I got a job in Dahlgren, VA and will be living in Fredericksburg by sometime in May/June. Currently both of my RX-7's are titled in my father's name at his address in Hickory, NC (no emissions county) and I just drive them here in Raleigh (emissions county). My father and I own the house in Raleigh together (both names on the deed) and we do not plan on trying to sell it when I move, but will just rent it out to my roommate and one of his friends.

I found an apartment that I want to move into yesterday that is in Stafford County, which I just found out is an emissions county. After reading all of the literature about emissions and inspections in VA, I have realized that my 83 GSL (my daily driver) doesn't need any inspection at all, but my 93 will need to pass emissions which will be literally impossible. It has a large street port, T04R, and a full 4" turbo back exhaust with only a muffler and resonator so there is no point in even trying.

I am trying to figure out if there is a way to bring it with me and still drive it with it registered in my father's name in the state of North Carolina. I only plan on living in the apartment for a year, then trying to sell the house in Raleigh and buy a house in VA outside of Stafford county (probably King George county).

Any advice would be appreciated. Also, anything else you can tell me about Virginia or this area in general that I should know awesome too. Thanks.

 

Welcome! The easiest thing you can do is just keep your vehicle registered to your place in Raleigh as long as possible. When you eventually do need to get registered here in VA you'll have to figure something out....check your pm.


There's lots of stuff to do in VA, unfortunately you live in Fredericksburg so....uh yeah I dunno... If you're a big civil war history buff you'll probably love it there.

 

Yes you don't technically need to have your 83 inspected any more, but don't expect to be able to drive it every day without hassle. I assume that you mean, it doesn't need to be inspected because you'll be using antique tags, correct? While that sounds all neat and awesome, Antique tagged cars in this state aren't to be driven multiple times per week (I forget what the exact number is, but it's like 2 or 3 times a week I believe), and any cop that catches you doing so, i.e., a cop that likes to park at the end of your street and sees you leave for work every day, WILL ticket you for it.

Same sort of this applies for the NC registration, you can only pull the "I just moved here" card to the same cop but so many times...

 

I just reread the inspection information and it seems you are correct. I guess I was mislead by the cars over 25 year old don't need an emissions. So it needs a safety inspection only, which is no big deal and I don't have to worry about the antique thing.

 

I have california plates on my none daily driver still and its registered in my dads name out there. Just make sure you have a plan if they pull you over, mine is my dad drove out here and is visiting. I only kept the plates to get away with window tint and it keeps the cops from hassling you out here also since your a out of stater. They do emissions though in cali so in a few months I have to register it here in VA since I cant get it to cali for smog.

 

Also hit up the Maryland NOVA threads and see if there are any rotary friendly shops in the area that can "help" you pass.
Worse case secenario you have to get a high flow cat for the FD and have PFS retune it for you.

 

Thanks. I think I would have to buy an entire new exhaust for that to work. I can't find a single cat for 4" piping that is not designed for diesel. I guess going back to 3" wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but kinda a PITA.

 

I would just get some 4" -> 3" reducers and put a 3" cat on and then when your done testing it take it off and go back to 4". You wouldn't have to replace the whole exhaust, just the center section.

that's what I was planning to do with my 3" (except for the reducers), but then I just ended up getting historic tags.

 

Now that isn't a bad idea...thanks.

 

The car would be loud as hell though, and the cops WILL pull you for that, my friends haven been pulled for a 3in catback on his Honda Prelude and he still had his stock Cats.

 

Here in NC, in 7 years, I have never been pulled over for being loud and I have had really loud cars (2 FD's with no cats and a TT350Z with a twin 3" exhaust...though I have seen others that have. I like to tell myself that the cops just like my car better . I guess I might not be so lucky in VA.

 

You definitely won't be lucky in Va. The cops will hound you like crazy.

 

In Fairfax mostly watch your ***, NoVA in general is a lil' uptight cop wise.

I've never been hounded by the popo though, watcha been doin GSGT?

 

As long as your name is on the deed in NC you can keep your car registered there and drive it in VA FOREVER.