Confirmed it is actually a 1995. Thanks for all the concern regarding the actual age of the mini.
I appreciate all the feedback and insight!

Unless someone has been daft enough to import a 2005 JDM Bini (if such a thing exists) into the States you're almost certainly wrong about the age of the vehicle - Minis stopped production in 2000 and pure SPi stopped around '96/97, though there are a few oddball Japanese applications of SPi depending on automatic gearbox & aircon spec.

Someone did recently get a later Mini smogged in CA, but it took a ton of cash and pile of time to do.  His car was legal too.

From your description your car is already a reVIN (1980 title on an alleged 2005 car) which makes it 100% illegal and CA have an active police department that looks into such things...

wow, very helpful...thank you!

one thing for sure. you are spending STUPIC money to smog in Cali.. and no such thing as 2005 SPI classic mini... later bc

Thanks for all the actual helpful replies. To clarify, my dad lives in Washington State (where the car is registered) and I live in California. I will have my father verify his claim that it is actually a 2005 (Japanese import) and not actually an earlier make. However, it sounds like it might be more of a headache than it is worth. Perhaps the best approach is to try and keep the WA plates on it for as long as possible if I have to bring it down to CA. I'll also spend some time searching previous threads on here related to this similar topic. Thanks again!

Question: how effective is insurance on a car whose plates are out of state with respect to where the owner resides? Cheap until one tries to claim and it is disallowed due to improper registration?
In Canada we have to transfer our registration when we move from province to province, usually within a month.

I am guessing it is a 1995 SPI not 2005.
Depending on who you talk to anything newer than a 1968 or 1975 cannot be registered in CA. 
As posted there is no easy way to get it registered in CA although someone did get a newer model done successfully last year but at a cost of around $5000 i believe. Also that Mini had a carb with your car having fuel injection that is computer controlled i would think it is a lot harder.

I like the idea of just keeping it on Washington plates, Here in SE Michigan I see a lot of Ohio plates used for cheaper insurance rates. I would think you could get away with it, at least for a while, especially with a multi year historic plate.

I want say the final year for classic Mini production was 2000 so your Father's Mini is most likely a older than thought.

Tips on sorting out what year your Mini is can be found here: https://www.minimania.com/Mini_Identification

California is not friendly to classic Mini's born after the mid to late 1960's and even then it can be a crap shoot. Long story short Mini's were not imported after the smog laws and emissions testing started. Since they were not imported after 1967-1968ish they never had emissions standards set. Can't smog a car that has no standards to meet. 

There are several threads on this topic ... comes up once or twice a month. I'd recommend you grab your favorite beverage and point your mouse to the search feature in the upper right hand corner of this screen. Click on "default" and the select "forum" from the list of options. Start searching for smog and California. While you are at it do a search for "re-vin" and California as well.

If you can keep the Mini registered in Washington that may be your best option.

double dare you. pants on fire..

You can't fix stupic! Go ahead and bring that Re-VIN into California, go ahead, I dare you!

2005 SPI? no such thing?? a re vin?? you are just asking for trouble in Cali.. maybe when they SEIZE and CRUSH let.. they can make you nice small coffee table?? later b c

I am looking to move my fathers 2005 (1980 WA title) Japanese Mini Tartan 1300cc SPI from Washington State down to California. Since it is newer than 1975, it will need a Smog Certificate to be registered in CA.

Does anyone have any insights into how to improve the chances it will pass? He's never had to have it Smog Checked in WA, so we're at a bit of a loss as to how well it might do. Any and all suggestions and insights are greatly appreciated.

Thank you!