fotorelics

I am looking at buying a 993 in Texas and shipping it to my home in Northern California. Does anyone have experience of any pitfalls with doing this - DMV registration, Smog (are the inspections and standards the same in both States), etc???
Thanks for your help!

Howdy993

You don't have to register or pay tax on the car in TX. A 3 day temporary tag can be had from the DMV if you're are driving back to CA and don't want a hassle if stopped.

Inspections vary from state to state. CA has some of the most stringent auto emissions standards in the country. Texas has annual emmisions inspections too. A well maintained car passing TX emissions would likely pass smog in CA. A good PPI should be able to sort out potential issues like readiness codes and missing CEL bulbs.

Hope this helps

Texas993

And if the car is in the Dallas area, I will gladly take a look at it before you come out. And if you come out, we can give you a proper TX welcome and sendoff.

David 23

I would double check the emissions standards for Calif. A number of vehicles have a Calif legal version and another for other states with less stringent emissions standards. I don't know if 993s had different emissions for Calif and non Calif, but I would at least try to make certain. It would be a problem to buy a Texas car that passes here fine, only to find it doesn't pass Calif.

melman911

No problem. Sold my C55 AMG to a guy in Cali. To my knowledge just a matter of switching over the registration.


Don't think my buyer had any problem with emissions standards.

1pcarnut

Been there done that. You'll need a current CA smog, very easy and straight forward so long as the TX car hasn't had the smog equipment fooled with.

Doesn't matter if the car is a 49 state version, it will be tested as such and must only meet the 49 state (Federal) requirements so long as the car has more than 7500 miles on it. If less than 7500 miles then things change a little and it must be a CA certified car.

Then take your smog cert. and TX pink slip to a local DMV for an inspection/verification of the VIN and then transfer the title.

Howdy993

David 23 -

Did'nt CA specific engines and / or smog equipment stop in the 80's? There has never been reference to any 993 CA specific engines on this board. CA does have a visual inspection - if the emissions system has been altered in any way, you will likely be SOL.

Best wishes

David 23

Sounds right to me.

creator8

Done it. Not an issue. They'll want to do VIN inspection at the DMV on arrival and you'll need a CA smog certificate.

Eharrison

Oh and you paid the taxes on the car in Texas....when you fill out the form here in California....It's a question without a requirement of proof....but is the difference of a couple K.

fotorelics

Thanks Y'all!

1pcarnut

[QUOTE=Howdy993;4580730]David 23 -

Did'nt CA specific engines and / or smog equipment stop in the 80's? There has never been reference to any 993 CA specific engines on this board. CA does have a visual inspection - if the emissions system has been altered in any way, you will likely be SOL.

A lot of manufacturers adopted CA emissions standards for all their models and I am not certain if Porsche did so with the 993 line, in which case the car having less than 7500 miles wouldn't matter. But if Porsche produced CA versions and Federal versions then it would still come in to play.

Eharrison

To make things a little more clear. Go to the CA DMV website. Like most gov't run sites, it's a bitch to figure out what you need to do but it has a registration calculator for fees (Hint:How much taxes did you pay in another state? 8% of purchase price....for example.)

You'll have to get it smogged which includes the visual inspection. I had to do the 99 996 and my wifes 2005 Pathfinder, because they came from another state.

There's a whole section on buying a car out of state too. I didn't read that section because it did not pertain to me. Also have fun at the DMV office. It's a colorful bunch of people there....

C.J. Ichiban

also, depending on who you're buying it from, in regards to the tax issue- when I bought my last car private party i paid as per contract with seller- "40,000" for the car and "8000" for the wheels- wheels aren't taxed...

captain satellite

All 993's are 50 state cars, so smog isn't an issue. I bought mine in Atlanta and drove back to CA. Motels, fuel, food, etc might of cost about shipping, but I had a nice long drive.