Have you ever let local vehicle inspection/emissions regulations affect your decision on where to live?
Posted by clothes_iron@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 86 comments
For example, California would make it difficult to do certain car modifications even if your modifications wouldn't increase pollution emissions. I have a check engine light on and that would prevent me from registering my car in Illinois near either Chicago or St. Louis but I can register it elsewhere in the state without testing.
Joe_B_Likes_Tacos@reddit
I wish I could take every single person that complains about emissions testing to Los Angeles in 1978.
Apart-District3771@reddit
The rest of the State is not LA.
timmmarkIII@reddit
I lived in LA in the late 70s to early 80s. You could not see out to the ocean from Mulholland Dr. I was there a few years ago....I couldn't believe how clear it was!
JSTootell@reddit
I grew up in SoCal in the 80's.
It wasn't pretty.
And I remember the smell of my dad's Pontiac 389.
Joe_B_Likes_Tacos@reddit
My lungs still hurt!
DustyRacoonDad@reddit
I like the impact, it’s the bureaucratic complexity I have an issue with, along with diminishing returns.
If we were to cap automotive pollution at 2015 levels and leave it there indefinitely, but instead focus heavily on industrial emissions, we could potentially reduce total emissions far more effectively.
However, if we reduce automotive emissions to zero today, the overall impact would be relatively small in comparison. Cars used to be the major problem, but they are no longer the dominant source.
It’s similar to how chlorofluorocarbons were the big ozone issue, and we regulated refrigerants accordingly. But now we have low-impact or near-neutral refrigerants that are still sometimes treated under the same regulatory mindset, even though the actual environmental impact is very different.
That’s where bureaucracy tends to lag behind the real-world shifts in what actually matters.
teachthisdognewtrick@reddit
I had a 77. The CO limit for it was 200 ppm. Today’s California limit is 30 ppm. So most of the reductions have already taken place. Diminishing returns. There are certainly better places to have a greater reduction than chasing the last little bit from cars.
Opposite-Program8490@reddit
There's no reason you still can't focus on industrial emissions.
Why would keeping higher emissions levels for cars have any impact that?
DustyRacoonDad@reddit
There's ok only so much money to run enforcement, lawsuits, and beurocratcy for it.
Take the resources you have and use them where they're most effective, does mean not focusing on the ineffective areas. You can't do everything.
vilius_m_lt@reddit
Just fix your car
Apart-District3771@reddit
Personal vehicles are a TINY fraction of all pollution. CARB is all about control. If California cared about pollution, we'd be building nuclear, and NOT shipping our fuel from the other side of the globe(India).
medicallymiddleevil@reddit
Yea, as a car person, I've got lungs too. Fix your fucking shit.
suboptimus_maximus@reddit
We literally let drivers poison the brains of every child born in America for most of the 20th Century by burning leaded fuel and are still living with the consequences. The emissions regulations haters deserve their own special circle of Hell.
medicallymiddleevil@reddit
https://press.princeton.edu/books/ebook/9781597265355/lives-per-gallon
It's pretty wild the toll it takes
Heavy_Gap_5047@reddit
Then why are they dumber now?
suboptimus_maximus@reddit
They aren’t, that’s just what people who grew up huffing lead and never even learned calculus like to tell us.
Heavy_Gap_5047@reddit
Did you grow up huffing lead?
RickySlayer9@reddit
Can’t even mod your car tho.
tk8398@reddit
Sometimes a check engine light means the car is totalled, I have an 00 Boxster that one of the cats is failing, a set of two is $7k, more than I paid for the car. I also have a 96 Subaru with an intermittent wiring problem between the gauge cluster and computer that intermittently sets a code, and again once the light won't stay out long enough to get it smogged the car is no longer going to be able to be kept on the road. But yes, often it's not a hard fix.
Frosty-Analysis1520@reddit
You can buy used parts or go to the junk yard yourself - generally how you deal with cheap older cars (if you're not trying to make it new).
medicallymiddleevil@reddit
Just fucking fix it.
tk8398@reddit
How?
medicallymiddleevil@reddit
$ or time.
fprintf@reddit
Probably a good time to sell the Boxster to someone out of state who doesn’t have to deal with inspections. Plus a California car, likely rust free, is desired by many.
beaushaw@reddit
Where I live I have literally never had a car inspected.
