reader so you can see when all the tests are ready. You can do them all in an hour if you know what youâre doing. You want them all to say âreadyâ. EVAP and Catalyst Monitor usually take the longest.
Make sure the car has about 50% of a tank of fuel. If the low fuel light is on it wonât run the tests. Sometimes if itâs full it wonât either.
Look up the OBD2 drive cycle for a 2001 Camry. It will tell you what combination of tests need to run at idle or 55 MPH or in between.
Then go get it smogged and get it registered ASAP before the late fees get too bad.
I was an Oregon dealer for 10 years and Iâm good at getting cars to run the tests quickly so I can smog them and sell them.
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
A cheap antel code reader is the best 20 bucks u can spend.
Gamer30168@reddit
You need to register the car in your name and GET INSURANCE (if your state requires it). Finish up the drive cycle (try to get maybe 200 miles on it; that would be more than enough for most cars). Get your license and then go take the smog test again.
Ok-Morning6506@reddit
And Gov. Newsome wonders why people are leaving Ca. and moving to Tx. or Az. All the BS with emissions test and anything that could be simple is incredibly complex when govt gets involved. I like the way Ca. charges $30 per year you don't license your car. Other than wild fires and earthquakes, why would anyone want to leave warm weather 12 months a year.
DavusClaymore@reddit
Certain counties in Texas with high population density still have emissions testing due to federal law.
TheMegaMagikarp@reddit (OP)
Sir this is a Wendy's
sufragarrz@reddit
You need to wait until it's smogged.
Whiskeypants17@reddit
The car is currently titled and has legal plates in oregon, correct?
TheMegaMagikarp@reddit (OP)
The title owner has it registered in CA, in his name, he moved away, then came back a few months later. It was a gift to me, as my first car.
TheMegaMagikarp@reddit (OP)
"came back" I should say was just to drop it off, he didn't move back here, in case that brings any confusion
Whiskeypants17@reddit
An internet search says it is on the seller to pass smog within 90 days before the sale. You need to get the owner of the car to get it to pass before they can sell it to you.
TheMegaMagikarp@reddit (OP)
Is it different if it was a gift?
PK808370@reddit
It is on the seller to do, but that is to keep people from getting screwed when buying a used car. In your case, it is not a requirement that the seller (gifter) does it. The comment is not relevant to your situation.
Whiskeypants17@reddit
Yeah I am not in California so I am just trying to read what I can on the net of how it works.... but it seems you do need to get it to pass smog to transfer the registration. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/smog-inspections/
UnfitRadish@reddit
I just like to point out, although I'm not sure it's relevant to OP, the only exception to the vehicle smog requirement during a title transfer is if it's gifted between family. I can't remember specifics, it may have to be immediate family, I'm not sure. But it essentially avoids you having to get it smogged, or pay taxes or fees on it.
Hopeful_Corner1333@reddit
You can register it without smog. You just won't get tags until it's smogged. Once it's registered in your name you can get a temp tag to take to get smogged.
decadentmom@reddit
You can not get a "temp tag" from the California DMV as there is no such thing as a temp tag. You can get a few days of vehicle moving permits, once all fees have been paid though.
K_Linkmaster@reddit
Heard it called a black tag before too. It's tagged so it can't be towed, but its a "project" so you can't drive it.
Nothing is easy.
TheMegaMagikarp@reddit (OP)
Oh, that's actually really helpful. Thank you! Any other advice in this situation?
Hopeful_Corner1333@reddit
Don't drive without insurance. Make an appointment to skip half of the DMV line.
Striking-Quarter293@reddit
This
StealthyWHP@reddit
Bribe someone at the smog place
CardiologistOk6547@reddit
"What would happen if I did things in the completely wrong order?"
TheMegaMagikarp@reddit (OP)
Yeah I'm trying to figure out the right order, if I knew the answer to start with this post wouldn't exist in the first place.
CardiologistOk6547@reddit
Did you actually think getting a car without the proper registration transfer before having a driver's license was even close to the right order?
TheMegaMagikarp@reddit (OP)
I'm just gonna block you
Pup111290@reddit
That's one of the annoying parts of emissions testing. My state doesn't do smog, but it does do emissions, and unfortunately you have to drive a car for 50-80 miles after resetting the computer (whether intentionally or from a dead battery). I got a ticket once while getting my old vehicle fixed to pass emissions inspection, but unfortunately there was no other way around it for me, I had to drive it with the expired inspection tag to get the computer ready to be plugged in
Impressive-Crab2251@reddit
Donât drive a car without insurance. Too many horror stories. Transfer title, get insurance, get a temporary paper plate from dmv/secretary of state. Then a licensed driver can drive it for emissions test. Then get your plates.
Squido85@reddit
DMV should have told you about this as an option:
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/license-plates-decals-and-placards/temporary-operating-permits/