Form REG 5103, Application for Temporary Smog Exemption for a Vehicle Located Out-of-State – California

Application for Temporary Smog Exemption for a Vehicle Located Out-of-State (REG 5103) is the California DMV form on which a vehicle owner provides the information DMV uses to decide whether a vehicle qualifies for a temporary exemption from biennial smog requirements while it is out of state.

The form cites Health and Safety Code §44011 and Vehicle Code §§20, 1653 and 8800. It has two sections. Section 1 collects the vehicle information (VIN, year, make, model and license number), the date from which the vehicle has been outside California, the street address where it is physically located or garaged, the reason it is temporarily out of state, the reason it cannot or is not required to be registered in that state, the date until which it will continuously stay outside California, and the name and daytime telephone number of the person operating it out of state.

Section 2 is a certification, signed under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California. The form warns that the information is subject to verification by DMV and that your registration may be subject to cancellation.

The form states that the required smog certification will be obtained and submitted to DMV when the vehicle returns to California. It also lists cities in Nevada and Mexico where vehicles are ineligible for the exemption.

Owners of California-registered vehicles that are temporarily located outside California use REG 5103 to ask for a temporary exemption from biennial smog requirements. The form says your vehicle may qualify if it is temporarily located out of state, and that you must provide the requested information so DMV can determine eligibility.

The person who completes Section 2 certifies under penalty of perjury that the information is true and correct, and prints their true full name, signs and gives a mailing address. Section 1 also asks for the contact details of the person operating the vehicle out of state, who may be a different person.

Exclusions printed on the form: vehicles located in certain cities are ineligible for the exemption.

• Nevada: Carson City, Centerville, Crystal Bay, Gardnerville, Genoa, Glenbrook, Incline Village, Minden, Reno, Sparks, Stateline, Stewart, Washoe City, Verdi and Zephyr Cove.
• Mexico: Tecate, Tijuana and Tijuana Baja CA.

The form does not describe any other eligibility rule or exemption category.

Complete REG 5103 when your vehicle is temporarily located outside California and you want the temporary smog exemption. The form asks for the date as of which the vehicle has been located outside California and the date until which it will continuously stay outside California. No separate filing deadline is printed on it.

The exemption is temporary. The form states that the required smog certification will be obtained and submitted to DMV when the vehicle returns to California, so that obligation arises on the vehicle's return rather than when you file this application. Because the information is subject to verification by DMV, enter dates that match the vehicle's actual location.

The application is for DMV, which verifies the information and determines eligibility. REG 5103 itself prints no mailing address, portal or office for returning it, so confirm the current way to submit it with the CA DMV before sending it. The DMV forms page lists REG 5103 among its forms at the DMV forms page.

Before you send it, check that:

• Section 1 is complete, including the physical address of the vehicle outside California and the contact details of the person operating it.
• Section 2 shows the execution date, city and state, your printed true full name, your signature, daytime telephone number and mailing address.
• The vehicle is not in one of the ineligible cities listed on the form.

Keep a copy for your records. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the DMV channels.