I live in Cali, and the smog check is not that bad. I've passed with a custom intake, exhaust, high flow cat, all sortsofcrap. All that matter is the smognumbers are acceptable and with the stuff done to may car itactually lowered the smog read out, I was well under the limits by like 50%. Heck I've know people with custom turbo set upsand still pass smog without a problem. I would not register it in Cali, the price to do it is outrageuse, I know many people how just keep the car registered in another state because of the CA DMV costs to change it. I would reather have smog checks then inspections, I never would have passed those.

 

The Visual is normally the bear in Cali, As far as the sniffer test not a prob, but when you get those guys who look at every wire under the engine bay (which i always seemed to find), they make it difficult. but yes reg prices in Cali are out of control like every thing else there.....