California Smog Information

If you want to sell a car without a smog check in CA, you will need explicit permission from the Department of Motor Vehicles, California. The only other option is to create an agreement between the seller and buyer stating that they both agree the vehicle may not be able to clear a smog test. The countries in CA which do not require smog check are El Dorado, Riverside, Placer, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Sonoma. If your vehicle fails the smog test, your car will not be allowed to drive on the streets. The Smog Check Program is conducted by the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Bureau of Automotive Repair to identify vehicles with surplus emissions so they do not pose a threat to the environment. The zip code checker to see if your vehicle needs to pass a smog check.
If you're at smog station that's Test & Repair certified you may choose to ask the inspector to explain the reason for the failure. To tell you with 100% certainty the inspector might need to run additional tests. This may cost a diagnostics fee; usually two hours of labor. Based on the smog inspection results alone however the inspector may have a good idea of the emission system responsible for causing the smog check failure. Expect to pay around $50.00 including the state certificate fee. You're more likely to find a lower price in the part of town that's most saturated with smog stations.

DMV will mail the registration and license plate sticker to wherever the car is currently located. In counties that require smog checks, most vehicles are required to be tested every other year. If your vehicle is less than eight years old, you will pay an annual smog abatement fee instead of getting a smog check for the first six years. EVAP System Test - During the ASM emissions inspection, vehicles 1995 model years and older may be required to undergo an EVAP test.
Helping consumers locate hard-to-find parts needed for smog repairs. Testing vehicles other stations do not have the equipment to test. We are a Star Certified Test only station where we specialize in quick and efficient smogs. The average test time for customers ranges from 5-10 minutes, 1999 and older vehicles may vary. The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has served members since 1900.

There are exemptions for the inspection are for those automobiles that are eight model years and newer. Motorcycles and electric-powered vehicles are also excluded from the Smog Check Program. There's no reason you should skip out or put off a smog check. We're all aware of how fun and great the state of California is, which is why it is a densely populated area. The only downside of this statistic is the state has always been faced with a pollution  problem.
1999 model year and older vehicles, and others requiring the BAR-97 inspection, average closer to 30 minutes. Our average time calculation does not take into account administrative duties which the technician might need to perform before you're able to actually leave the shop. Along with "How to Pass" tips they offer money saving coupons from hundreds of smog check stations throughout California.
Generally, most smog check stations also report inspections to the DMV electronically. This helps in case you want to renew your registration via mail or online. The best way to ensure that your car will pass a smog check is to perform proper and regular maintenance. Do not tamper with the emissions-control equipment of the vehicle. Take your car to a licensed auto repair shop immediately if it flashes the “check engine” light. "For too long, misunderstanding of California's complex vehicle registration laws has created confusion among state hobbyists," said SEMA Vice President of Government Affairs Steve McDonald.

If you do not understand the results, you should ask for clarification from the STAR office. In case you still need to use the vehicle that has failed the assessment, you should have it repaired. The repair should be carried out by a station that has been licensed by the California state to conduct smog inspections repair. If the STAR station you had visited is licensed to conduct both assessment and repairs, you can have your car repaired at the same station.
According to the smog inspection website of the California DMV, most car sales in California require a passing smog check / emissions test. One big exception applies to cars fewer than four years old - they don’t need a smog inspection! The new owner of the car just has to pay a smog transfer fee. Smog test only centers have authorization to perform both Regular and Test Only smog inspections. A Test Only center’s main obligation is to perform a non-bias and accurate smog inspection. Different from the one above, “Smog test only centers” get authorization to perform all regular inspections.

The seller is required to provide the buyer with a valid smog inspection certification at  the time of the sale or transfer. Smog certifications are good for 90 days from the date of issuance. If your “Check Engine” light is on, that’s an automatic smog test failure.
Challenging environmental conditions have pushed California into implementing various emissions reduction programs. The smog check inspection, is designed to identify vehicles which produce excess emissions. The California Department of Motor Vehicles requires that a vehicle which produces excess emissions obtain repairs and pass a smog check prior to being issued California registration. Launched Smog Check in 1984, the smog check program has greatly reduced air pollution created by millions of California drivers. Accelerated Simulation Mode Inspection - The transition to the BAR-OIS plug & play smog check system has increased maintenance costs for the older dynamometer and tailpipe (BAR-97) smog test systems. Currently gasoline powered vehicles 1999 model year and older require a BAR-97 inspections.