Ca Registration

I've seen references to CA regitration difficulties.
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Can anyone educate me on this issue....and the best ways to get through it with the least cost and effort. I remember registering my NY cars here a few years ago but it sounds like replicas present an additional challenge?
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I'm likely going to be registering a lightly used spyder that is currently registered in Florida.
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if it's better to communicate off-forum - my email is rjiloty@digiproofs.com

I see there's an item in the knowledge base and I've made a donation - so I expect I'll be able to see that area (tomorrow?)....
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However any additional comments or guidance would be appreciated.

ok - I've been to the knowledge base and SpyderMike's piece was very informative. It's specific to a "self-built" car - anyone know if there are documents that Beck (the proposed purchase is a Beck) can provide. I'm buying from the second owner and I don't think there are a lot of documents from the first owner. "Vehicle Construction Statement" sounds like something that Beck could provide.
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Anyone got any experience they can share?
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I'm on the brink of giving up a good buy from a "friend of the family" over the potential CA. registration issues.

DMV looks for receipts to substantiate the "value" so they can charge you accordingly. I had nothing from Beck except a receipt.

Be careful about bringing in a "used" car from another state. Look at the DMV registration section on the DMV website. If the car doesn't have at least 7500 miles, then it is tougher on you...read up on it - that one can bite you.

Mike

The registration information for out of state vehicles looks pretty scary.
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It sounds like:
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1. Smog is the primary issue
2. The "500 smog waivers" per model year may run out in spring - so I could wind up registered as a 55 but left with a need to smog an aircooled engined car every 2 years (impossible? very difficult? definately to be avoided if possible?)
3. "Under 7500 miles" raises the likelihood that the state will make it very difficult / near impossible.
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Mike - It appears that your write - up is somewhat specific to "self - built" cars - I'm guessing that there's some possibility that the fact that the car is built in CA (Beck 2002) and the engine maker is in CA, may help a bit.
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The part about "vehicle construction statement" would be different for a Beck / CB Performance - built car I think?
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offline messages welcomed - I'm possibly going to abandon the purchase if I can't get reasonably comfortable with the ability to register it within a short time as a 55/waivered.

There is no rhyme or reason to the DMV. I think the intent of the SB100 rule was cars not built by one of the major car manufacturers, and, therefore, not subject to all there rules. The DMV doesn't know who built your car and they don't seem to care. They don't know me from Beck. They don't care if thre parts came from Taiwan or Compton. They don't know how well the car was engineered or not - and whether it was assembled correctly or not. They seem to care most about getting registration taxes and determining if you must smog or not. They also seem to care about people trying to bend or break the rules.

If you don't want to go through SB100, then your best bet is to buy one that already has. It really is worth a slight premium...

My humble opinion...

Mike

Mike - you are correct - Beck couldn't offer much - and their reselling dealer, while pleasant enough, wasn't encouraging at all - seems they prefer to sell out of state. One company that did a tidy business "helping" with titles - is apparently now out of business - and there was some noise about the hot rod and cobra people trying to avoid taxes - that raised a stink a couple years ago....
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There is a California Assocation of Car Clubs that does some lobbying on behalf our "our" interests including antiques/collectibles/replicas -
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But, I've backed off on the out of state car - and would find your statement that an "in state" already registered / with smog waiver car would be the best way to go....
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too bad - the FL car was a gem @ 300 pampered miles.........
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Rick

thanks for the comments and suggestions
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- I Found a good local CA car - 1500 miles on a 2002....
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Purchased it 7.22.05 and registered it today - no problem at all transferring the in-state registration with smog exemption.
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all is well and I have a Spyder to drive with a CA registration to go with it.

That's good to know that the transfer process is easy with smog exemption, thanks for posting it.

congrats and enjoy!