Question about california car buying

Evil Gummy

Hey guys!

So this is a two part question really.


First, I need to buy a car, and I have not bought one in so, so long. I'm not sure what I should be looking for or where to look out here. I live in west LA currently. I don't want a big car, as hey, it's California. Are used cars from dealers safer than people? What should I watch out for? What cars just get good gas mileage and won't explode on me from factory defect?



Next issue.

I had my car here with me from another state, it needs to pass smog test to be registered, and I found out that if the check engine light is on, it won't ever pass. My car as a dodge avenger, and after some research, apparently this is a common flaw and no matter how much more work (oh lord have I tried) I put in, it won't solve the check engine issue.

I need to sell or get rid of this car asap. I have never done a cash for clunkers or such thing but it seems it's the only way, since CA law says sellers must give smog certs to buyers, and I clearly don't have and can't get one. Frustrating, as the car runs just fine.

What do I need to do to sell this as junk? I have the title, if someone comes to buy the car and hand me monies, what do I need to give/get for/from them? Do I send anything in to the DMV?

I just don't want to make any big blunders, CA is expensive and mistakes are not easy to rectify. I already got a silly ticket for the car not being registered here, and while it says 'correctable' I really CAN'T actually correct that. I assume I'll be paying the full price on that ticket, even if I get a new car and register it before the court date yes?

Thanks in advance everyone!

ED!

If you buy from a person (CL for instance) ask for VIN# and License - you want to make sure there's no "hidden fees' when you go to get your vehicle registered. If you can afford (or know) someone that can come with you to take a look at the car that is also a plus as buying through CL isn't protected by ANYTHING. Do not bring cash to an inspection - lessens the chance you'll make an impule buy without having a chance to think on it.

If someone buys your car, you simply have them sign the back of the original title, you give them the tear off, and you both take it down to DMV to remove yourself from liability for anything that happens to the bike in future, and for them to take ownership of the machine should something happen to them. As for selling it - toss it on CL and note the defect and have your price reflect that. I am sure theres more than a few mechanics in the LA area who would be willing to take the car off your hands for a discounted price.

Evil Gummy

From my understanding, you can't legally sell a car here in CA without proof of smog check cert, is the thing.

mts

i think you can sell as is and not have a check. can you clear the code using a code reader? you can go to one of them autozone type places, use there code reader, clear it and then drive to get it smog checked.

illig

mts wrote:

i think you can sell as is and not have a check. can you clear the code using a code reader? you can go to one of them autozone type places, use there code reader, clear it and then drive to get it smog checked.

That won't work. You won't pass smog if you just cleared the code.

Evil_Reaver

ED! wrote:

If someone buys your car, you simply have them sign the back of the original title, you give them the tear off, and you both take it down to DMV to remove yourself from liability for anything that happens to the bike in future, and for them to take ownership of the machine should something happen to them. As for selling it - toss it on CL and note the defect and have your price reflect that. I am sure theres more than a few mechanics in the LA area who would be willing to take the car off your hands for a discounted price.

You can also unregister yourself from the car on the CA DMV website. No need to go to a DMV building. In fact, it's probably better for the seller to do it online immediately after the car is sold (like, sell it and then walk inside your house and unregister) just in case the buyer wrecks the car and tries to pin it on you.

Gihgehls

Do you need to have a functional check-engine light to pass smog cert?

kaliyama

illig wrote:

mts wrote:

i think you can sell as is and not have a check. can you clear the code using a code reader? you can go to one of them autozone type places, use there code reader, clear it and then drive to get it smog checked.

That won't work. You won't pass smog if you just cleared the code.

Why? The smog people know if you've been clearing codes? The check engine light comes on all the time for stupid things - like leaving the gas cap open. That can hose smog tests??

Karrmer

kaliyama wrote:

illig wrote:

mts wrote:

i think you can sell as is and not have a check. can you clear the code using a code reader? you can go to one of them autozone type places, use there code reader, clear it and then drive to get it smog checked.

That won't work. You won't pass smog if you just cleared the code.

Why? The smog people know if you've been clearing codes? The check engine light comes on all the time for stupid things - like leaving the gas cap open. That can hose smog tests??

I agree here, I'm pretty sure they just do a physical check to look and see if the light is on. They don't have machines to check anything else

firewaterword

Two quick things. In northern CA but all the same...

I bought my car off of cragislist. I had a very good experience, so grain of salt and all. That said make sure you know what the common scams are, and insist on a cashiers check at the sellers bank or whatnot.

Second, at least around here, the BAAQMD (http://www.baaqmd.gov/) will pay you about $1k as long as the car is drivable. No idea if that sort of thing exists down there. Worth a look though.

Good luck!

MushroomStick

Karrmer wrote:

kaliyama wrote:

illig wrote:

mts wrote:

i think you can sell as is and not have a check. can you clear the code using a code reader? you can go to one of them autozone type places, use there code reader, clear it and then drive to get it smog checked.

That won't work. You won't pass smog if you just cleared the code.

Why? The smog people know if you've been clearing codes? The check engine light comes on all the time for stupid things - like leaving the gas cap open. That can hose smog tests??

I agree here, I'm pretty sure they just do a physical check to look and see if the light is on. They don't have machines to check anything else

It would only be a problem if something triggered the light again before you finished getting the car checked.

mts

yea, they don't hook up a code reader, they just look to see if the light is on. as mushroom stick said, it would only be an issue if the light goes on right away. if its something that when cleared comes back after a week or so you should be fine

MushroomStick

mts wrote:

yea, they don't hook up a code reader, they just look to see if the light is on. as mushroom stick said, it would only be an issue if the light goes on right away. if its something that when cleared comes back after a week or so you should be fine

Even if they did hook up a code reader (assuming it doesn't trip again) it would be cleared.

Chickeen

Code clear will only work if you can drive the car for 30 miles or so afterwards and the light does not come back on. My understanding is that clearing the codes also clears the last time the diagnostics were run. If you go in for a smog check, and your OBD computer doesn't have a record of a diagnostics, you fail.

That's more or less what I was told by the smog check guy that failed me due to my check engine light being on for a oxygen sensor. He told me to replace the sensor, clear the codes, and the drive the car for 30 miles before bringing it back for a retest.