How Do You Get Smog Certification in California

Cars that receive smog certification help to reduce harmful emissions.

With a few exceptions, including but not limited to hybrid cars, electric vehicles and diesel cars manufactured prior to 1998, all vehicles that are registered in the state of California require a biennial smog certification. The goal of smog certification is to reduce smog emissions and improve air quality for all Californians. This is accomplished by identifying vehicles that fail to meet certain guidelines in accordance with the Smog Check Program that is administered by the Bureau of Automotive Repair.

Things You'll Need

• Vehicle registration forms

Instructions

1. Understand when smog checks are required. If you are selling a vehicle, the car that is being sold will require a smog certification before transferring ownership. If the car is your personal vehicle, smog checks are required every two years when your registration is due. In addition, anyone who is moving or transferring a car from another state into California must register their vehicles.

2. Determine which type of smog check you'll need. When you receive your registration renewal notice in the mail there will be a notation that will indicate if a smog check is needed. If you are required to have a smog check your notification will indicate either "Smog Certification Required" or "Smog Certification Required at a Test Only Center".

3. Locate a testing center. A registration notice that is marked Smog Certification Required allows you to take your car to any licensed smog station of your choosing. For notices that indicate Test Only Center, you may only take your car to a smog station that conducts test-only smog checks. Go to the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) website and click on the Consumers tab at the top of the page. When you are transferred to the Consumers page, click the link Where Do I Get a Smog Check. Select My Registration Renewal Notice says Smog Certification Required, and click the image of the renewal notice that matches the one you received in the mail. Enter your ZIP code in the area marked Find a Smog Check Station and click enter. This will take you to a list of stations that are in your area that are appropriate for the type of smog check that is required.

4. Gather what you need for the test. If you are being tested for registration renewal, there are two items that you will need to bring with you: your renewal notice and some form of payment. When registering a vehicle from out of the state or if you are selling your vehicle, you will need to bring all of your current registration documents and some form of payment, along with your vehicle.

5. Send in your results or conduct repairs. Once the test has been administered by the technician you will know immediately if your vehicle has passed inspection. If your car has passed, the station will automatically transmit your certification to the Department of Motor Vehicles and you will be given a copy of your Vehicle Inspection Report. If your vehicle failed to pass the test you will need to take your vehicle to a licensed test and repair station for diagnosis and repair.

Tips & Warnings

• A licensed smog technician can perform a preinspection test to diagnose any potential problems prior to having your vehicle tested for smog certification.

• If you are unable to afford the necessary repairs to receive smog certification, apply to the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) to participate in the Repair Assistance Program or Vehicle Retirement Program. Download an application from the BAR website and mail the completed form to:

• Bureau of Automotive Repair

• Consumer Assistance Program

• 10235 Systems Parkway

• Sacramento, California 95827

• Smog Test Only stations cannot perform repairs on vehicles that have failed their smog test.

References

• Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR): Do I Need a Smog Check
• Department of Motor Vehicles: Smog Information