Inspections, Smog, & Emissions
California’s past is marred with the history of its previous title—“Smog Capital”—known for its terrible air quality that was quite bad within Los Angeles. Since the 60’s, however, California has expanded the concern and attention to the environment and the very harmful effects of vehicles and the emissions let out from the vehicles that travel the roads from day to day. Since 1963, when California became the first ever state to enforce vehicle emissions control, California has been strengthening the regulations for inspection of vehicles before registration to ensure that the air is preserved and provides a higher quality than the past.4dmv.com has all the information you need to determine your California vehicle inspection needs, which can differ from vehicle to vehicle. The age of your vehicle has a lot to do with your requirements for a smog check before registration, while there are fees imposed on California drivers both for an emissions check in California, and not having to complete inspections. In order to determine your needs, whether you will require California vehicle emissions testing, or the process you should follow, dmv.com has compiled all the latest information right from the source.
What is Emissions Testing?
- When vehicles burn fuel, depending on the type of fuel, emissions are released, which can become smog and further destroy the air. A vehicle inspection, however, runs a test of the vehicle’s emissions release, determining whether the vehicle is letting off too many fumes or if the vehicle is burning clean air, etc. You will require a smog certificate in order to register or renew the registration on your vehicle within the state of California, with exceptions to specific vehicles that you should know about.
Drivers of California roadways are under different vehicle inspection regulations than drivers of other states, therefore it is essential that you fully understand what these regulations are to understand the implications of each. While not all vehicles are required to complete a smog check for registration, they are required to complete other processes in order to ensure they are able to obtain registration of their vehicle.
All vehicles in California are required by California state law to complete and pass inspection, receiving a smog certification indicating that the vehicle passes all California emissions control standards. However, there are exceptions to the rule, which includes any diesel vehicles that were manufactured prior to the year 1998, commercial vehicles that reach a gross vehicle weight of 14,001 or more, gas burning vehicles that were manufactured in 1975 or earlier, and other vehicles as well including:
- Hybrids
- Electric powered vehicles
- Natural gas burning vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Trailers
Transfer of ownership of a vehicle that is 4 years old or less is also exempt from smog check requirements; however, there is a smog transfer fee of $8 paid by the new vehicle’s owner. Any vehicles that are diesel powered, however, are not applicable in this rule. Any vehicle sold that is older than 4 years will have to be sold with a current smog certificate provided by the vehicle’s seller; however this is not required for vehicles transferred between family members or those with a good standing smog certificate issued within the past 90 days.
While most California counties will require the completion of vehicle inspection regardless of zip code, there are six counties that only require California vehicle inspection and smog testing within a specific zip code:
- El Dorado
- San Diego
- Placer
- Riverside
- Sonoma
- San Bernardino
After initial registration of your vehicle, you will receive a renewal notice that will indicate your vehicle inspection requirements. If it is indicated that you must complete a vehicle inspection, you will have to do so within 90 days prior to registration renewal, however, if you can’t complete inspection before your registration, you may still pay your registration fees to avoid any late fees for a late payment made. Any smog certificate is good for up to 90 days after it has been issued, with the results forwarded to the California DMV.
Completing Inspections for California Registration
If you receive your registration renewal and you find that it states “smog certification required at test-only center”, you will need to take your vehicle for a smog check at a Test-Only Smog Check Center, which you can find through Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Automative Repair. To complete testing you will follow the appropriate steps, whether you require test-only center testing or standard vehicle inspection.
- Find your nearest smog check station, which is going to be a third-party servicer separate from the California DMV.
- Bring your registration renewal notice with you, as well as all your driver information.
- If you fail, you must follow up with the proper repairs, retesting, and passing inspection to renew registration and receive your registration card and sticker. If you are unable to afford the repairs you need, you can call 1-866-272-9642 or visit California Bureau of Automotive-repair to see if you qualify for up to $500 in assistance from the state to perform repairs and diagnosis of emissions-related issues.
- Renew your registration if you have received your smog certificate, bring to the DMV or get online and renew your registration providing the appropriate information.