Selling a Car in California that Cannot be Smogged

[Another Reader]

I'm helping a friend sell a car that needs some engine work.  California requires the seller to obtain a current smog certificate to transfer the car.  The car does not operate well enough to smog test it and it probably would not pass anyway.  The seller cannot afford to repair the car.  The likely buyer is a mechanic or someone that wants to fix it up for their own use.  It is too new to be exempt from smog certification.  Does anyone know how to get the vehicle transferred in California when it cannot be smogged?

[Joggernot]

Do what others do...haul it to NM, register it, and sell it there.  Sell it in Texas the same way.

[electriceagle]

If the car is old enough, the state might give you money to let them crush it. If the car is in sufficiently bad shape, this could be a better deal than selling. Look up the "vehicle retirement program"

[DarinC]

What do you mean by engine problem?

[Another Reader]

The car is less than 6 years old.  It's high mileage and has a diagnosed manifold leak and possibly other problems.  It was smogged in January, but that's irrelevant now.  In good condition at its mileage it's worth around $5,200 per Kelly Blue Book.  In fair condition, around $4,300. 

Dealers must have this problem every day.  They have no idea when a car is traded in if it will pass the smog test, yet they take title.  There should be a way to transfer title that allows the buyer to fix the car and get it smogged before registering and operating it.

[DarinC]

Is it throwing a CEL? What makes you think the intake manifold leak will cause it to fail smog?

Dealers are exempt from the required smog during a vehicle transfer because they need to smog the car to sell it anyway.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/california/787574-bought-used-car-wont-pass-smog.html

[Another Reader]

It's not my car so I don't have all the information.  What happens is the car loses power and won't accelerate.  The dealer diagnosed a leak in the manifold.  It can't even be driven to the smog place at this point.  The owner has purchased a replacement car and wants to get the best "as is" offer from someone that wants an inexpensive car they can fix and drive or resell.  The car has had a lot of other things replaced recently so it has potential for the right buyer.  The option appears to be to junk it, which is ridiculous. 

[Greg]

They can register the vehicle as "non-op" and sell it that way, the new owner will have to remove that in order to make it operational again. 

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs%2Fbrochures/fast_facts/ffvr01.htm