1. Take the mini to a local DMV office and have it inspected, i.e. verify vehicle ID number (California uses the number on the label on your truck created in Japan) 2. Present the original Export Certificate with English translation (The DMV keeps the original, so make a copy for yourself) 3. Present the original Bill of Sale (The DMV keeps this original also, so again, make a copy for your records) 4. Present any one of the following: Customs form 3299, or 3461, or 6059, or 7501. It must be stamped or endorsed "cleared by U. S. Customs" and must identify your particular Japanese Kei. 5. Pay the sales tax and registration fees. Since no one at my local DMV office had come across this type of vehicle, they wanted me to get it weighed so that it could be licensed for on highway use. Don't be tempted by this, since it will not pass safety nor smog checks, you will be wasting your time. The local DMV will issue a green off-road license sticker and a temporary registration. They then forward everything to Sacramento in a "Suspense" status. This process took four months to figure out with many calls, faxes and at one point a letter withdrawing the registration request and asking for my fees to be refunded. A very helpful supervisor in Sacramento's DMV helped me figure out what was required and got the vehicle registered for off-road use and issued a California title. Carefully review the paperwork created by the local DMV office. It didn't help the process when they identified the vehicle make as a "SCARRY" and misspelled my name. Being so relieved that this step was over, I failed to point these mistakes out which required more paperwork to Sacramento to correct the errors. At one point I was even told to transport my mini back to the point of entry for inspection by U. S. Customs. It took three weeks to speak to someone at U. S. Customs who also told me to bring all the original documents (not possible since the DMV had the originals) and pay the import fees. Fortunately, this wasn't necessary due to the helpfulness of the above mentioned DMV supervisor. Total time: 4 months. Presenting the proper documents, including the Customs form should greatly shorten this process.
why is everyone so sure these will not pass a smog / emissions test? mine passed very easily... it seems like a lie that was made up before even testing these. i saw in an old thread where everyone was getting up tight about EPA stuff but no one ever even had one checke.
I took mine to my local mechanic who does California smog check and was informed that he couldn't do the inspection. Something about nothing in the computer about this type of vehicle. Since it also requires air bags for California, it wouldn't pass the safety inspection. I suppose if it was older, i.e. when air bags weren't manufactured, it might pass that part.
It's also interesting that someone on here has a mini registered in California for highway use. It was originally imported for use by the Forestry Department who needed to drive it on the highway. He said he purchased it from the Foresty Department. I don't know if it has air bags or how he gets it smogged. I did notice in the pic he posted, it was left-hand drive. No one in the DMV, locally or the state headquarters, that I dealt with had ever registered one, until mine. I can't explain California. I live here and am bewildered on a routine basis about more than just DMV regulations.
i'm originally from cali and know how arbitrarily they seem to enforce laws. and create new ones... it is what it is... but not only a problem in cali. here in arizona i know a guy that walked through the mvd and got plates on his first try, i'm still beating my head against a well trying to register mine... such is life
