Always wanted an Atom

**Rob Linders** · November 1, 2015, 04:49 PM

Found this site and am interested in learning more about them. Is it true in California, you need to bring a new one into the state and go through the SB-100 process? I thought if it was used, titled in another state, and had over 7500 miles it would be legal to register?

Thanks,
Rob

**Jeffgtx** · November 1, 2015, 08:42 PM

It could be legal to register, but it wouldn't be smog exempt which means you'd have to add the smog equipment for the year.

You don't have to buy new though. You can buy a used one that is already sb100 registered.

**jesse@tmi** · November 2, 2015, 11:28 AM

Rob,

I would suggest contacting Shinoo Mapleton at Sector 111, he has registered many Atoms for the California market and is very familiar with the process.

If you have any other questions about the Atom, please feel free to ask.

Thanks,

Jesse

**Rob Linders** · November 4, 2015, 11:28 AM

Thank you Jesse. I spoke with Shinoo for a bit last night. Lots of information seems like a good guy.

**Positron** · November 4, 2015, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Rob Linders

Thank you Jesse. I spoke with Shinoo for a bit last night. Lots of information seems like a good guy.

You won't find a nicer guy or a bigger supporter of the car.

**Rob Linders** · November 16, 2015, 04:26 PM

I'm getting conflicting information. Has anyone here brought a used Atom into California and registered it via SB-100? If so, did it already have a title in another state, or did it have a MSO?

I was told to get a SB-100 you have to buy a new car, but when I read the rules it says new or used? I know California has rules on a used vehicle coming instate, it must have 7500 miles before you can bring it in and register, if it doesn't have 50 state emissions. Since SB-100 cars are emissions exempt, not sure how this ties into everything?

Any information would be helpful. I've read I can register out of state, but I'm pretty certain these get enough attention, if I'm driving around in California with out of state registration, I will get pulled over pretty quickly.

**jlester** · November 16, 2015, 04:54 PM

I don't know about the new versus used issue in California. I thought the same thing as you (attracting attention with out of state plates).

I've found that if you are driving responsibly, you typically are left alone. Of course the inverse is also true.

**Jeffgtx** · November 17, 2015, 07:23 AM

Sb100 is smog exemption. You can register any Ariel atom you want in CA but unless you qualify for sb100 it must pass smog regulations for the year it was built. So the 1 year 7500 miles rule does not apply here unless you are adding smog compliance.

Whoever told you the car must be new to qualify for sb100 is misinformed or got bad info from dmv (always possible).

If you search the internet you will find that there is no clause in sb100 stating the car must be new. It also doesn't prohibit out of state cars. However what is written and what happens in reality is not always the same.

The real ultimate requirement in sb100 is documentation proving the car was a specialty built car and not manufactured by a company.

**Rob Linders** · November 17, 2015, 09:34 AM

Thanks Jeff. So if a car has a MSO from TMI in another person's name, in theory that should work? I have a registration place I contacted by me that has a call into Sacramento to try and figure this out. But as you mentioned with SB100 there is a lot of misinformation around.

Unless I misunderstood Shinoo at Sector 111 said it had to be new?

**Jeffgtx** · November 17, 2015, 09:44 AM

No. An mso in and of itself does not prove that the car was assembled as a specialty vehicle. You need documentation proving beyond a doubt that the car was assembled from pieces/components, not sold as one item.

I've heard him and many others say that. Ive never seen that written in any of the documentation I read.