Cat Converter Dilemma!

That sounds like about the size of it. What the Missouri seller did was legal to drive in Missouri, so there's probably not much grounds for complaint there.

 

Should have just got you a mailbox at mailboxes etc use your box number as the suite and use that address to register the car in whatever state you just set up there Missouri Michigan whatever and keep getting it your insurance that you have now would even ensure the car and everything they wouldn't care they just want your money $30 a month whatever it is I've done this before too Is it legal It's a gray thing if you will what will they do to you not too much can they prove that you don't have business in Missouri Don't know and make it so they can't possibly open a shell company there whatever It's all kinds of things you can do in America I'm just trying to think of things you can do out on your side of the world there are states I thought one to over from California that were much more lenient as long as you go back every 60 to 90 days or they think you have I don't think there's a lot they can do. California can harass you for anything they want so if they see you enough.

 

This was exactly my type of quote to Massachusetts when I live there I had an exhaust gas analyzer My Corolla was putting out below what the state mandated but because my EGR or air pump or something wasn't hooked up they said fail and I said well yeah okay whatever blah blah blah but what's coming out the tailpipe is better than what you require by your own state mandates in print right here next to the machine I don't care if we throw the engine in the trash as long as what's coming out of the tailpipe is what's those numbers printed in your mandates or mission statement what is your problem? And then the barrage of diarrhea starts and that's when I tell them they can keep their big words like mayonnaise and I just drive with no inspection expired tag whatever it is That's just $30 whatever thank you bye.

 

I drive one of my four five Priuses everyday illegally and probably been doing so for 34 years now maybe 37 whatever it is one doesn't have a legal registration One hasn't passed emissions One hasn't got this sticker whatever I don't even keep track anymore just gave up nobody else seems to give a crap either the local law enforcement or whatever drive hundred miles a day or better oh well just one of those things I guess.

 

Did the car have a CA title or Miss? CA has a unique cat, so either the seller knew this and sold it in CA anyway or you just had a very expensive education about CA regulations. Hope the ref decision goes in your favor, but if not you either get the right cat and spend a bunch or sell it out of state.

 

When you bring a car in to CA do you have to register it first or do you bring it to the inspection station and the refs to have it checked over first so they can fail it before you spent all the money on tax tags and title? Just curious I don't really know exactly how it works there I know it's highly controlled they even stop people that are there from out of town to see if they've gone home etc or try and force them to get their car registered there which I imagine is extremely expensive

 

I guess wen I go visit my brother in 1000 oaks I'll ride my big bore full dresser scooter.

 

Hmmm, that would be huge news if they allow you to keep that non CARB compliant cat and use the car. That might encourage more Californians to buy an out of state Prius.

"She said if I can prove the car does not gross pollute or emissions are within acceptable range with the current cat" - surely by prove, she means simply to show the results of your smog test!

 

Not necessary. Cars from other states can visit CA without a problem (assuming they aren't smoking so much that a cop pulls it over.) The OP's problem only comes up when it is time to register the vehicle. Which isn't cheap in any case, because CA will also charge state sales tax on a vehicle bought out of state and immediately imported, which is going to run 10%-ish of the sales price.

 

Good luck with that referee path, given the depth of CA bureaucracy, it is far from a sure thing. I believe CARB recently certified some other make(s?) of cat for use in CA, and it is cheaper than the OEM cat. Not cheap, just cheaper. This might be it:

https://www.magnaflow.com/collections/toyota-prius-carb-catalytic-converters

I don't think there is a huge demand for out of state Prius's in CA, more the other way around. The cars here are rust free, and good luck finding a gen 2 like that in, let's say, New Jersey.

 

If it's just a matter of the referee checking a smog test, I can't see why others wouldn't take advantage of this. However, if I was to guess the outcome, CA will contend that the onus is on the buyer to make sure the car has a CARB compliant cat. Hopefully, that's not the case. I know that one of the first things I would check if I was buying a used Prius is if the cat is original (regardless of state, $$).

 

not only are the approvedaftermarket cats expensive, i read they are back ordered along with oem's?