If you’re a registered vehicle owner in the state, check for the phrase “SMOG Certification Required” on your DMV Registration Renewal Notice. Certain ZIP codes in El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma Counties are excluded from smog checks. If you’re new to California, you typically must get a smog check within twenty days of arrival and before you register the vehicle. [1] X Research source If you want to sell an eligible vehicle in-state (other than to close family, like children or siblings), it must have passed a smog check within the past 90 days.
If your registration renewal notice reads “SMOG Certification Required at a STAR Station,” you must make an appointment at an inspection/service station with STAR licensure. If you’re unsure, contact the BAR for the proper test for your vehicle. Generally speaking, vehicles with especially high emissions levels (e. g. , a giant “gas guzzler”) must undergo the STAR inspection. [2] X Research source
There is no set price for a smog check; licensed stations can charge any amount they see fit. Shop around a bit before choosing a station. [4] X Research source
You’ll only get a certificate if you’ve passed an initial smog check after moving to California. If so, bring it with you when you register your vehicle. [5] X Research source Remember, though, that you still need to complete (and pay for) the rest of the registration renewal process.
Some stations may offer an unofficial pre-inspection at a reduced price. An unresolved “Check Engine” light, which often results from a faulty oxygen sensor, is basically an automatic cause for failure of a smog check.
Get the oil changed, since dirty oil can release pollutants that could trigger a test failure. Try to drive the car at highway speeds frequently during the two weeks before the test; this will help burn off oil and gas residues from the catalytic converter.
Make sure the tires are properly inflated. The smog check includes a dynamometer test (running the car at high speeds on rollers), and this easy fix will cut down on how hard your engine needs to work (and thus emissions). Use a fuel additive, especially if you have an older vehicle that may have clogged fuel injectors.
After repairs, you’ll have to pay for another smog check — and hopefully pass it. If your vehicle is in the STAR program, you must have the repeat smog check done at a STAR-licensed station.
Call 1-800-622-7733 to find a Referee station. Referee stations do not do vehicle repairs — they will either pass your vehicle or give you a list of recommended repairs needed to achieve compliance.
The Repair Cost Waiver may be available to you if you have made some repairs to your vehicle to improve its emissions levels, but cannot afford the additional repairs needed to pass the smog check. Visit http://www. asktheref. org/ If you meet the income requirements, you can apply for a $500 discount towards emissions-related repairs through the Consumer Assistance Program.
Your vehicle must have failed a recent smog check to be eligible.
