The emissions tests only test to the level that the car was first registered (or produced) doesn't it?

Yup, a bigger issue for old cars trying to pass emissions is that with prices of precious metals, a worn out catalytic converter (diagnostic code P0420 ) means that most of them are mechanically totaled in California, New York, Colorado since they require either OEM or CARB approved replacements.

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Scoundreller an hour ago | parent | next [-]

Must be close to actually worthless if they’re not shipping them out-of-state, no?

	▲	hnav 25 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Yeah, if it's worth more than 4k registered, it'll either be fixed or shipped. California gives you $1200 to junk it, people will come pick it up for $1500 and a lot of times you'll see it pop back up in state because they illegally resuscitated it with a defouler, a used/EPA cat and put it back into circulation.

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Ar-Curunir 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

That’s a good thing, yes?

	▲	projektfu an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		It does promote some catalytic converter theft.
	▲	Gigachad 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		It's good thing if you like not having cancer.