Table of contents
Introduction
It’s no secret to anyone in the car community that California has strict emissions regulations. Despite these regulations, California has one of the largest car enthusiast communities in the country, if not one of the largest in the world. CARB Legal status for your vehicle is tough, but not impossible. Follow these tips to modify your car and avoid trouble with the law!
DISCLAIMER: Powershift Auto is not a legal firm nor is this legal advice. The information is purely open sourced from the California DMV.
Go Smog Exempt
In California, there are multiple ways a vehicle can be considered Smog Exempt, thus allowing the owner to build the car to their heart’s desire. The current regulations regarding Smog Exempt vehicles are as follows:
- Gasoline-powered vehicle is a 1975 year model or older (This includes motorcycles and trailers.)
- Diesel-powered vehicle is a 1997 and older year model OR with a Gross Vehicle Weight of more than 14,000 pounds.
- Powered by natural gas and weighs more than 14,000 pounds.
- An electric vehicle.
- Gasoline-powered and less than eight model-years old.
Age Is Just A Number, Or Is It?
Owning a Gasoline-powered vehicle that is 1975 or older is the most well known tactic for evading smog laws. The 1975 or older exemption is a tool that car enthusiasts, especially those who love classic American Muscle, take full advantage of. For example, my dad has a 1969 Chevelle that came with a big block 396 Chevy motor. Because he does not have to worry about smog laws, his engine swap is not an issue. Had this been in a post-1975 vehicle, the engine build would have to be a CARB Legal motor.
For you coal rolling lovers out there, you’re going to need to find a 1997 or older diesel vehicle. This is where the first generation Cummins, early 7.3 Powerstrokes, and the old Duramax motors really shine. Having the ability to crank up the boost and have massive amounts of torque is every diesel owners dream. Make it easy on yourself and get a 1997 or older rig for your CARB Legal project!
The smog exemption that the car community in California is benefitting the most from is the new vehicle exemption. With the rise of vehicles of new performance vehicles, the smog exempt modifying game has never been better. These performance monsters have access to any performance modification without fear of failing a smog test.
I personally utilized this exemption when tuning my Focus ST. I was able to use whatever tuning and modifications I wanted to without issue. Shout out to JST Performance!
Do You Need To Be CARB Legal In All Of California?
California Smog exemptions also apply to certain counties. El Dorado, Riverside, Placer, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Sonoma are all counties that do not participate in smog checks, allowing you to modify your vehicle’s engine anyway you’d like
My Engine Blew, What Do I Do?
Look into Bureau of Automotive Repair approved engine swaps. These engine swaps typically limit you to engines from the same vehicle or the same classification of vehicle (ie. light truck motors cannot go into a sedan). One of the options for a B.A.R approved engine swap is a GM LS3 eRod motor swap. GM took the time to make it CARB Legal! There has even been approval of this swap on a Nissan S13 240sx because they maintained the emissions equipment!
CARB Legal modifications
I know, I know, this is the lame answer according to the internet. How can you enjoy a car nowadays that doesn’t have 1000 wheel horsepower and is daily driven?
Well, in my opinion, a car is most enjoyable on backroads and mountain passes, not in a straight line. Suspension modifications, besides slamming a car all the way to the ground, are typically untouched by California law. While you’re at it, get some bigger and better brakes to make your vehicle not only safer but much more capable in a road course or auto cross session. Why put a bunch of money into suspension to go faster in corners if you can’t brake as hard or if your brakes overheat too quickly?
What Are My CARB Legal Options?
Looking into engine modifications may not be as exciting but there are plenty of packages available for vehicles that are in fact smog legal. Often times, performance manufacturers like Roush, Mountune, Flyin’ Miata, and others create packages that offer horsepower increases while being smog legal. For example, Flyin’ Miata offers CARB approved turbo kits for the Mazda Miata platform, which would give you plenty of power for your lightweight roadster! Another often smog legal modification are supercharger kits. If you are unsure if a power modification is smog legal, look for “50-state approved” or a CARB EO number in the online description or the packaging of the modification.
Lastly, but most importantly, exterior modifications are usually fair game for California Law. Some of California’s vehicle code consist of no front window tint of any kind or using offroad lights on the public roadways, but those are usually warnings or simple fix-it tickets if you get caught for them. Other than that, find the aftermarket bumpers, the wide body kits, the obnoxious wing, and that crazy vinyl wrap you’ve had your eye on and build! Exterior modifications may not add horsepower numbers, but it adds to the uniqueness and personality of your vehicle immensely. Check out websites like fitmentindustries.com to get awesome wheels and suspension mods for your car!
Conclusion
CARB Legal modifications and smog exemption are easily attainable! Navigating California law and following the DMV guidelines will provide you with a pleasant modification experience.
Need tools to install these mods? Check out our blog for tips on what tools you need in your garage!