Not true. According to the Ca DMV site ... "Nonresidents whose vehicles are properly registered to them in their home state or jurisdiction may operate their vehicles in California until they:
- Accept gainful employment in California.
- Claim a homeowner's exemption in California.
- Rent or lease a residence in California
- Intend to live or be located here on a permanent basis (for example, acquire a California driver license, acquire other licenses not ordinarily extended to a nonresident, registered to vote).
- Enroll in an institution of higher learning as a California resident or enroll their dependents in school (K-12)"
So if you are renting or accept a job in Ca, you will legally need to register your car. My buddy in college ran into this. Although he "lived" in Boston, he eventually got pulled over and had to register in Ca.
That being said, you should probably be fine for 6 months. If you ever do get pulled over, you could probably talk your way out of it. Cops in LA have bigger things to worry about.
For the OP. Few things.
1) I would take the company car. I currently drive my company car as much as possible and it is nice not putting unnecessary miles on my 4Runner, esp during a cross country drive.
2) Spend a week or two in an extended stay hotel when you get out there. It will allow you to get to know the area and find where is a good fit for you. Also, it can allow you to do a few mock commutes to figure out how bad traffic is. I did this when I relocated for my job recently and it helps to not rush into anything.
3) I went to college in Eagle Rock, so right around that area. It is nice because you are pretty close to most everything in LA. If you do bring your 4Runner, you are pretty close to Big Bear which has some awesome wheeling, also Hollywood and Downtown LA is just 20min away. Pasadena is another great area to look at, it is a little further from Glendale but if I was still living in SoCal I could see myself living in Old Town Pasadena. There is a lot to do and it is a very nice area.
Let me know if you have any other questions, you will love the area!