you calif. corvette owers may be interested in this,

[Clem Z.]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/31/ca-looking-to-remove-smog-exemption-from-pre-1976-cars/

[Duke W.]

Re: you calif. corvette owers may be interested in this,

Any car 25 model years old or older qualifies for a "historical vehicle" license plate, and the HV plates are not part of the emission test database.

Since the "model year" starts one calendar year prior (for example a car labeled a 2009 can be sold beginning Jan. 1, 2008) you actually add 24 years to the model year to determine eligibility, so the 1984 model year became eligible for HV plates on Jan 1 this year.

There is a one time $25 charge for the plates, plus the fee for a new title. In subsequent years normal registration fees and VLF apply. Details are at the DMV Web site and in the Califronia Vehicle Code (CVC), which is online.

Duke

[Clem Z.]

Re: you calif. corvette owers may be interested in this,

Any car 25 model years old or older qualifies for a "historical vehicle" license plate, and the HV plates are not part of the emission test database.

Since the "model year" starts one calendar year prior (for example a car labeled a 2009 can be sold beginning Jan. 1, 2008) you actually add 24 years to the model year to determine eligibility, so the 1984 model year became eligible for HV plates on Jan 1 this year.

There is a one time $25 charge for the plates, plus the fee for a new title. In subsequent years normal registration fees and VLF apply. Details are at the DMV Web site and in the Califronia Vehicle Code (CVC), which is online.

Duke

i read it as "no exemptions"

[Duke W.]

Re: you calif. corvette owers may be interested in this,

Do you believe everything you read? I sure don't. I rely on my own research and experience.

Duke

[Gerard F.]

Re: you calif. corvette owers may be interested in this,

Duke,
I wouldn't trust them. Remember this issue a few years ago:



Now we have one Air Pollution District setting rules for the state.

If it is so easy to get an exemption by buying Historical Plates, then why not just continue the 25 year rolling exemption. (Somehow I thought we already lost that one?)

[D S.]

Re: you calif. corvette owers may be interested in this,

In the Dallas-Ft. Worth area they enacted a more stringent emissions control measure but did not include the over 25 year old vehicles. The emissions tests were showing higher than allowed by Federal Government standards. Take in mind that Dallas is in Dallas County and Ft. Worth is in Tarrant County. The main reason the emissions were so high in Dallas County was because of a large concrete producing plant in the county south of Dallas County. Most of the time the winds blow from the south to the north in Texas. Naturally Ft. Worth, not to be outdone, followed in Dallas' steps. By jacking up the cost of inspecting vehicles with those new high tech computers it was funneling big bucks into various governments. Seeing this they tried and are still trying to make all the contiguous counties fall under the more stringent emissions. As the contiguous counties are forced to raise their standards the plan is to expand to other counties around them even though their emission levels are far below the law allowed. Like uncontrolled fungus.
But so far the over 25 year old vehicles are exempt from the expensive emissions tests. Still $13.50 here.

[Joe L.]

Re: you calif. corvette owers may be interested in this,

Yes, it's definitely a good idea to keep an eye on a bill like this. However, the following should be considered:

1) The Bill is SB 1549; it was just recently introduced. It has not been amended or "eviscerated" yet;

2) It has certainly not been passed yet by both houses of the legislature;

3) If passed, it still needs to be signed by the governor;

4) It affects only the San Joaquin Valley. Of course, it could at some later date be expanded to other areas, but the bill, and other bills relating to it, are being specifically promoted and designed to deal with the special problems which the central valley has (i.e. it's basically "hemmed in" by mountains on all sides and the air "stagnates" in the valley. If one drives through the central valley, the situation can be readily observed;

5) The bill does NOT repeal the pre-1976 biannual test exemption in current law. It SPECIFICALLY preserves it. However, it states that the exemption applies only to EXISTING cars of owners registered in the San Joaquin Valley air district. Exempt cars transferred to new owners living in the district lose their exemption. This amounts to a "grandfather clause". I doubt that the legislature would pass such a bill without such a "grandfather clause";

6) There is also an exemption provided for "collector cars". However, from what I can tell, the collector cars do have to meet certain criteria and may require a 1 time emissions test of some sort. The cars have to be 35 years old or older and insured as collector vehicles.

7) I think the legislature is going to be pretty busy over the course of the next several months with the California budget. The legislative session could well end before this bill even advances through all the stages it has to and would then just die.

So, it's definitely something to keep an eye on and definitely something to write or otherwise contact your California state legislators about . However, I don't think it's something that we need to get too excited about right now.

[Jay G.]

Re: you calif. corvette owers may be interested in this,

Here on the Western Slope of the Rockies. NO Inspections of autos. NO Emmissions tests. Welcome to the early 60's regarding vechile reg. of course Front Range restrictions on vech. pretty much the same as the rest of the USA.

[Bill M.]

Re: you calif. corvette owers may be interested in this,

I just had my 67 and 65 inspected in Dutchess co. New York the cost for the inspection used to be $9 each now it is $21. Same inspection though the sticker says safety / emissions.

Bill

[Joseph R.]

Re: you calif. corvette owers may be interested in this,

I live in CA and work at the Alameda Co Law Library and did some research along the lines of this thread. I wanted to autocross/track day a late 70's Corvette (they are painfully cheap to buy) but not have to keep the drivetrain's factory emissions and still be able to license/register it. Anyone interested should look at CA Vehicle codes 259, 4000.1, 5004 and 5051. This is not the way to go if one still wants to commute or use as a daily driver.
C Ya, Joseph Rock
Frankenstein 59