Hey guys, I'm planning on migrating out to Stanley, NC here shortly and I have an issue concerning the car. Where I live now there aren't any smog laws here so EVERYTHING related has been removed. What should I do as far as the smog police are concerned? Installing the smog stuff except for a cat would be way too costly. Any suggestions?

Yo won't have to worry about passing an actual smog test, just a visual and safety inspection. That means all the stuff you removed would need to be on the car unless you find a "friendly" shop in the area. It doesn't have to work, just be there.

That also varies by county. In Alamance, and several other counties including Guilford, the car has to pass a smog test until it's 25 years old. They're instituting that statewide over the next couple of years.

...actually that's not it. It's OBD2 or newer. (at least in Guilford) ...so what's that 95? 96? ....that's been the format for a few years now...

....It's actually pretty easy to find a shop, although of course "technically" they don't have to pass you unless you can pass the "visual" inspection. Just don't roll up to the name brand place like Jiffy lube. Find a small mom and pop shop.

...so wait, they're going BACK to that? ...because I know I just passed a few months ago and I didn't need smog.

OK.

Pre 2002, NC was not "clean air act compliant". Every county was different as to how they tested. As of 2006, 39 counties in NC are now clean air compliant, and within a few years, all counties will require emmissions testing....


.....BUT.......

Only for OBD2 and newer cars. ....Tailpipe sniffers are deemed too expensive to own, operate and maintain when 90% of the cars on the road have OBD2 anyway, which monitors your emmission system already. ...it's not cost effective to test our older OBD1 cars.

haha. Bitches.

Hi robertfrank, moved to stanley yet? I'm in Mount Holly,about 7 miles down hiway 27. I can hook you up with a shop that will probably inspect your car, provided it will pass safety. Tires,lights,signals, the basic stuff you know. They have been friends of mine forever, I've known one of the guys since birth. Family owned business,good guys too. Have you checked out Hardee's in Stanley on friday evening? OMG, the best cruise-in ever! SO many of the nicest cars that I have ever saw, and I have been around a long time.Long Live Metallica. Later. Dean. p.s. can't hardly wait till OCTOBER 18

Haha, i just got my car inspected for the first time in alamance. I took it to a little shop and they ran the vin on my car and then opened the hood and said " thats not a v6 is it?" and i said nope i just swapped in an IROC 350 and the didnt give me any hasle. I didnt really tell them it was the 383 I didnt even have a cat on the car and they never even looked. Needless to say i dont have any smog stuff on the car. Passed with flying colors because my brake lights turn signals and reverse lights worked!

Yeah I have never had an issue with inspection around here. Hood is never popped, exhaust is never checked, and unless its just an obvious hazard its always just fine.

Its a lil harder in Charlotte, they actually look at your car. But since its not OBD2 they cant really do anything.

Stanley is in Gaston County and as was said you don't have to go through the sniffer test but a visual test will be performed unless you do find a shop that is willing to just check the horn and lights. I don't know of any around here myself but I am sure they are some around here somewhere (I live in Bessemer City)

Given the current smog laws (no sniff on any car, and no emission on pre-1996 vehicles), any shop is fine - doesn't have to be in the county that you reside in.