Shipping Cars to California and Meeting Emission Standards

California is a popular state for auto transport. Not only does it have many major cities that people like to visit, but it also has many ports used to ship cars overseas. In addition, California’s auto industry is among the largest in the world. It holds so much sway that when the California Air Resources Board (CARB) changes their emissions standards for the state, automakers all over the U.S. will strive to comply, rather than lose out on being able to sell to that market.

Currently, California has emissions standards that are stricter than federal emission standards. That means it’s possible to purchase a car that only meets the emission standards for 49 states (such a car would be referred to as a “49-state vehicle”). So, if your vehicle doesn’t meet California’s emissions standards, can you legally ship it there?

Yes you can. California’s laws on emissions standards do not apply to cars registered in another state. From the California Department of Motor Vehicles: “If you are moving to California from another state, you may register a new 49-state vehicle if it was first registered by you in your home state, or for military personnel, in the last state of your military service. When applying for vehicle registration in California, you must provide evidence that the vehicle was registered.”

If you’re attached to your car, you don’t need to sell it or leave it behind when moving to California. Find out how Envision can help you ship it there.