Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual

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Section 13 of 38

Chapter 12: Nonresident Vehicles

12.020 California Noncertified/Direct Import Vehicle Exemptions

To obtain California registration, new California noncertified vehicles (CNCV) (formerly known as 49-state), must either have California emission equipment or certified to federal emissions standards to qualify for an exemption.

To register a CNCV with less than 7,500 miles, that is only equipped to meet federal emissions standards, vehicle owner must certify to one of the exemptions on the Statement of Facts Califorina Non-Certified Vehicle or New/Used Direct Import Vehicle (REG 256F) form:

  • They inherited the vehicle or were awarded the vehicle in a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation, and the vehicle is certified to federal emissions standards.
  • They purchased the vehicle (out of state) to replace a California – registered vehicle (in their name) which was damaged or became inoperative beyond reasonable repair, or was stolen (submit a copy of registration, the repair estimates, or police report) while they were out of state and the vehicle is certified to federal emissions standards.
  • When they acquired the vehicle they were they were a resident, or on active military duty, in another state where the vehicle was last registered and is certified to federal emissions standards.
  • Emergency and certain other vehicles, as noted in the Vehicle Code Sections 27156.2 and 27156.3, must be certified to federal emissions standards.
  • The vehicle’s engine displacement is less than 50 cubic centimeters.

For a used direct import vehicle more than two years old upon date of entry through 1975 year model and not equipped to meet federal or California emission standards to be registered in California, the applicant must certify to one of the following exemptions on a REG 256F:

  • When they acquired the vehicle they were a resident of, or on active military duty in, another state for at least one year where the vehicle was last registered. The vehicle must have been certified under a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Certificate of Conformity and issued an approval letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
  • The vehicle’s engine displacement is less than 50 cubic centimeters.

The following must be submitted:

  • A completed REG 256F certifying to the applicable exemption.
  • Documented evidence of exemption.
  • All documents required for registration as shown in the Basic Registration Requirements section in this chapter, and if a direct import vehicle, all documents shown in the Direct Import Vehicles section in this chapter

If the vehicle cannot be registered because the applicant does not qualify for an exemption: