How To Register A Right Hand Drive Car In California

Right hand drive vehicles are common in europe.

How to register a right hand drive car in california. Home vehicle registration vehicle registration. Next drive the car to your nearest smog station to make sure it passes california s emission regulations. Buying a car in a foreign country is hard transporting the car can be a challenge. In this section new registration. Dealership purchase if you bought from a licensed dealer certain registration tasks may be taken care of for you.

In order to be lawfully manufactured or imported for sale in the u s a motor vehicle must comply with all applicable fmvss issued by nhtsa. Driving a rhd in a lhd world now that you know a bit more about rhd vehicles you may be wondering what it s like to drive on the right side in a lhd world. Handbooks learn the laws and rules of the road in preparation for your drive and knowledge tests. If you ve recently bought or been given a car and live in california you must first register it with the state and pay all necessary fees before you can legally drive it. Classic vehicles are emissions exempt and so you only require a valid safety certification and an insurance policy and then you can hit the pavement.

To register your out of state car in california start by locating your current title or registration and bill of sale to prove that you own your car. It s safer for the driver to exit the car since the steering wheel is on the curb side. As long as the car meets us safety standards and is properly registered there are no penalties or fees for driving a right hand drive vehicle. It is possible for a right hand drive rhd vehicle to be manufactured in compliance with the fmvss. Here are a few things i have learned by driving a right hand drive car every day in southern california pros.

When moving from out of state you re also responsible for registering your out of state car in california within 20 days of establishing residency. If you need to register a vehicle for use on california roadways waterways or trailways you ve come to the right place. Importing a right hand drive vehicle. The process is relatively short and entitles you to legally drive the car just like any typical american automobile. At 25 years old a legally imported vehicle is fmvss exempt.

If you don t know where your nearest smog station is you can locate it at smogcheck ca gov. Releasing it from the port is a long task and registering it with the dmv is no picnic. It s a good conversation starter. Easy parallel parking just look down and there s the curb.