Totally OT question - GA emissions inspection

[pooch]

DD is working in ORL. & has a car registered to DH & I in CT. In order to renew the registration, the car must pass an emissions inspection. It is out of the question for her to drive back to CT for this. We don't want to transfer the car to her name because she is coming back here, probably in the spring. Our Emissions Dept said she could get her car inspected in GA and fax the "pass" to CT. Of course, when I call GA Emissions, they say only the 13 counties around Atlanta are required to have inspections!!! So she's gonna roadtrip.

My question to you all is - where would be the most time-efficient, trip-easy place to go? My guess is somewhere straight up I-75 & hopefully right off the highway? Cost? Procedures? Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Pooch

 

[Capt_BJ]

welllllll... I have plenty of experience in this general area so there's good news and bad news.

As a military member I've spent plenty of time holding out of state plates (military can keep plates at home of residency) and there are ALWAYS provisions for a way around the inspection requirement for a car 'living' out of state - and they don't require driving to a third state for an inspection! So I'd call again and see if you get a person more in the know. IME the rules, the rules I experienced said something like, "if the state you are in has inspections send that inspection result, and if the state has no inspection send a notorized statement to that effect" - BUT call and get the word for your state (or search the WEB ... I can usually find answers on these issues on the web faster then getting a people to do it! Then I print the web page (usually from a state operated site) and staple it to the registration renewal!

On the other hand .... by the laws of Florida that car is technically illegally registered. After X number of weeks the car "must" transfer to Florida registration unless there is a special exception like military. I KNOW we all live around the edges of this one, dd has a car in AL for school on non-AL plates and is 'living in sin' in that regard. This is not something the police go looking to write tickets on .... put if one finds themselves in traffic court for another issue it CAN come up.

thought from left field - what's the annual fee in CT? While in the service I kept my FL residency as many fees - LIKE car registration - in FL were a FRACTION of the states I was transferred to . . . but your temp' situation may make this moot.

hmmmmmm
I just spent 1 minute on Google and found this on a Conn State web site

Drivers can request a deadline extension for vehicle inspections. The DMV grants the extension for special circumstances:

Military service out of state
Owner's serious illness or hospitalization
Vehicle out of service and in storage
Vehicle out of state for more than 30 days at time of inspection


Send your written request, including documentation, to the following address:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Emissions Division Suite 400
Rowland State Government Center
55 West Main St.Waterbury, CT 06702-2004

You cannot have a vehicle registered in Connecticut inspected at an out-of-state facility.

http://www.dmv.org/ct-connecticut/smog-check.php#-Exemptions

That last line wraps around to my earlier comment - someone you talked to GUESSED!

 

[pooch]

We have had 1 extension granted already. At the time, I was told another 6 month extension could be granted if the car remained out of state. When I called about this, the young man I spoke with said "The new boss will only allow 1 extension". I thought that was kind of strange that a new boss could just change that provision without legislative approval of some kind.

Looks like I need to do more research here. Thanks again for your response!!

Checked the website you referenced above and it is not a State of CT website (see the banner on the top). Called CT DMV and spoke to another associate who again said that CT has reciprocal agreements with several states, including Georgia, and WILL accept a passing test from them. So, looks like the road trip is still on. He also suggested registering the car down there as we know we're supposed to but I don't really want to "sell" the car to her, have her go through the expense of sales tax etc on top of 1st time registration fees, changing ins etc, etc, when I'm pretty sure she's coming back north within the next year. Hey, I hear Atlanta is a fun city!!!

 

[gmeh1]

We have had 1 extension granted already. At the time, I was told another 6 month extension could be granted if the car remained out of state. When I called about this, the young man I spoke with said "The new boss will only allow 1 extension". I thought that was kind of strange that a new boss could just change that provision without legislative approval of some kind.

Looks like I need to do more research here. Thanks again for your response!!

Checked the website you referenced above and it is not a State of CT website (see the banner on the top). Called CT DMV and spoke to another associate who again said that CT has reciprocal agreements with several states, including Georgia, and WILL accept a passing test from them. So, looks like the road trip is still on. He also suggested registering the car down there as we know we're supposed to but I don't really want to "sell" the car to her, have her go through the expense of sales tax etc on top of 1st time registration fees, changing ins etc, etc, when I'm pretty sure she's coming back north within the next year. Hey, I hear Atlanta is a fun city!!!

I believe the transfer to a family member exempts you from paying sales tax. http://www.flhsmv.gov/index.html

 

[pooch]

I believe the transfer to a family member exempts you from paying sales tax. http://www.flhsmv.gov/index.html

A total of about $350.00 just in registration fees (new title $85 + registration $40 + new reg fee $225) Since the car has never been registered in Florida, I'm not sure the family transfer exemption applies (wish these damn state DMV sites were easier to decipher!!!) in regards to sales tax. What is the rate for sales tax on an automobile anyway (she lives in Kissimmee if that makes a difference)?

Really that 1st time reg fee is the killer!