What's it like to get a modified car to pass?

I'm ranking my rank list for residency and while the car isn't my priority, I'm curious where I might be able to keep it. Currently, I'm most interested in programs in MA, PA, and VT with a few places in CT and NJ further down the list. Odds are that I end up in one of the first three states.

I live in MA so that's easy, but I don't know what things are like for PA or VT. My understanding is that in PA I could apply for plates for older vehicles since my car is a 2000 and drive it for 5000 miles a year or less. I have no idea for PA and I understand that things in CT and NJ are very challenging.

I don't particularly want to live in CT or NJ so that's a non issue for now.

While residency will be challenging, the programs I'm looking at will have some light at the end of the tunnel about 1/3 - 1/2 way through so I should be able to enjoy the car. My goal is to get it straight up solid during some time off before graduation so I don't have to worry too much while training though I know things come up.

Thanks for any help! Wishing you all the best in the new year!

 

I vote Florida.
sunny, cheap and no inspections what so ever.

 

No interviews.

Regional bias is a thing.

 

You are not old enough or rich enough to be accepted in Florida yet.

 

Where in PA? not all PA counties have emissions inspections. PA DEP I/M - Welcome to Drive Clean PA! - Pennsylvania's Vehicle Emission Testing Program


if you keep it under 5k, can get an exemption sticker. This costs money, but they do not do the OBDII check on the car. They are supposed to do a visual inspection, but that will vary depending on where you go. You still have to get a safety inspection every year, they check for excessive rust, cracks in windshield, horn and all lights work. I take my car to a small locally owned mechanic for all testing and get exemptions on my track car.

if you cannot keep it under 5k, you will basically have to return to stock for the emissions test. You are only allowed 1 monitor to not be set at the time of testing. I don't think there is a way to fool the NB ECU into reporting all monitors as ready.

 

Should be easy keeping under 5k. if nothing else, disconnect speedo!

PA program is in philly. Parents live in bucks.

 

When I lived in the Philly suburbs I had a buddy with a car that in no way would pass. He ended up returning to stock. He thought it'd be easy to get someone to just let him pass for extra money, turns out that's way harder than people make it seem.

OTOH, if you get an OBD 1 car it's fairly easy to pass. You can live outside the metro areas and not need emissions. You could buy a second gauge cluster and swap them for a few weeks every year to stay under 5k.

 

Michigan is a win/lose here
no inspections and cops dont tend to care about modified cars, but our roads are ***

 

In NJ, as long as it returns happy OBDII and you have a cat you are good. Or get a pre OBD II car and never have to have it inspected.

 

Haha, I have a 300hp miata. There's no way it's returning OBD anything. Car is a 2000.

I thought there was an exemption for cars driven under 5k miles a year. I can provide mileage checks from my MA inspections proving that the car was driven less than 5k last year or get a carfax or whatever.

Or does that only apply to cars owned and registered in PA and driven and registered there for a year?
Page 13 here: http://www.drivecleanpa.state.pa.us/...aq_station.pdf

 

I have never had to bring in a car from out of state and get an exemption right away, it might come down to the judgement of the person doing the inspection. I would recommend having some form of proof that you drive the car less than 5K a year and see if he will give you the exemption.

you will have to get it inspected as part of the registration process.

 

I can bring atleast mileage from my 2018 and 2019 inspections to show less than 5k of use.

The car has a built motor anyway so mileage doesn't mean jack... It's a bit of work but I'm also not opposed to swapping clusters etc if it ever comes to it. Mileage is pretty meaningless now on this car.
Regarding the inspection as part of registration... is that the full emissions with visual inspection? I know one person I can ask about this when I'm home next.

 

there are "separate" inspections, the shop does both, but you get two stickers (one for each) on your windshield. you are always required to do the safety inspection every year. The emissions inspection has an exemption for cars driven less than 5K in a year. you still get a sticker. If you are in an emissions county you will need to get both stickers safety and emissions when you register the car. I cannot speak to whether you will be able to get the exemption for the first time you register the car in the state. It might come down to the judgement of the guy doing the inspection.

The full emissions test is an obdII check, a gas cap check and a visual. The exemption is "supposed" to be just a visual

My reading of the penndot site leads me to believe that you should be able to get the exemptions, as it only talks about miles, and does not stipulate those miles have to be after it was registered in PA. as I said I would bring proof you have driven it less than 5K.