Smog & Emission Checks

Required Smog Inspections

The California DMV will mail you a registration renewal notice telling you whether you are required to get your vehicle smogged; it will also tell you if your vehicle requires a smog check at a test-only station. Exceptions include:

• Vehicles made in 1975 or prior

• Diesel-powered vehicles

• Electric vehicles

• Natural gas powered vehicles weighing more than 14,000 pounds

• Hybrids

• Motorcycles

• Trailers

Also, if your vehicle is six or less model years old, you are not required to obtain smog certification as long as you pay the annual $24 smog abatement fee.

If your vehicle DOES NOT fall under one of the above categories AND you live in one of the following counties, you must take the vehicle for a smog inspection every other renewal period:

Counties That Require a Smog Inspection

• Alameda

• Butte

• Colusa

• Contra Costa

• Fresno

• Glenn

• Kern

• Kings

• Los Angeles

• Madera

• Marin

• Merced

• Monterey

• Napa

• Nevada

• Orange

• Sacramento

• San Benito

• San Francisco

• San Joaquin

• San Luis Obispo

• San Mateo

• Santa Barbara

• Santa Clara

• Santa Cruz

• Shasta

• Solano

• Stanislaus

• Sutter

• Tehama

• Tulare

• Ventura

• Yolo

• Yuba

Note: Six counties not mentioned above require smog certifications only within certain Zip codes. These include: El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma.

If you are not sure which type of smog check program area you are in, enter your California Zip code here.

When to Smog and Where to Go

Every other time you renew your vehicle registration you must obtain a "smog certificate"―a printout of your vehicle's emissions test results. You must register your car within 90 days of your emissions inspection.

Numerous smog-check stations pepper the state. To find one nearest you, visit the official Web site of the Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Automotive Repair.

If Your Vehicle Fails

If your car fails the smog test, you'll be unable to register it until you make repairs, retest and pass the inspection. But keep in mind that you don't need to have the car fixed at the same facility that failed it. Consult the state for some helpful info on what to do should your vehicle fail.

Test-Only Stations

If the state determines your vehicle will most likely fail a smog check, the California DMV will send you a registration renewal notice stating whether you must take your vehicle to a test-only station. Owners of vehicles that fall under this High Emitter Profile, (or those who own a vehicle among the 2% randomly selected) will see the following printed on their renewal: Smog Certification Required at Test-Only Center.

By law, the test-only facilities cannot repair your vehicle. You must take it to a Test-Repair or Gold Shield station. For more info on station specifics, visit the official site of the Bureau of Automotive Repair. This site also offers a station list so you can find an appropriate facility nearest you.

Consumer Assistance Program (CAP)

The government provides financial assistance for repair work (or to retire high polluting vehicles) to consumers who qualify. Depending on the availability of funds and the approval of your application, you could be eligible to collect $500 from the state for emissions-related diagnostic and repair services.

For more information (or to check on the status of an existing application) call (866) 272-9642 or visit the Bureau of Automotive Repair site for details and applications.

On that site you will also find a handy program factsheet, FAQs, and a reference guide in Spanish.

Fees

Because the government does not regulate smog-check prices, your best bet is to shop around. You will find that prices vary from station to station.

Cars Six Years Old and Newer

If your vehicle is six years old or newer, you will be charged an annual smog abatement fee when you register your vehicle, rather than being required to provide smog certification.

Exceptions

The six-year-or-newer rule doesn't apply to nonresident and custom-built cars made since 1976. Those vehicles require smog certification. If you have a custom or specially constructed car, however, you might need a different type of smog certification.

Title Transfer and Smog Requirements

When you sell a vehicle that is four or fewer model years old, a smog certificate will not be required in order to transfer the title. The buyer will pay a smog transfer fee of $8. If the vehicle sold is more than four model years old, the seller must provide evidence of a current smog certification except in any of the following situations:

• The vehicle transfer occurs between a spouse, sibling, child, parent, grandparent, or grandchild.

• The vehicle was registered and biennial smog certification was submitted to the DMV within 90 days before the date the title transfer took place. A vehicle inspection report may be required for proof of certification.

Vehicles Inspected in Other States

Because California has such stringent rules regarding smog emissions, vehicles that passed smog inspections in other states might not meet California's standards. Therefore, if you buy a vehicle from out of state, you should double-check with the DMV to find out whether you need to get your vehicle inspected in California before you will be allowed to register it.

If your registration expires while you are out of state and you require an update of your smog inspection sticker, you must submit your registration fees immediately to avoid late fees. Upon your return to California, you must get your car's emissions checked and submit the proper paperwork to the DMV. You will not receive your new registration or new sticker until the DMV receives the updated inspection report.

Report Polluters

To report a smoking vehicle, complete a Smoking Vehicle Complaint form or simply dial #SMOG. Be prepared with the following information:

• The offending vehicle's license plate number

• Make and model of the vehicle

• Time and date of the incident

• Location of the incident

What is Smog?

The term "smog" originated in England, meaning bad air quality created by a combination of smoke and fog.

Now we know smog as a visible mixture of air pollutants, including those formed by burning fuel. These mix in the lower atmosphere. When exposed to sunlight, the chemical structure changes to become the visible, almost palpable, particulate matter known as "photochemical pollution."

Smog is a serious health hazard to all people, but even more so to children, the elderly, people with pulmonary and respiratory (lung) disorders, and the immune-suppressed. Smog causes asthma attacks, headaches, burning eyes, an itchy throat, and a cough.

Smog in California

Decades ago, California became known as the nation's "smog capital" because of the poor air quality in the Los Angeles basin area. Los Angeles County sits in a "bowl" topped by a layer of air that won't permit heavy particles to break up in the atmosphere.

In the early 1960s, people began to worry about the bad air outside. In 1963, California became the first state to institute emission controls on new vehicles sold in the state.

Since then, California has led the nation in concern for the environment and controlling vehicle emissions. The California Department of Motor Vehicles requires the owners of most cars to adhere to strict emissions regulations in order to register them.