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Out of State registration in CA

newbiker

newbiker

New member
Joined
Mar 26, 2013
Location
Hayward
Moto(s)
2016 Ninja Zx6r
Hey guys,

I'm looking for a 2013+ Ninja ZX6r with ABS (kibs). I found some great online deals. Most are out of state. I was talking over the phone with a dealer from San Diego, who told me that I won't be able to register an out of State bike in CA, unless it has a CA pollution certification or over 7,500 miles. I am obviously looking at LOW miles bike, so this is discouraging.

Any info on this?

Thanks!
 
A quick google search seems to reveal that the 2013 ZX6R came in both CA and 49-state models, not a single 50-state model. http://zx6r.com/zx6r/56237-2013-zx6r-emissions-question.html This means that if you buy a non-CA bike, it needs to have over 7,500 miles in order to register it in California. See here: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?...ntent_en/dmv/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29

This little bit here: "Purchased to replace your California-registered vehicle that was destroyed or made inoperative beyond reasonable repair while you were using the vehicle out of state," makes it sound as if you could buy a heap-o-junk off of craigslist, get it registered, accidentally blow it up while traveling out of state, and come back with a 2013 49-state ZX6R as a replacement... but my interpretation on that is probably incorrect.
 
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You CAN legally buy a bike from out of State BUT it must have 7500 miles on the odometer when you get to the DMV.

In 2009, I bought a FZ1 in Las Vegas. It had 5200 miles on it.

I made an appointment at DMV 3-4 weeks later and rode the bike 2500 miles before the DMV appointment.

At the DMV appointment I had 7600+ miles on it. No problems registering it at all.

It was previously registered in South Carolina where it was bought new. I do not believe it was a CA emissions bike.
 
motomania2007 said:
You CAN legally buy a bike from out of State BUT it must have 7500 miles on the odometer when you get to the DMV.

In 2009, I bought a FZ1 in Las Vegas. It had 5200 miles on it.

I made an appointment at DMV 3-4 weeks later and rode the bike 2500 miles before the DMV appointment.

At the DMV appointment I had 7600+ miles on it. No problems registering it at all.

It was previously registered in South Carolina where it was bought new. I do not believe it was a CA emissions bike.
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The title needs to show over 7500 mi at the time of transaction, right? You need to be sure the seller fudges that when he signs the title. "...any vehicle with less than 7,500 miles on the odometer at the time of purchase."
 
sckego said:
The title needs to show over 7500 mi at the time of transaction, right? You need to be sure the seller fudges that when he signs the title. "...any vehicle with less than 7,500 miles on the odometer at the time of purchase."
Click to expand...

We left that blank or filled in the number, I don't recall how we did it.
 
Kestrel said:
OP, FWIW, 7500 miles *is* pretty low for any modern bike.
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I agree, but the bikes I am looking at are way lower in mileage.

There's one with 3500 miles, for example. So if I get it shipped here, can I ride it for another 4,000 miles without registering?

That's also gonna be hard since I ride only in summer and locally mostly.

This is all new to me. I'm glad I learned a valuable lesson. So, I must stay away from low mile bikes, or look for something locally. - - stuck between a rock and a hard place - - :afm199
 
You can artificially increase the mileage on some bikes by spinning the sensor. Depends on the bike whether or not that is accessible.
 
newbiker said:
I agree, but the bikes I am looking at are way lower in mileage.

There's one with 3500 miles, for example. So if I get it shipped here, can I ride it for another 4,000 miles without registering?

That's also gonna be hard since I ride only in summer and locally mostly.

This is all new to me. I'm glad I learned a valuable lesson. So, I must stay away from low mile bikes, or look for something locally. - - stuck between a rock and a hard place - - :afm199
Click to expand...

Legally, no you can'tdo that.

it happens, though if it takes you months to increase the miles your chances of getting caught increase
 
The initial post was accurate. Some of the follow-ups may have been misleading.

If it's a California bike, meaning that it has an emission sticker that has the word "California" on it, there is no minimum mileage. Check the bikes you're considering and if they are 50-state bikes, you can buy them and register them no problem.

This is an example of a California emission sticker for an XR650L:
EmissionSticker_zpshiaijfer.jpg
 
Kawasaki definitely made 49 state legal ZX's
 
I bought a 2009 Ducati Monster in Nevada last year with only 1500 miles on it. In this case this make/model was also a 50 state bike I had no problem registering it in California. CA spec was also noted on the emissions sticker on my bike.
 
It really depends on the bike and model (49-state vs. 50-state). I just bought a 2014 Honda with 1,900 miles on it from New York with no problems - it was a 50-state bike, with California compliance on the sticker. MAKE SURE you get a photo of the sticker - if you're thinking of buying out-of-state, before you send any money!
 
Just went through this exercise - bought a bike up in ORegon, rode it home, and registered it in California. But it was a 1994 GL1500SE with 64,930 miles on the clock, and it is a 50 state bike so registration was a snap!
 
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