California Still Hates Kit Cars… (and cars in general)
If you want to own, build or buy a kit car. You shouldn’t live in California. Once again the state with the largest car market shuns enthusiasts as it fail to pass legislation to make it easier for individuals to register hobby or specialty cars. Each year California allows a mere 500 persons to register their kit cars. Total vehicle registration for the state in 2009 was 19,919,068. Meaning that kit car registration annual account for less than .00251% of total registrations.
SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) had helped sponsor legislation to increase the number to 750 vehicles. After passing the State Assembly, the California Senate Transportation Committee, defeated the legislation by a 3 to 5 five vote.
“After passing in the Assembly with the full support of the automotive hobbyist community, the California Senate Transportation Committee failed to approve legislation to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year. The bill was defeated on a 3 to 5 vote.
Current law provides for emissions-system certification and a model-year designation for specially constructed vehicles. Under the law, vehicle owners choose whether a smog-test referee certifies the engine model year or the vehicle model year. To determine model year, inspectors compare the vehicle to those of the era that the vehicle most closely resembles. If there is no close match, it is classified as a ’60 vehicle. Only those emissions controls applicable to the model year and that can be reasonably accommodated by the vehicle are required.
The Department of Motor Vehicles provides a new registration to the first 500 specially constructed vehicles per year that meet the criteria.” -SEMA
(Photo Credit: SportsIllustrated)
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