I have a question about selling my car in California. I will be
selling my car to a friend but the registration is about to expire -
do I need to renew the registration (and get smog check) or can I let
it expire and have him get the car smog checked and registered? I'm
looking for someone who has done this transaction before or knows the
DMV details.

Hello ecraw76-ga,

You will have to get the car smog checked.  However, it doesn?t appear
that you need to re-register the car.


State of California
Department of Motor Vehicles
Smog Information
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm
?When a car is sold, who is responsible for the inspection?

The seller is required to provide the buyer with a valid smog
inspection certification at the time of the sale or transfer. Smog
certifications are good for 90 days from the date of issuance.

The inspection is not required on a transfer if a biennial smog
certification was submitted to DMV within 90 days prior to the vehicle
transfer date (a vehicle inspection report may be required for proof
of certification).?


State of California
Department of Motor Vehicles
How to Change Vehicle Ownership
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr32.htm
?How To Get Started

You will always need:

California Certificate of Title or Application for Duplicate Title (REG 227) 
Signature(s) of seller(s) and lienholder, if any 
Signature(s) of buyer(s) 
Transfer fee 
You may also need:

Smog certification 
Use tax and/or various other fees 
Additional documentation?


I?m not posting this as the answer because, although I have sold a car
in California before, it?s been a while so I can?t speak from first
hand knowledge of the process.

Googlenut