Will a 2001 Honda Accord LX purchased in Hawaii pass the California smog test?

I don't want to pay $900 to ship my car if it won't pass the smog test. DMV and AAA said they could not give me any information about the likelihood the car would pass, and if it doesn't pass, about how much I would have to spend to modify it so it will pass. I bought it new in Honolulu and have had it serviced regularly. It has about 80,000 miles on it. Thank you!

Answer:

Your 2001 Honda Accord, so long as it's well maintained and its emissions fall within California's emission limits, can pass the California smog check without a problem. It's true, there is a difference with California legal and Federal legal emission requirements. And, for the most part California is stricter. However, a USED vehicle which has all the Federal required emission components, can be pass the California smog inspection process and be legally registered in this state. It is true that California cars have different, and in some cases more, emission components then Federal cars, but this does not mean that these cars can't be registered in California. A vehicle which is equipped with the necessary Federal Emission Components is eligible for California registration as long as the vehicle's exhaust emissions fall within California's limits.

posted by SmogTips Support