I'll gladly pay scrap value for a Boxter with a check engine light.
tk8398@reddit
Yeah, once it won't pass smog anymore I will probably list it for sale in Nevada.
Caaznmnv@reddit
Nevada smogs annually
shittyhawaiitips@reddit
you can fix that CEL with a trip to autozone and ten bucks.
PerformerBrief5881@reddit
This is not generally not true anymore. 1) autozone won't reset cel's in states that check for CEL for emissions. Also, the car has to read as "ready". When you reset a code it needs driving time before it will be marked as ready. If you go in after a reset they tell you to come back after you drive more. Have to actually fix the issue before you do the reset.
tk8398@reddit
They probably mean to use a spark plug anti fouler on the oxygen sensor, that usually works for a while but the cat has to still be good enough for it to let the monitors pass once then get it tested right after because they will see it otherwise.
shittyhawaiitips@reddit
yes, antifoulers is what i was hinting at.
and no, the cat doesn't need to be "good enough" or even exist anymore in a huge amount of situations.
tk8398@reddit
I did that on a different car, and it eventually failed to the point of even that not working, so I replaced it with a new one, it was $350, not $7k though 😂
shittyhawaiitips@reddit
definitely do not replace your faulty cat with a test pipe and install two anti-foulers. never ever do this so you can drive your car that is old enough it doesn't even need to pass emissions.
definitely do not do this.
shittyhawaiitips@reddit
lmao the point went way over your head.
PerformerBrief5881@reddit
You know you can get EO approved cats even in California without paying "porsche" tax for OEM cats.
tk8398@reddit
Not for a 986 Boxster unfortunately.
Apart-District3771@reddit
No. Just register where you desire.
andrewclarkson@reddit
It wasn't the whole reason but it was a consideration. I have several cars and while I keep them in good condition I don't want to have to deal with or pay for getting everything inspected. Also I've got a couple from the 70s that technically are supposed to have equipment that's long since been removed either because it was broken or for mods. Likely exempt due to age but I really don't want to have to navigate all that anyway.
frenchsquared@reddit
Yes. If you give me $5,000,000 I still wont live in CA.
Rough_Cancel7265@reddit
Nope. Quality of life has to be a factor of that decision. I could never imagine going to somewhere like Arizona or Texas willingly in exchange for being able to drive a certain car.
Caaznmnv@reddit
Where do you live? Flagstaff AZ blows away most places in CA for quality of life. Smog isn't required there due to great air quality, but is required in Phoenix.
Rough_Cancel7265@reddit
The good part of California. Flagstaff is alright but I'll pass on getting 9ish feet of snow a year
Heavy_Gap_5047@reddit
The good part of the turd.
whozwat@reddit
This is why there are so many AZ registered cars living full time CA. Against the law, but how else are you going to register that 76 Rolls-Royce with lake pipes...
MortimerDongle@reddit
Does CA not have an exception for antiques? PA is pretty strict in general but cars registered as antiques are exempt from emissions
whozwat@reddit
Antique plates are available with limited street mileage, but I don't think it exempts from smog requirements for 1976 and later vehicles. I have a 1979 old school bug that is a hassle to smog certify every two years.
Caaznmnv@reddit
AZ required smog in Phoenix, but dies have some classic car type exemptions that have special collector car insurance. Flagstaff doesn't require smog (because they have very good air quality).
whozwat@reddit
Antique plates are available with limited street mileage, but I don't think it exempts from smog requirements for 1976 and later vehicles. I have a 1979 old school bug that is a hassle to smog certify every two years.
Soggy-Attempt@reddit
No🤷♂️
SpecialistBet4656@reddit
no. Just fix your car. It is cheaper than movinh
MysticMarbles@reddit
No. Inspections here are usually a non issue, ignoring the fact that inspections mean I can't deal with the fishbowl.
medicallymiddleevil@reddit
That's sad bud. Grow the Fcuk up.
Wade1217@reddit
As a car and motorcycle enthusiast, I can definitely say that California would be out of the question for me. Original emissions and suspension equipment is no longer installed or available for some of my vehicles and I have owned them long enough that they have become part of my family. It would be like telling me to get rid of my kids because someplace had a “no children” policy.
