Texas owners who purchased out of state

[Milk242]

Hey all, so I purchased a lotus Emira i4 out of California and they were handling all the registration stuff, but they forgot to tell me I need to get my vehicle emissions tested because it’s out of state. Well I’m currently overseas so I had a friend take my car to a local emissions testing place and they couldn’t get the monitors to ready. Both dealer and testing place says it probably needs more miles, they mentioned 40+ miles. I’m not gonna have my friend waste his time putting 40+ miles on the car for an unsure fix. What are my options? DMV told me they charge a 10% penalty of the tax for late registration.

 

[MiamiBlue]

Driving 40 miles in a new Emira is not exactly a hardship. If I was closer I would happily volunteer my services.
Maybe just get him to drive it to a different emissions place a little further away. Next town or something. Some gentle break in miles will do the car some good.

 

[Milk242]

Haha I wish my friend had the time, he just welcomed a new baby to his family and running his business.

 

[Beachbum]

Driving 40 miles in a new Emira is not exactly a hardship. If I was closer I would happily volunteer my services.
Maybe just get him to drive it to a different emissions place a little further away. Next town or something. Some gentle break in miles will do the car some good.

In Texas, the next town can be a lot further than 40 miles

 

[MiamiBlue]

In Texas, the next town can be a lot further than 40 miles

I forget how much space you have in the States.

 

[RoryBellows]

Yeah for some reason states dont recognize the emissions stickers unless they are sold in the state. I had the same problem but in reverse where I ordered a car from Texas with CA emissions and when I brought it into CA still had to go through all of the smog stuff before they would finalize registration. I think your best bet is to have someone put the miles on and go to another smog place just in case and get it smogged. Just in case anyone is wondering, heres what the Texas DMV says about buying cars out of state:

A vehicle must be titled in your name within 30 days of the date of sale to avoid delinquent transfer penalties. Additionally, you must register the vehicle within 30 days of bringing the vehicle to Texas.

All commercial vehicles must obtain a passing safety inspection prior to registration, regardless of county of residence.

Non-Commercial vehicles registered in one of the following 17 counties are not required to obtain a passing safety inspection, but are required to obtain a passing emissions inspection prior to registration: Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson.

After obtaining all applicable vehicle inspections, take the following to your county tax office to title and register the vehicle:

• Proof of Inspection (Vehicle Inspection Report), if applicable
• Proof of liability insurance meeting State of Texas minimum requirements
• The vehicle's odometer reading if it is required
• An original out of state title or other valid ownership evidence
• Proof of sales tax payment or current foreign/military ownership document
• Completed Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U)
  
  • If the vehicle is not subject to a commercial or emissions inspection, self-certify the vehicle identification number on the form
• The following fees:
  
  • Registration fee (base fee of $50.75 for passenger vehicles and light trucks),
  • Title application fee of $28 or $33, depending on the county,
  • State portion of the vehicle inspection fee (up to $30.75)
  • Local county fees (up to $31.50)
  • 6.25% vehicle sales tax,
  • $1 Insurance verification fee
  • $4.75 processing and handling fee

 

[GetawayDriving]

OP I'm happy to spend time driving your Emira 40 miles. I've put 11,000 on mine. Will respect all break-in protocol. Offer is real and stands.

 

[PatrickJS]

I'll also gladly drive your car 40 miles and take it anywhere you like and I can record the whole trip if needed. I won't be in California for a couple weeks (in Texas atm)

 

[Milk242]

lol thanks for the offer. My car is in Texas sitting in the garage with no registration because the California dealership can’t get the car properly registered without a Texas emissions test.

 

[PatrickJS]

oh im in texas atm. I dropped off my car at Lotus Dallas dealership for ECU update. I can do it today if its around the area

 

[Milk242]

Thanks for the offer, I got it resolved. Just annoying my dealer didn’t tell me while I was still state side and had to find out after I left.