I'm temporarily living in Mexico City and am moving back to California soon. Since I've been here I got this '96 Accord, and plan on driving it all the way home. I know I'm eventually going to need to register it in CA which means a smog check. Since this car is built to meet Mexican smog standards, which are far less stringent that CA standards, I'm pretty sure it won't pass unless I do some work on it. However, I know so little about all this that I'm just as certain it would pass un-modified too. In other words, I know squat.

Someone told me that there's only two shops in CA that do this type of work, and that it could cost up to $3000, which isn't very practical. I'm pretty handy and have mechanic friends, and could probably do the work myself, if only I knew what needs to be done.

Does anyone know how to bring it up to snuff? All I know is it probably doesn't have a catalytic converter. There's probably other stuff missing too, but I don't know what exactly.

Thanks to NAFTA any Mexican used cars have no import duty on them as long as they're at least two years old. I don't think you even need to declare it. The only thing you need to do is register the car with the DMV, which means it has to be legal in your state. Because the car's considered "graymarket," a shade cleaner than "blackmarket," when you register it in CA they give you a "salvage title," even though it's history may be spotless. Also, the Mexican registration has to be in your name, an attempt to suppresses international carjacking rings.

Thanks for your help,
-Dave

 

Personally, I don't see a stock Honda Accord not passing emissions or smog anywhere. I wouldnt even worry.