Best place to sell a 4Runner? Just moved to CA.

[4RunnerAdventure]

Hi. I just moved to California. I drove my 4Runner all the way from the midwest. I'm a student and realize I can't afford to keep my 4Runner anymore with the high gas prices here. I put it out craigslist a few days ago but haven't had any responses? Is there any other places to sell a 4Runner?

I think part of the reason I haven't had many people call me about it is because of the Smog check. I haven't had it smog checked and the place I went to said they don't test vehicles under the year 2000. Mine is a 1996.

Is it difficult to pass a Smog test with the 4Runners here in California? Im thinking about trying to sell it out of state, possibly in Arizona to avoid this problem.

Any advice is welcome.

Thank you.

Mike

 

[tre9er]

put it in the classifieds here. Post as many details as you can!

 

[4RunnerAdventure]

Thanks I'll give that a try.

 

[MONTYMTB]

Thanks I'll give that a try.

FYI: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-vehicles/141407-warning-classified-rules-***-please-read-before-posting-***.html

 

[J. B.]

oh boy....

my crystal ball has a feeling that you have a 49-state T4R and won't be able to get it smogged here which means you'll have a tough time selling it (ie you'll have to find a clueless buyer and not feel so bad about pulling the wool over their eyes).

I hope I'm wrong for your sake.

Good luck.

Edit: I really dislike all of CA stupid laws as well.

 

[2014 Warthog]

Well you absolutely MUST get the car passed smog before you can sell it. So try calling around and find a place that will smog older cars.

Was in a discussion about this some time ago and the upshot seemed to be that 49 state cars can be smogged in Ca as long as they meet the requirements for the other 49 states.

So.. go ahead and get it smogged, then you should be able to sell it pretty quick!

 

[4RunnerAdventure]

Thanks for all the info. I would get it smog tested right away if It wasnt so expensive. (I dont want to test and then be told I have to fix a ton of stuff) Do you know of any cheap smog testing places in the Sacramento area? I have only been able to find $60 to $70 places.

I think i'm going to have to sell it when I get back to the midwest or on my way back home. It already passed MO state inspection. I didn't know about smog testing before I came here.

 

[Sunday!]

Most places smog older cars. You may have to go to a test only/"Star" station though, but the smog place will tell you that. Sometimes there's coupons in the newspaper or pennysaver or whatever, so maybe check that.
Craiglist is generally what I use to sell cars, just write a good description and take decent pictures, as that goes a long way. Check prices of similar trucks in there, since the value of it may be different here.

 

[Brentif]

In the state of California it is the sellers responsibility to SMOG a car before a sale. I would just use the googles for a "cheap smog sacramento" or "smog coupon sacramento"

Sacramento Smog Check Coupon
boom, $31.75 plus *.25 for certificate = $40

Fine print says 96 and newer.

 

[J. B.]

Thanks for all the info. I would get it smog tested right away if It wasnt so expensive. (I dont want to test and then be told I have to fix a ton of stuff) Do you know of any cheap smog testing places in the Sacramento area? I have only been able to find $60 to $70 places.

I think i'm going to have to sell it when I get back to the midwest or on my way back home. It already passed MO state inspection. I didn't know about smog testing before I came here.

When are you going back to MO? I assume you're not trying to become a CA resident.

It will most likely be waaaaaaay easier (and cheaper even factoring in fuel costs) to just continue to use your current 4Runner and not deal w/ any California BS.

This is all assuming your truck is not already 50-state (CA emission compliant).

Look under the hood. There will be a label and it will say if it's CA compliant (federal 50-state) or just 49-state. If it is CA compliant and has OBDII (96 and newer), then you could sell it here by simply getting a cheap smog cert. But then you still have to deal with all the selling stuff and actually getting it to pass smog.

 

[4RunnerAdventure]

When are you going back to MO? I assume you're not trying to become a CA resident.

It will most likely be waaaaaaay easier (and cheaper even factoring in fuel costs) to just continue to use your current 4Runner and not deal w/ any California BS.

This is all assuming your truck is not already 50-state (CA emission compliant).

Look under the hood. There will be a label and it will say if it's CA compliant (federal 50-state) or just 49-state. If it is CA compliant and has OBDII (96 and newer), then you could sell it here by simply getting a cheap smog cert. But then you still have to deal with all the selling stuff and actually getting it to pass smog.

Yeah after finding out how difficult it would be here in CA I am going to drive it back or sell it somewhere along the way. I am on my way back within the next week.

 

[BrianSD_42]

my crystal ball has a feeling that you have a 49-state T4R and won't be able to get it smogged here which means you'll have a tough time selling it

Yeah after finding out how difficult it would be here in CA I am going to drive it back or sell it somewhere along the way. I am on my way back within the next week.

Dude you guys are clueless in this thread. Its like Yahoo answers here all of a sudden.

The idea that you can't easily sell a car in the state of California (with its 38+ Million residents) is a bit far fetched.

1. Every USED 4Runner (49 state or CA) is 100% legal to buy, sell and smog in the state of CA. That law only applies to new (off the lot) vehicle sales.

