Pollution Packages: NY/NJ versus CA

I expect to be purchasing a new car soon, but within a year I may be relocating to California. I have asked dealers if I can buy or order a new car that would come equipped with a CA pollution control package but have been told that all new cars sold in NY or NJ have the same or equivalent package.

Is that true? I don't want to have to go through an expensive upgrade or retrofit once the car is registered in CA.

Hell no it aint true at all. That guy is just trying to get you to buy a car. You take a car from jersey or NY and try to register it in CA and see what happens. You won't even get a chance to register it. to register a car or truck of any kind in california it must go thru emmissions testing and if you look at some of the cars on the lot and look real closely at the sticker it tells you that this car is California emissions compatiable. it is required that all stickers have that listed by Federal Laws. If it needs an upgrade or a retro fit throw ur warrunty in the trash because once you do that it is nulled and voided. Move to CA first then buy you a car. the reason if u are legal in CA ur legal in the USA period. CA has the toughest and meanest bastards for highway Patrol officers doing emissions testing know to man. go back and tell that ass monkey to look at the damn window sticker. If you don't know where to look check the bottom right hand corner of the window sticker. And that guy that told you that will b in jail b4 long bcause by telling you that he just broke Federal Law as well as state law. And you also have to go thru what i do once a year. A vehicle inspection sticker and the usually run depending on the state around $16.00 to $28.50 for the sticker.

Hell no it aint true at all. ...The fact that the car, in this case possibly a 2007 VW Rabbit, has ULEV II as standard equipment is not sufficient to meet California standards?

My modest research indicates that ULEV II meets the Golden State's requirement. Also, NY has adopted the stringent CA standards, so any car sold in NY State should have the same emission control package found in any new car in CA. My guess is that any new car sold in NJ would also have the same NY/CA emission controls.

Nevertheless, I do appreciate the pointers you gave me. Those points I will press with any car sales person.

most of todays cars can fit in califormina requirements, you just have to be carefull with stuff like cai, turbo, and basicaly bolt on's. but if you know the tester you might be able to work around that.

Well that is true in some cases. Alot of car manufacturers now a days have the EPA breathing down there necks. Take my feild for example Trucking. For years people have been hammered about emissions and now they're starting to realize that 18 wheelers out number cars easily. Now there's new engines that produce less fumes and they don't even last long enough under heavy loads. but as far as NY and Nj go they may have adapted the old CA regs because they now have a new set of regs for exhaust emissions. NY and NJ will now be behind yet again. I thank you for using my info on ur next purchase. if u are going to do a retro fit i suggest you go to a dealer of the next vehicle you purchase and get what you need so it doesn't void ur warranty.

Doing that will save you alot of time and money. cause vehicle work especially exhaust work of any kind headers and what not can run way way up there in price range.

The best thing to do is check the Moroney sticker (window sticker) on the new vehicle. It will say which states the vehicle meets it's emission standards. I recently purchased a 2006 vehicle and noticed many listed NY and CA on the same line and believe NY has adopted CA's reuglations pertaining to emission standards. I remember recently reading where former Govenor Pataki was proposing new stiffer requirements for emissions, more stringent than CA's.
Here is a section I copied from our NY state's DMV webpage:
"California" emissions standard

Your vehicle must comply with the "California" motor vehicle emissions standards unless the vehicle is exempt. Your vehicle must comply with the California emissions standards if your vehicle has less than 7,500 miles on the odometer and the vehicle is:

* a model year of 1996 or newer passenger vehicle or light-duty truck that has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 6,000 lbs. or less, or
* a model year 2000 or newer light-duty truck that has a GVWR of 8,500 lbs. or less, or
* a model year 2004 or newer medium duty vehicle that has a GVWR of 14,000 lbs. or less, or
* a model year 2005 or newer heavy-duty otto-cycle or diesel vehicle that has a GVWR over 14,000 lbs.

To determine if a vehicle meets the California emissions standard, look for these words or similar language on the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) and the emissions label under the hood:

* "California-Only Vehicle: This vehicle conforms to U.S. EPA and California regulations applicable to (the vehicle model year) model-year new motor vehicles introduced into commerce only for sale in California."
* "50-State Vehicle: This vehicle conforms to U.S. EPA and California regulations applicable to (the vehicle model year) model-year new motor vehicles."
* "Federal Vehicle certified for Sale in California: This vehicle conforms to U.S. EPA regulations applicable to (the vehicle model year) model-year new motor vehicles, and is certified for sale in California."

If your vehicle complies with the California emissions standards, but the MCO does not indicate compliance or you do not have an MCO, you or the automobile dealer can certify compliance on form MV-74.

If your vehicle is exempt from the California emissions standards, you or the automobile dealer can complete form MV-74 to certify the exemption if:

* the vehicle has an odometer reading of more than 7,500 miles, or
* you purchased the vehicle in another state to replace your previous vehicle that was damaged, stolen or had a mechanical failure while you were outside NYS.
* the vehicle was transferred to you through an inheritance or court decree, or
* the vehicle was registered to you in another state when you were a resident of that state, but you are now a resident of NYS, or
* you are a NYS resident who serves in the US Armed Forces and you are stationed in another state, or
* the vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle defined in Article 1 of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.

Form MV-74 is available at DMV offices.

The web site of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has the regulations for the California emissions standards and other motor vehicle emissions standards.

The full text page can be found here -->http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/register.htm