How do I Do a Smog Check When Moving a Car to California?

Smog is a health hazard caused in large part by auto emissions.

Automobiles that burn fuel are a major source of smog, or visible airborne pollutants. Smog is a health hazard, and in an effort to reduce pollution the state of California requires that all cars pass a smog check. If the car fails the smog check, you cannot register it until after you make necessary repairs. You can only do the smog check in California, as out-of-state inspections are not accepted.

Things You'll Need

• Car
• Cash, check or credit card

Instructions

1. Check if your car qualifies for a smog exemption. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, a car is exempt from inspection if it is a pre-1975 gas-powered model; a hybrid; an electric; a natural gas-powered model with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 14,000 pounds; or a pre-1998 diesel-powered model with a GVWR of 14,000 pounds.

2. Drive your car to an inspection facility. An easy way to locate one near you is to consult the "Find a Station" site run by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Automotive Repair.

3. Wait for the results of your car's inspection. Common reasons for a car to fail the smog check include a faulty catalytic converter, bad ignition wires, or a dirty engine that requires steam cleaning.

4. Take a car that fails the smog check to a repair facility and make the necessary fixes. The smog check center automatically registers a failed car with the DMV as a "gross polluter" that must be repaired. Check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure that the repair facility is reputable, to avoid getting ripped off.

5. Test the car again at a smog check center after making the repairs.

6. If your car fails to pass the smog check and you paid at least $450 in repairs toward passing the check, you can apply for a repair cost waiver from the California DMV, which will allow you to register your car for one biennial cycle despite failing a smog check. Alternatively, you can also apply for $1,000 from the California DMV in exchange for junking a high-polluting car. You cannot apply for both of these California DMV programs -- only one or the other.

7. If you car passes the smog check, then the smog check facility will provide you with a certificate that you can take to the California DMV to finish registering your vehicle.

References

• California Department of Motor Vehicles: Smog Requirements

Resources

• California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Automotive Repair: Find a Station
• Better Business Bureau: BBB Consumer and Business Reviews
• California Department of Consumer Affairs: What Do I Do If My Vehicle Fails a Smog Check