So this is going to be a bit of a wierd one how things convoluted but i'll simplify it as much as possible.
Someone died in north dakota owning a car licence plated there (more than a year ago)
A relative in california has been trying to legally claim the car (this isnt being contested) but california wont even let her take ownership without the car being smogged/modified to cal emissions. She hasn't yet smogged or taken ownership of the car but it physically is present in a storage garage in california not running. (it needs a repair or two)
She's now talking about that she might want to take it and give it to me after she's fixed it. But this requires the absurdity of having to pay to smog modify a car for california which is going to minnesota.
One solution is I just try to legally claim the car if she can disclaim it (original owner deceased, no other claimants stepped forward in 1+ year) somehow to me but I was wondering if this is how (stupid) california laws work for something that isn't even meaning to be driven in or owned to stay in california. She might have to move the car out of it's california indoor storage (where it's not being driven, if there's some law about "if the car is IN california for blah blah 30 days" we'll just shove that under the rug because that's stupid) in 30-60 days from now and I don't know that I could take instant possession.
I guess i'm wondering unless anyone sees another way to untangle it (is this how california laws work or is there a loophole?) my best solution is probably have her pay to have it towed to a repair shop pretending it's just visiting from north dakota (even tho it's not), I take legal ownership, she leaves it parked on private property (there is private property parking available for the vehicle, it wont be on the street) until I can physically get it?
I mean people visit from other states all the time, how long can you "be in california" with a non CA vehicle before they act stupid? Will cops act stupid about out of state plates if it's there too long 'visiting' an apartment parking lot and how long is that? What about once it's on the street or if it's temporarily on the street driven on an errand once a week to keep battery charged and stuff?
Someone died in north dakota owning a car licence plated there (more than a year ago)
A relative in california has been trying to legally claim the car (this isnt being contested) but california wont even let her take ownership without the car being smogged/modified to cal emissions. She hasn't yet smogged or taken ownership of the car but it physically is present in a storage garage in california not running. (it needs a repair or two)
She's now talking about that she might want to take it and give it to me after she's fixed it. But this requires the absurdity of having to pay to smog modify a car for california which is going to minnesota.
One solution is I just try to legally claim the car if she can disclaim it (original owner deceased, no other claimants stepped forward in 1+ year) somehow to me but I was wondering if this is how (stupid) california laws work for something that isn't even meaning to be driven in or owned to stay in california. She might have to move the car out of it's california indoor storage (where it's not being driven, if there's some law about "if the car is IN california for blah blah 30 days" we'll just shove that under the rug because that's stupid) in 30-60 days from now and I don't know that I could take instant possession.
I guess i'm wondering unless anyone sees another way to untangle it (is this how california laws work or is there a loophole?) my best solution is probably have her pay to have it towed to a repair shop pretending it's just visiting from north dakota (even tho it's not), I take legal ownership, she leaves it parked on private property (there is private property parking available for the vehicle, it wont be on the street) until I can physically get it?
I mean people visit from other states all the time, how long can you "be in california" with a non CA vehicle before they act stupid? Will cops act stupid about out of state plates if it's there too long 'visiting' an apartment parking lot and how long is that? What about once it's on the street or if it's temporarily on the street driven on an errand once a week to keep battery charged and stuff?