[Sea Note]

A talkative fellow in an older Country Coach with California plates parked next to me in Moab mentioned that he wouldn't be able to renew his tabs because his diesel engine was manufactured before 2010. That got me thinking, which got me researching, and what I found has me scratching my head. As I read it, as of 2024 California is requiring that all heavy vehicles (including RVs) with diesel engines be California CARB (think EPA) compliant, which means 2010 or newer engine with all the bits working, subject to narrow exceptions.  One exception is to limit travel in California to 1,000 miles per year (with lots of documentation requirements). Another is a general exemption for out-of-state RVs that are never used for commercial purposes, so no problem if a Newell with pre-2010 power is personally owned by someone residing outside of California -- but what about coaches owned or registered by a business (Montana LLC or otherwise)? I have thoughts (not good ones) but would value insight from anyone who has taken a deep dive on this as I suspect that ignorance won't cut it when the plate reader returns a business as the owner and the blue lights start flashing and I would want to know before getting turned away and having travel plans disturbed (or worse). 

I see that the underlying issue was addressed in a thread in 2021 but it is not up to date and doesn't address the ownership issue.

Respectfully submitted,

db

[cwl1979]

If your coach is registered to a business, and used in any way for that business, you actually need at least a class B( or whatever it is in your state that allows straight trucks over 26K). If you pull a trailer with it of any kind also in use of your business you will need a class A license. As well as current DOT medical cards and loads of insurance. This holds true for ALL states.
You will also not be allowed into California and they would turn you around or have it towed out from the weigh station.
When I purchased my coach I knew i was never going to be able to visit California in it. Mostly due to their dumb speed limit for 3 axle (or more) vehicles. I've driven commercially through California and can say those guys don't play and ignorance is not acceptable. Even with an Alaska license. They did not appreciate me doing 65 down the grapevine laughing because they thought that was steep.
If you wanna chance a trip into California i would recommend not having it registered to a business. At a minimum though you would need a DOT number and the words NOT FOR HIRE PRIVATE COACH clearly displayed.
I haven't looked but I'm sure permits are available for purchase that will make you legal for a weekend at the beach.

[Sea Note]

Interesting points (several worthy of discussion) but I would like to narrowly focus on the issue of coaches used for pleasure but owned by a non-California entity (which, based on a non-scientific review of plates during my most recent visit to Newell, is a plethora if not a majority). I don't see any mention of a weekend pass in any of the information (CA published or otherwise) I've seen to date.

[cwl1979]

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documen...quirements

According to this you have until the end of January to make it compliant
I edited this to make the link work.

[arcticdude]

It’s getting very tough to operate in California and going to get worse. A good friend of mine does the testing there and passed on that his regular commercial fleet customers had to add the 14,000 to 26,000 lb trucks, where prior it was just 26k and above. Then next year they have to be tested twice a year.

Twice a year testing is going to be very restrictive. The bigger companies will have to buy the equipment and get someone certified on the payroll just to keep current.

On edit- the state is also going after the Montana LLC folks more vigorously than before.

It’s my understanding (not an attorney, but have several in the family) that as long as you’re legal in your home state, another state can’t force you to be fully compliant with the other state’s requirements. That does NOT mean you can’t be stopped, though.

[Sea Note]

It’s my understanding (not an attorney, but have several in the family) that as long as you’re legal in your home state, another state can’t force you to be fully compliant with the other state’s requirements.  That does NOT mean you can’t be stopped, though.

Above was my gut reaction as federal dollars pay for the highways but the sense I am getting is that CARB is literally running license plate scanners along highways at ports of entry and it is unclear to me as to whether an entity owned Newell would automatically be deemed to be commercial for CARB purposes (which may be different than DOT purposes).

[Jack Houpe]

My nephew use to have one of the largest transportation companies in Norcal, California wine tours, Evans transportation, and more. Had busses going to and from Oakland and San Fran airports to all major cities every hour on the hour, busses taking major corps on wine tours and other venues, limos going everywhere. Now he has a fleet of busses siting in a 5 acre parking lot rotting, has a store room full of series 50 and 60 parts for me to take for free. He special ordered a MCI in 2006 as a limo bus (bedroom bath and galley) has 24k miles on it sitting in a hanger with the original tires he can't drive without a special permit and can't be sold in the state.

We bought our 1996 Prevost in Norcal and it had a Montana plate but the owner said that was coming to an end because if the CHP caught you driving a Montana plate pulling a toad with a CA plate your in violation of something.

[BusNit]

Unfortunately for us, Newell will be having a rally in Paso Robles next October. We do not plan on entering the state of CA with our old rig regardless.

[Wardworks]

A talkative fellow in an older Country Coach with California plates parked next to me in Moab mentioned that he wouldn't be able to renew his tabs because his diesel engine was manufactured before 2010. That got me thinking, which got me researching, and what I found has me scratching my head. As I read it, as of 2024 California is requiring that all heavy vehicles (including RVs) with diesel engines be California CARB (think EPA) compliant, which means 2010 or newer engine with all the bits working, subject to narrow exceptions.  One exception is to limit travel in California to 1,000 miles per year (with lots of documentation requirements). Another is a general exemption for out-of-state RVs that are never used for commercial purposes, so no problem if a Newell with pre-2010 power is personally owned by someone residing outside of California -- but what about coaches owned or registered by a business (Montana LLC or otherwise)? I have thoughts (not good ones) but would value insight from anyone who has taken a deep dive on this as I suspect that ignorance won't cut it when the plate reader returns a business as the owner and the blue lights start flashing and I would want to know before getting turned away and having travel plans disturbed (or worse). 

I see that the underlying issue was addressed in a thread in 2021 but it is not up to date and doesn't address the ownership issue.

Respectfully submitted,

db

California doesn't make it easy to be compliant by there lack of transparency and information available on this topic. At this time you do not have to make a California registered motorhome 2010 compliant. You do have to register it with the CTC-VIS (Clean Air Truck new mandate) and pay the $30 fee, but there is additional information that you provide to a different place to validate that it is an actual motorhome and then it is exempt from this regulation once they confirm that it is an actual motorhome. 

Motorhomes registered in other states do not have to do any of this, but if they are licensed and registered commercial; as I read it they do have to be compliant.

[Jack Houpe]

Off the subject. Ron I still have friends in Hanford, I was stationed at Lemoore 72-75, use to be a fantastic steak house there in Visalia that looked like a cave on the inside.