Smog Check in California: when you need one and which station to use
Biennial and change-of-ownership Smog Checks, exemptions, test-only vs. test-and-repair vs. STAR stations, the $8.25 certificate fee and what to do if you fail.
Most California drivers need a Smog Check every other year, and almost every used car needs one when it changes hands. The program is run by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) under the Health and Safety Code, and only stations BAR licenses may issue the certificate. Here is when you need a test, which kind of station to use, and what it costs.
Which vehicles need a Smog Check
According to BAR, gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles from model year 1976 and newer need Smog Checks, as do diesel vehicles from model year 1998 and newer. RVs, motorhomes and collector cars that meet those criteria are included. Vehicles that do not need one include gasoline vehicles from 1975 and older, diesels from 1997 and older, diesels with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds, electric vehicles and motorcycles.
Every other year at registration renewal
Health and Safety Code section 44011 requires covered vehicles to obtain a certificate of compliance biennially. Since January 1, 2019, gasoline vehicles that are eight or fewer model years old are exempt from the biennial test, and instead pay a smog abatement fee with their registration. BAR's rule of thumb: add eight to the model year to find the first renewal that needs a test (a 2020 model needs one for its 2028 renewal). Your DMV renewal notice will say "Smog Certification Required", and sometimes "Smog Certification Required at a STAR station".
When you buy or sell a car
Vehicle Code section 4000.1 requires a valid smog certificate when ownership is transferred. A certificate is valid for 90 days (Health and Safety Code 44015(e)), so a private seller must provide one from a test within the last 90 days; BAR tells sellers to give the buyer a copy of the vehicle inspection report. Exemptions on transfer include vehicles four or fewer model years old (other than diesels), which pay a smog transfer fee instead, transfers between a parent, grandparent, sibling, child, grandchild or spouse, and pre-1976 vehicles. When you buy from a licensed dealer, the dealer is responsible for the test; a dealer's certificate is valid for two years or until the car is sold and registered to a retail buyer, whichever comes first (44015(f)).
A vehicle registered in California for the first time, including one bought or previously registered in another state, needs a Smog Check too, which also confirms that aftermarket parts meet California requirements.
Test-only, test-and-repair, repair-only and STAR stations
BAR licenses Smog Check stations by type, and the type is shown on every listing on this site:
- Test-and-repair stations perform Smog Check inspections and repair emissions problems.
- Test-only stations perform inspections but may not make emissions repairs. Section 44014.5(b) prohibits repairs at test-only stations apart from minor fixes of damage the station caused or reconnecting hoses at no charge, and section 44014.5(c) bars a test-only station from referring you to a repair business in which it has a financial interest.
- Repair-only stations repair emissions problems but do not perform inspections.
- STAR stations are test-and-repair or test-only stations that meet BAR's higher inspection-based performance standards. If your renewal notice says STAR, you must use one. STAR certification is not in the license file this site uses, so check BAR's Auto Shop Locator or STAR report card.
Some drivers prefer a test-only station because it has no repair work to sell; others prefer a test-and-repair station so a failed car can be fixed and retested in one place. Both are legitimate choices.
What the test costs
BAR does not regulate the price of the inspection, so prices vary and shopping around helps. Every station must charge the state's $8.25 Smog Check certificate fee, and must give you an estimate that you authorize before the inspection begins. Smog Check stations must also post a list of their prices and an hourly labor rate for repairs. If a station offers a "pretest" to spot problems before the official test, it must give you an estimate for that too.
Getting ready
A car with its check engine light on will not pass, so fix that first. If you recently disconnected or replaced the battery, drive normally for a week or two so the on-board readiness monitors can reset. Modified engine software that is not the manufacturer's or approved by the California Air Resources Board will cause a failure. Bring your DMV renewal notice if you have one. The inspection usually takes about 30 minutes and, depending on age, includes a visual and functional check of emissions equipment, an on-board diagnostic check for most 2000 and newer vehicles, and a tailpipe test for older ones.
If your car fails
The station gives you a vehicle inspection report showing the result and any open safety recalls. Have the emissions problem repaired at a licensed test-and-repair or repair-only station, then retest. BAR's Consumer Assistance Program offers repair assistance to eligible owners whose vehicles fail, or payment to retire a vehicle. If repairs up to the state's cost limit cannot bring a properly tested vehicle into compliance, a state referee can issue a one-time repair cost waiver, and qualified low-income owners can ask for an economic hardship extension (44015(c)); neither is available when a vehicle from another state is first registered here.
To find a licensed station near you, browse this site by city and filter for test-only or test-and-repair stations, then confirm the license on the DCA License Search.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on California Auto Shop Check is not a recommendation or a guarantee of anyone's work. A license record shows registration status on the date shown, not workmanship, insurance coverage at the time of your job, or suitability for your project. Confirm license, insurance and permits directly before you hire. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.