Oak510land@reddit
That's wild, California is paradise for riding. You can ride motorcycles year round, and we have amazing roads to ride... And you never get stuck in traffic since you can lane split.
I own three older cars (90's) and they all pass smog fine. One I swapped the engine and added a turbo.
There's no requirements around suspension modifications.
Wade1217@reddit
I have heard too many stories about people being threatened to have their vehicles impounded for reasons that are beyond their control. I have an old 1985 Yamaha RZ350 two stroke motorcycle that originally came with catalytic converters that typically became plugged with oil within the first year of ownership. For this reason, nearly all (including mine) have aftermarket expansion chambers installed that are loud. The few left with OEM exhausts have been gutted to remove the catalysts and welded back together so the engine can run without choking Since all two strokes smoke, they frequently draw the attention of law enforcement personnel thinking 2 strokes aren’t road legal. I read about someone in CA who had to sell theirs to someone in another state because the original catalyzed exhaust factory marked to prove compliance with California emissions standards was NLA from Yamaha. I have also heard numerous frustrations from people with modified louder exhausts being pulled over and threatened in CA. I assume the harassment is real, so I choose to not be a part of a dystopian place where gas is expensive and freedoms are apparently limited. California is a beautiful place to visit, but California culture is a bit much for me to consider making it a permanent home and I have turned down work to avoid having to move there.
Oak510land@reddit
I mean there's also tons of fake ass news having idiots think the entire city of San Francisco is over run with junkies passed out on fentanyl because right wing media keeps replaying shots of one block downtown. Don't believe the hype.
Motorcycles don't have any smog regulations. Most cops would see your Rz and be like oh cool I wanted one of those when they came out. You'll see clips of people with super loud exhausts treating roads in wealthy neighborhoods like a race track and then you'll start seeing enforcement when it gets out of hand. The state is massive, just don't go to those playgrounds.
I ride a 200hp sport bike and regularly rip over 100mph and I've never caught a ticket. If thats not freedom I don't know what is.
Wade1217@reddit
Fair enough. We tend to assimilate to the places we grow up in. I have zero hate towards CA, but as someone who has lived in the Southeast most of my life, there is a particular easy going feel to vehicle modifications and simple (or nonexistent) inspection requirements to keep your hobby vehicles on the road without having to be wealthy. That said, I hope you continue enjoying your home and keep the shiny side up as you enjoy riding the PCH! I worked in Ventura for a few months last summer and enjoyed the most spectacular sunrises of my entire life as I sat on a pier sipping my chai. I almost cried at the breathtaking beauty. Still not moving there. 😘
MortimerDongle@reddit
I live in a state with both safety inspections and emissions and it's never been an issue. My current car is exempt from emissions, but I've never had an issue passing that with other cars. It's pretty basic.
Same thing with the safety inspection, it's mostly common sense stuff like tires and brakes not being completely worn out.
Disastrous-Group3390@reddit
Absolutely! My county doesn’t require emissions inspections; next county toward Atlanta does. All my cars would pass (no check engine lights lit, no mods or deletions) but I don’t want the hassle and expense of testing them every year. My family has five that would require annual tests at $25 each if we lived three miles west.
AbruptMango@reddit
No, that'd be stupid.
ratrodder49@reddit
I think six out of the seven vehicles I own would fail a smog test, much less pass road laws in some states, so yes, absolutely.
PerformerBrief5881@reddit
thanks for loving out for the air we all breath.
ratrodder49@reddit
You know they’re not all running at the same time, right?
PerformerBrief5881@reddit
You do realize smog is bad for everyone and everything. Thats true even when your 6 vehicles aren't running all at once. Having a working car with working smog equipment doesn't slow your cars down or hurt its gas milage, just makes the air less toxic.
ratrodder49@reddit
I don’t have a problem with it, but I’m not adding catalytic converters to something that wouldn’t have had them originally. Four out of seven of my vehicles wouldn’t have had them. One did but is now a classic. One still does but I removed the stock mufflers and added different ones so it might not pass but only barely.
TapeDaddy@reddit
I don’t have safety or emissions inspections here, it’s great.
Imagine not being able to register your car because of an evap code lol.
PollutionOld9327@reddit
It's not that hard to do what you want.
