"Technically, yes. Most states will allow you to renew by mail, so no worries there. It's the inspection you've got to pay attention to. If all you have to do is present a car with no active or pending cels, you're good to go. A tune will disable them. If its a sniffer test you can usually get by with HFCs, but there's no guarantee. The rule you referenced seemed to be aimed at dealer sales, not annual re registration."

How is getting a tune to disable codes and installing HFCs (when some states don't allow you to modify the emission system) legal?

Because all you're legally required to do is present a car with no codes. That's all. You're over thinking this.

No prob, I would like to know what's in that section number, maybe will make it easier.
I think a few states, yours, and probably MA, use CA standards for smog because CA has the biggest Nazis in terms of emissions standards

Yep. As long as the car is 50 state legal to sell, they can sell it. CARB is a totally different animal that has zero applicability beyond CA's borders. OP, don't let CARB approval be a determining factor in whether you boost the car or not.

I'm in South AR where, if we have any auto pollution laws, they aren't enforced, so it doesn't matter to me. :)

The only reason I can think of to get CARB certification is if you live in CA or think you might eventually sell you car to someone that does. Nice to have but I gotta agree with Chuck33079 - it shouldn't be a deal-breaker if it's not certified.

Maybe GTM should contract with Stillen to get the GTM kit through CARB certification.

Why?
The CARB approval process seems to be one big cluster f*ck from what I have seen, even looking at other platforms. GTM could be doing everything but if Cali is just taking their time, then there is nothing more they can do.

Also remember the Stillen tune that was 'approved' for CARB was complete sh1t. From reports on here people who ran it always had problems and had to jump ship to a custom tune just to run the car.

This. People seem quick to blame GTM for holdups. They're dealing with the government.

Blame "the government" maybe made sense 2 year ago. After 3 years, there is 1 place to put the blame, right at GTM's feet. Lack of experience in the process, which they have admitted, combined with placing this at the lowest of priorities is the reason there isn't an approved kit in May of 2013. Go back and find their original announcement that they were making a CARB certified kit and count the months. Then apply some common sense.

:facepalm:
Guess what I have kept up with it, and how do you know it is GTM? You are just basing on the fact that Stillen got their SC kit approved. But again, that was with a sh*tty tune. What if GTM is trying to make a good tune pass inspection that actually works?

CARB approval is known to be corrupt and worthless, do some research on it and how bad it is.

They made the mistake of taking a car without enough miles on it and failed certification. This was posted by Sam or Mike. Then they decided to find an M37 to get tested on since it was the heavest of the "37" platforms, if it passed, they would all pass. I have that info straight from Mike. That was a long time ago though, so no idea what they took to get tested this time.

This is all business 101. The demand is low. There is competition, but the offering is inferior. They have correctly calculated that most of their Califorina customers will just buy their kit anyway and take the chance with the inspection process or will place the blame on "the process". I'm a realist and I'm patient. I have not purchased any kit waiting on the GTM kit to finally be CARB certified.

What is the standard turn around time for CARB approval? I'd assume it's not handled immediately upon application.

I think you and I are on the same page and want the same answers. Nice to know I'm not alone in this. But, I did want to say my intent when creating this thread/poll was to see how much interest there was in more FI CARB options and not put any blame anywhere.

I'm sure you're right that it's not handled immediately by "the government." But, I would use commen sense/assume that 3 years is not the standard turn around time either... Just a thought...

PM from 12-28-2011 from Mike. Red emphasis added by me. I can only assume from that information that testing is a few month process, not few years process.