Registration and Emissions Testing

[MIDNJAC]

Since I couldn't find the answer to this question anywhere else, I figured someone around here might know. I plan on keeping my residency in my home state once I go on active duty. We don't have emissions testing here, but I'm guessing I will move through duty stations in states where you do need to get "smogged". If I list my actual address of residence on my OR registration, which happens to be in a city and state that requires testing, will I still need to get a smog check (since I'm registered in a non-smog state)? I only ask because my #2 (project) car is not, and will never be emissions legal and it would be nice to keep it on the road, even though I only plan on driving it occaisonally.

 

[a_m]

If your home state doesn't do emisisons testing, the state where you happen to be station shouldn't make you go through emissions testing, as far as I know.

 

[JZAB]

I know that Virginia does not make you if you have out of state plates (inspection or emissions test). However, I am unsure how they deal with the, every other year required emissions test when you live in a state other than VA. I hope they waive it or something.

 

[MIDNJAC]

so am I just able to claim residency in any state that I want upon my commissioning?

 

[Brett1]

I think most states have a time limit on driving a vehicle in the visited state. In other words, if the cops see you driving an uninspected vehicle around the area on a regular basis they may pull you over once to check. After that the clock is ticking and I beleive most states have a 90 - 120 day rule requiring that you at least comply with their standards.

 

[HH-60H]

so am I just able to claim residency in any state that I want upon my commissioning?

No. Once you are active duty, you may claim residency in any state that you live in/stationed in. Some states allow you to claim residency once you "intend" to move there (i.e. get orders or something like that). Once you do that, you can stay in that state as long as you are active duty.

As far as car registration, I think the rule of thumb is you must have 2 out of 3 of these items be in/from the same state:

Driver's license
Registration/plates
Auto insurance

For registration vs. emission testing, I think emission testing is only required for registration in most, if not all, states. It would be a state specific thing.

 

[insanebikerboy]

Just make certain you don't move to California. Regardless if you're military or not, it has to be smogged out there, even if the car is registered in another state.

There are a few caveats to which vehicles had to get smogged, but in Monterey I couldn't get a base sticker until I showed a copy of the smog inspection. The smog inspection didn't necessarily have to be from California, it just had to be current. So for my jeep that was registered in Tennessee (no smog laws), an old smog inspection from Maryland just fit the requirement by two weeks, so I got my stickers.

 

[Gatordev]

As you can see, lots of anecdotal evidence, but no real clear cut answers. Basically, it comes down to asking the specific state/county that you're moving to and go from there.

There are a few caveats to which vehicles had to get smogged, but in Monterey I couldn't get a base sticker until I showed a copy of the smog inspection. The smog inspection didn't necessarily have to be from California, it just had to be current. So for my jeep that was registered in Tennessee (no smog laws), an old smog inspection from Maryland just fit the requirement by two weeks, so I got my stickers.

Not sure if that's a new thing or not. Back in 2001-02, I had FL tags and residency in CA and didn't need to do anything.

I think most states have a time limit on driving a vehicle in the visited state. In other words, if the cops see you driving an uninspected vehicle around the area on a regular basis they may pull you over once to check. After that the clock is ticking and I beleive most states have a 90 - 120 day rule requiring that you at least comply with their standards.

Not necessarily. Again, it depends on the county/state. Back when Pinellas County (FL) had smog checks, and lived in Alachua and Escambia (both FL), neither of which had smog checks, all I had to do was fax a letter w/ my orders to the office and I was excused.

However, in HI, everyone has to get a "safety" inspection, which is nothing more than a method to generate revenue. You couldn't get either an out of state registration (which is the minimum required) nor an instate plate w/out it. Like much of the red tape in HI, it's pretty shady, but I digress.

 

[insanebikerboy]

Not sure if that's a new thing or not. Back in 2001-02, I had FL tags and residency in CA and didn't need to do anything.

It's probably new. It was apparently command mandated that we have the smog in accordance with Monterey's local requirements. I just know the lady at Pass and Tag was the sticker nazi if you didn't have a smog inspection.



*Edit* Found a link. It apparently looks as if it may be county and zip code dependent for who has to have the inspection.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm#BM2542

 

[Gatordev]

*Edit* Found a link. It apparently looks as if it may be county and zip code dependent for who has to have the inspection.

That's what I didn't get in FL. I'm getting a State registration, but I have to fulfill county rules? That is to say, big picture I understand, but academically it doesn't make sense.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Hmmm...so if I kept my Oregon residence (and plates and registration tags from OR), but lived in FL for an extended period of time (as I most likely will be assuming I'm in A-pool for a bit), would I ever need to get smogged? And to go with what was already said, if I were ever in CA as a duty station, would I need to get smogged if I were in a "smog sensitive area" (per the CARB website)?

 

[insanebikerboy]

Hmmm...so if I kept my Oregon residence (and plates and registration tags from OR), but lived in FL for an extended period of time (as I most likely will be assuming I'm in A-pool for a bit), would I ever need to get smogged? And to go with what was already said, if I were ever in CA as a duty station, would I need to get smogged if I were in a "smog sensitive area" (per the CARB website)?

No for Florida, as long as you keep the registration in Oregon. At least, you don't need any inspection to get stickers up here at Whiting. Can't say for having your car registered in Florida, as mine are in Tennessee.

As for California, it appears that you can look it up by zip code, so I'd say that's probably the only way to find out. Odds are, considering where we can be stationed there, I'd go with a yes, you'd need an inspection.

On another note, you said your home city/county/whatever requires a smog inspection. If that's the case you'll probably have to get a new smog inspection each time you renew your registration in Oregon, even if you live in Florida.

One thing I know a lot of guys do is change their permanent residence to Florida, as there's no state income tax, etc, etc. You could probably find a good bit of info on search here.

That's what I didn't get in FL. I'm getting a State registration, but I have to fulfill county rules? That is to say, big picture I understand, but academically it doesn't make sense.

The only reason I can think.....$$$$$$.

 

[Gatordev]

There isn't any smog check in Escambia or Santa Rosa, so don't worry about needing that here (there).

On another note, you said your home city/county/whatever requires a smog inspection. If that's the case you'll probably have to get a new smog inspection each time you renew your registration in Oregon, even if you live in Florida.

Not necessarily, which is what I was alluding to about the differences in counties. The way to get the no kidding answer is to go down to/call the OR tax/registration office and ask what you need to do when in FL for an OR registration.

 

[MIDNJAC]

On another note, you said your home city/county/whatever requires a smog inspection. If that's the case you'll probably have to get a new smog inspection each time you renew your registration in Oregon, even if you live in Florida.

Actually, we are one of the only states that doesn't have smog testing (though a couple counties around Portland do)

Thanks for the help guys...I'll call down to the state office and see what I need to do!

 

[HalfBreed]

My car has IL plates, which is also my state of residence even though I have been stationed in Florida and Virginia. Since I'm from Chicago, I am required to have it tested every other year. Every year I have to fill out the form they send me and tell them I can't comply because I'm in the military and my car is in a different state. They always grant me a 1 year extension. However, if I lived in an area that did require testing (ex. Northern VA), I would have to comply with local emissions standards (this is an IL requirement not a VA requirement).

Each state has their own rules. I had to do some fine print reading and make a few phone calls to figure it all out (plus they threatened to revoke my driver's license).