CA Car Mod Laws

Numerous people have told me that your not allowed to do any performance increasing modifications to your car in CA. Ive seen far to many cars that have been modified to believe this, can someone enlighten me to the rules?

This is an awesome forum, found it this afternoon and I have been looking through it for the past 6 hours.

Thanks!

You're not supposed to do any mods that interfere with the emissions control systems of the car, not supposed to lower car to there your headlight centers are less than "22 inches from the ground, not supposed to have tinted windows beyond a certain amount of darkness, not supposed to have any extra exterior lighting that's any color other than amber or red for the rear, or amber for the front. Actually I've heard you can have colored corner bulbs in front, but I find that hard to believe. And you also aren't supposed to have an exhaust system that exceeds 95db in volume. Those are a few I know of off the top of my head. Also can't have an "armed" (ready to use) nitrous system hooked up to your car while it's on public streets. If you have a nitrous system the bottle MUST be dis-conected while driving freeways or streets.

You can have engine mods if they are C.A.R.B. approved, they usually have a sticker. You can have amber or white front corner lights.

Thanks for the reply guys, im not interested in light mods, im interested in making a car faster. Any websites you can point me to with CARB approved parts?

Thanks!

Originally posted by GundamExpo
Thanks for the reply guys, im not interested in light mods, im interested in making a car faster. Any websites you can point me to with CARB approved parts?

Thanks!

See that is what I like to hear making it go faster welcome noobie. DC Headers are Carb Exempt, Greddy Exhaust are Carb Exempt and AEM Cold-air intakes are Carb Exempt. So there is your first couple mods. What kind of car are you rolling in?

Ive been scared away from rice, theres this 4 door accord I see zooming around that has ACCORD across the windshield, blue headlights and clear tail lights, and a loud muffeler.

Well as things look now im gonna be puttering around in an 87' 5 door carolla, believe me, im not happy. Okay for a first car I guess but the suspension sucks (feels like the cars going to roll over in a semi tight low speed turn), and the engine maybe has 80hp. If im lucky I may be able to get my hands on a 3g prelude some soon. My goal is a Skyline R34, im willing to work my ass off to get one.

Originally posted by GundamExpo
Ive been scared away from rice, theres this 4 door accord I see zooming around that has ACCORD across the windshield, blue headlights and clear tail lights, and a loud muffeler.

Well as things look now im gonna be puttering around in an 87' 5 door carolla, believe me, im not happy. Okay for a first car I guess but the suspension sucks (feels like the cars going to roll over in a semi tight low speed turn), and the engine maybe has 80hp. If im lucky I may be able to get my hands on a 3g prelude some soon. My goal is a Skyline R34, im willing to work my ass off to get one.


A R34 Skyline in the States? Your ass will have fallen off long before you could afford a R34... But good luck! hehe.


Nothing wrong with a 5 door Carolla, is it one of those neato AWD ones? Those are so badass.

Nope just your standard underpowered 5 door squishy family car.

Redneck you have no idea how bad I want an R34, Believe me im not some idiot that saw it in GT3 and wants one, (actuially thats how I first saw the car). I know theres alot more involved then buing the car and shipping it over. I know I should have atleast $100K together, and theres lots of paperwork, legalization, etc. Is it possible to earn $100K in 3 years? :flash:

Originally posted by SilverY2KCivic
You're not supposed to do any mods that interfere with the emissions control systems of the car, not supposed to lower car to there your headlight centers are less than "22 inches from the ground, not supposed to have tinted windows beyond a certain amount of darkness, not supposed to have any extra exterior lighting that's any color other than amber or red for the rear, or amber for the front. Actually I've heard you can have colored corner bulbs in front, but I find that hard to believe. And you also aren't supposed to have an exhaust system that exceeds 95db in volume. Those are a few I know of off the top of my head. Also can't have an "armed" (ready to use) nitrous system hooked up to your car while it's on public streets. If you have a nitrous system the bottle MUST be dis-conected while driving freeways or streets.

in short anything "fun" or "cool" is out of the question....f*cking DMV