Vehicle Industry News - Direct Import Vehicle Update 2017-15 - VIN - California

Not a California R32

California DMV Direct Import Vehicles Update. 2017-15.

In plain talk this memo fixes a mistake on VIN 2014-14 that said direct import vehicles were 1966 and newer, and replaces that with 1968. This is still not how they refer to these vehicles in the California Air Pollution Control Laws book.  They say a direct import vehicle is a 1975 or newer vehicle. This leaves these 1968-1974 vehicles in a limbo.  California Certification Procedures for Used Modifer Certified Motor Vehicles

1968 model year to 1974 model year vehicles: California does not recommend the purchase or importation of these years of NON-USA vehicles, even if currently registered in another state. These vehicles require compliance with USEPA requirements in effect on the specific date of 11/15/1972. This provision when written, was considered by the California legislature as a gradual phase-out of very dirty "non-collectable" types of imports, as this specific requirement was understood to become increasingly difficult to meet. Today, this requirement, while not impossible to meet, would require testing expenses and modifications that far exceed most vehicles value and would make little sense from a collectors standpoint to attempt. Some limited exemptions apply to individuals moving to California with vehicles of these years registered in their home state for at least a year before moving to California. Contact us for more information.

They also remove the exemption for owning a direct import vehicle out of state for a year, and then bringing it into California as per the Statement of Facts - Reg256F

California will be updating their 256F, Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures, and HTVR9A brochure.