2. Selling a 4Runner in CA is pretty easy. Car sales normally take weeks not days. You need to price it fair. I'm betting you are not pricing it fair. You need to post pictures and other details. Post ALL the details. You need to post you phone number in the ad. Don't talk via email with clowns trying to scam you. They either call or they are out.

It really isn't hard at all. I've sold at least 5 cars here in California without problem.

 

[4RunnerAdventure]

Dude you guys are clueless in this thread. Its like Yahoo answers here all of a sudden.

The idea that you can't easily sell a car in the state of California (with its 38+ Million residents) is a bit far fetched.

1. Every USED 4Runner (49 state or CA) is 100% legal to buy, sell and smog in the state of CA. That law only applies to new (off the lot) vehicle sales.

2. Selling a 4Runner in CA is pretty easy. Car sales normally take weeks not days. You need to price it fair. I'm betting you are not pricing it fair. You need to post pictures and other details. Post ALL the details. You need to post you phone number in the ad. Don't talk via email with clowns trying to scam you. They either call or they are out.

It really isn't hard at all. I've sold at least 5 cars here in California without problem.

Thanks for the correct information. Your right it usually does take weeks to sell. I'm going to lower the price and hopefully get a quicker sale.

 

[MojaveMadMan]

Smog is easy in CA and it sounds like you just went to a bunk shop that wouldn't smog your rig. As long as you have no CEL codes you will have no problem. I have even smogged and out of state 2000 Tacoma in CA with zero issue. Just get it smogged, way easier than selling out of state and meeting people and all that crap. I think you are over thinking this one...

 

[BrianSD_42]

Glad to help!

I'd also suggest you pay $150 to get it professionally detailed and any easy swirls removed.

 

[J. B.]

Dude you guys are clueless in this thread. Its like Yahoo answers here all of a sudden.

The idea that you can't easily sell a car in the state of California (with its 38+ Million residents) is a bit far fetched.

1. Every USED 4Runner (49 state or CA) is 100% legal to buy, sell and smog in the state of CA. That law only applies to new (off the lot) vehicle sales.

2. Selling a 4Runner in CA is pretty easy. Car sales normally take weeks not days. You need to price it fair. I'm betting you are not pricing it fair. You need to post pictures and other details. Post ALL the details. You need to post you phone number in the ad. Don't talk via email with clowns trying to scam you. They either call or they are out.

It really isn't hard at all. I've sold at least 5 cars here in California without problem.

Well you are correct except that every vehicle must pass smog. This means that your 49 state legal vehicle may not be able to pass smog in its current form, thus leading the owner to spend more time and money to get it to pass. This is not worth the headache.

But this is all pretty much a moot point since we aren't sure if the guys 4Runner is 49 state or CA compliant. It could really go either way.

He could have a CA compliant vehicle and when he spends $40 and a half hour of his time he can have a smog cert. And if he priced the truck reasonably he could have it sold within a day.

But the guy still hasn't even opened the hood to see what emissions standard the truck was made with as I suggested in my second post...

 

[BrianSD_42]

Well you are correct except that every vehicle must pass smog. This means that your 49 state legal vehicle may not be able to pass smog in its current form, thus leading the owner to spend more time and money to get it to pass. This is not worth the headache.

In bold is simply wrong UNLESS there is something hue I am missing. It seems to me that you are implying that a 49 state vehicle cannot pass the CA smog test without parts modification simply because it is 49-state.

=> Assuming it runs great, he would NOT have to modify the vehicle to get it to pass smog.

The CA test knows there are VAST #s of 49 state vehicles in California and they allow them to pass smog without modification.

The test will know based on the VIN or some other characteristic and it does not matter if it is a 50 state car of a 49 state because IT IS USED and exempt. They will mainly be testing for a recent CEL or emissions like burning oil or a bad CAT converter.

I have taken three 49-state vehicles into California during the last 10 years and smogged all of them without any issue or modifications. VW Golf TDI from OR; BMW 328i from SC; Mitsubishi Esclipse. The post above also just said he took his 49-state Tacoma into CA and smogged it without issue.


There is no modification needed to smog a 49-state vehicle in CA as long as it is used vehicle and the engine is in proper working condition (runs great).



:bat:

 

[cam366]

runner 3rd gen

want to ask a question,how do I do it ? need location rear window relay.1998 thanks

 

[HappyHooligan]

I've never been to a smog place that refused a car? weird.

as to selling your truck in CA you have a few obstacles.

First, most CA buyers are looking for CA trucks. Midwest is sign of death on car purchases here in CA. We're picky to what cars we buy.

Second is it's a 96 and most guys are looking for a 99 and up.

But, if you're not asking a ton, then you'll sell it fast to a guy looking for a beater truck to haul stuff. I see a lot of 3rd gen's used by lawn guys.

But to the guy who would be on this site, a non-CA truck is usually shunned in CA.

 

[I_bRAD]

want to ask a question,how do I do it ? need location rear window relay.1998 thanks

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