i know when buying a car from someone they're supposed to smog the car, but if they don't/can't get around to it, can i?

Im lookin to buy a car from someone out of town (bay area) but they havent had a chance to smog it. i'm wondering if i can buy it from them, drive it back to fresno and smog it here, then register it here.

anyone know if i can do that?

 

of course you can, but beware that the car may not pass smog (thus the seller not having a passing smog certificate) and that any expense in getting it to pass small will fall onto your hands. also, when you buy a car WITH a smog certificate, make sure the certificate has not expired in regards to the DMV rules. if the certificate has expired, you will have to get the car smogged again before the DMV will register your car, meaning more money out of your pocket. the bottom line is that the DMV doesn't care who supplies the smog certificate as long as the car has a valid passing smog certificate at the time of submitting the change of ownership form.