Back in the day I wanted to Supercharge my car, but it wouldn't pass the emissions check where I live. I simply went to the next County over, that didn't require the emissions test, rented a PO Box. Updated the Registration address to the PO Box, and poof ... no more yearly / biyearly emissions test. I would just drive over and pickup the renewal each year, instead of having it come to my house (at the time)
timmmarkIII@reddit
In California, you may qualify for a Repair Cost Waiver if your vehicle fails its smog test but you cannot afford the required repairs. To be eligible, you must spend at least (\$650) on emissions-related repairs at a licensed station and apply for the state's repair assistance program first. Eligibility Requirements To secure a Repair Cost Waiver, you must meet the following criteria:Initial Test Failure: Your vehicle must first fail a state-mandated smog check.
Minimum Spend: You must spend a minimum of (\$650) on emissions-related diagnostics and repairs at a licensed Smog Check station.State Assistance Attempt: Before being granted a waiver, you are required to apply for the state’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP), which can provide up to (\$1,200) in repair assistance.Failed Re-test: If your vehicle is repaired using CAP funds or out-of-pocket money and still fails a subsequent inspection, you may qualify.
My ex had a 89 Oldsmobile Trofeo and he used that, it was $600 at the time, 15 years ago.
Downtown_Reward_6339@reddit
Sniff the car all you want.
It’s the arbitrary bullshit that gets to me. Requiring “Factory” emissions equipment on a 45 year old car that is no longer available and was a bad design to start with is stupid.
If it runs clean, it runs clean. Get your head out from under my hood, it’s none of your business, the job got done.
Best_Market4204@reddit
I mean probably
I live on the edge of Kentucky but I drive over there a lot I would never actually live over there because of my car.
Ohio $65 a year
Kentucky $xxxx property tax
advmaxx@reddit
Its more than their vehicle BS that keeps me away from Kalifornia.
puskunk@reddit
God yes. I have a place to live in NC if I wanted it but not a single one of my vehicles would pass any sort of inspection. I'm in SC.
KayleeE330@reddit
When I lived in Ohio I didn’t let it affect where I lived per se, but I did always register my vehicles at my parents house that was outside of the 7 emissions test counties
WeeklySky3512@reddit
Yes. No California for me
birdpix@reddit
No. Either fix the car or if you have a worthless beater, bribe the mechanic to pass you. Places around Detroit used to pass you for 40 bucks cash by manually racing the engine so particulates blew past sensor and would read passed. Drove a beater in the 80s and a lot of people knew about crooked gas stations.
mrsclausemenopause@reddit
No because all of my cars and trailers are registered out of state with no personal property tax, emissions, or inspections.
sparkvixen@reddit
I live in IL and drove with a check engine light on for 5 years. It was for the O2 sensor and I was told that with my model, I could replace the part and it would go out within months.
Check the code for the light and find out if it is actually something like that.
ferraricare@reddit
Absolutely not!
no_clever_names@reddit
Yes, I live right on a county border. One side has annual emissions testing, the other has nothing. I own a modified rotary, and I absolutely picked the side that makes life easier.
RedNeckSharkBitten@reddit
I’ve lived in Wyoming, Colorado, California, Delaware and now Florida. Had a Ford Escort in California that the check engine light was on. The testing station tried for a couple of hours to fix it and gave up and passed it.
TextJunior@reddit
There are so many other, far more important things to consider when choosing where to live.
JunkMilesDavis@reddit
Absolutely not on the state level, unless I had a business reason or something like that.
Locally, I've lived in places where neighboring counties either required or didn't require an emissions check, so I guess it wouldn't be too crazy to let that tip a decision one way or the other if I had hobby vehicles that would be affected. It would still be way down the list though.
splynneuqu@reddit
In my state its safety only lights, tires, suspension, brakes. The reality is most shops just check the lights and a quick look under the car.
Heavy_Gap_5047@reddit
Yup
Recent_Permit2653@reddit
Yes and no. Silly laws make things difficult when they don’t have to be. I researched some loopholes years ago, but the cat’s out of the bag on many of them.
I care less and less as I value reliability more than speed or the cool factor. It would still irk me to have to smog test again, though.
meatinmybriefs@reddit
I took it into heavy consideration last time I moved, but ultimately there were so many things that matter when it comes to choosing a state that I couldn't let that be a factor.