can I drive a vehicle registered with DMV as 'non-operational'? (was: smog question)

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Old 04-01-2007, 12:01 AM
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can I drive a vehicle registered with DMV as 'non-operational'? (was: smog question)

so im interested in buying this car thats not smogged and non op in socal, now dmv gives you like 10 days to register the car so you guys think it'd be ok to drive it up here? or would i get in trouble if i get pulled over? Thanks guys...
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Old 04-01-2007, 12:07 AM
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You're not supposed to drive non op cars and they don't need to be smogged. I would not buy a non op car and try to drive it here from socal.

Whatever car it is, I'm sure you can find a similar one here locally.
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Old 04-01-2007, 09:32 AM
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You can pay the registration to OP and then get a temporary permit to drive it while you are 'supposed' to get itt smogged, usually they give you a month. That's that square sitcker you see on cars in the back window with the number on it(month that it's authorized to drive).
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Old 04-01-2007, 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Superglue WRX
Whatever car it is, I'm sure you can find a similar one here locally.
Negative.
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Old 04-01-2007, 10:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Akira-R
You can pay the registration to OP and then get a temporary permit to drive it while you are 'supposed' to get itt smogged, usually they give you a month. That's that square sitcker you see on cars in the back window with the number on it(month that it's authorized to drive).
So I don't have to have smog cert. when im registering at the dmv?
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Old 04-01-2007, 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by vitaliko
So I don't have to have smog cert. when im registering at the dmv?
As long as you register it as a non op, then no.

Now you're obligated to mention what car it is that you can't find in the bay area.
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Old 04-01-2007, 11:58 AM
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well, depends on the cop you meet. But they are suppose to impound the car. I've driven my car under non-op and got pulled over, the cop believed my story and just let me off with a fix it ticket for my front plate.
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Old 04-01-2007, 02:26 PM
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You can register it as operational, and obtain a temporary registration to legally drive it on the street while you get it smogged.
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Old 04-01-2007, 02:36 PM
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Must also have necessary liability insurance to operate that vehicle with temporary registration but that might be as easy as a simple phone call to your agent.
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Old 04-01-2007, 02:43 PM
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you are buying the car right?


you have 10 days to register it don't you?

just throw away the registration and tell the cop you didnt know it was non-op

dont drive like a jack *** and you should be fine
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Old 04-01-2007, 03:39 PM
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its a s13 with a clean SR redtop swap plus many other goodies, but the guy sold it to someone else alredy
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Old 04-01-2007, 03:51 PM
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ok, i have a question, if a car is categorized as 'nonoperational' by the DMV, then what is the point of registering it? does that mean ppl have to register every rusting hulk sitting in their redneck front lawns?

conversely, its seems like kind of a stupid question to ask wether one can legally operate a 'nonoperational' registered car on the road.

Ed
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Old 04-01-2007, 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by vitaliko
its a s13 with a clean SR redtop swap plus many other goodies, but the guy sold it to someone else alredy
Yeah, never seen one of those before around here.
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Old 04-01-2007, 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted by edkwon
ok, i have a question, if a car is categorized as 'nonoperational' by the DMV, then what is the point of registering it? does that mean ppl have to register every rusting hulk sitting in their redneck front lawns?

conversely, its seems like kind of a stupid question to ask wether one can legally operate a 'nonoperational' registered car on the road.

Ed

PNO cars cannot be driven, towed, stored, or parked on public roads. However, the registration IS cheaper than a regular one. Why would you do it? Because its WAY easier to sell the car if it has an active PNO than if all you have is a title. And its FAR easier to get it back on the road with a PNO than without one.
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