How much does a smog check cost in California?

A. Aftermarket parts such as air intakes need a sticker with an eo# affixed to the vehicle to prove that those parts are legal for street use in California. If you have specific questions about specific parts on your car, ask us before we start the smog check, not after we start. Hybrids, motorcycles, gasoline vehicles 1975 or older, and diesel vehicles 1997 and older are exempt from this requirement. Gasoline vehicles newer than 6 years old, hybrids, motorcycles, gasoline vehicles 1975 or older, and diesel vehicles 1997 and older are exempt from this requirement.
The new regulations required car makers to cut exhaust from cars and light trucks by 25% and from larger trucks and SUVs by 18%, standards that must be met by 2016. The auto industry argued that California's Air Resource Board did not have the authority to adopt such regulation and that the new standards could not be met with the current technology. They  further argued that it would raise vehicle costs by as much as $3,000.

The VIR will identity the vehicle which was tested and provide details on the tests performed during the inspection. You should keep the VIR with your registration paperwork as proof of inspection. In the event the DMV can not locate electronic record of your smog check, you may need to provide the VIR.
In 1996, California’s government sought to enforce stricter Smog Check tests because the more populated areas of the state were heavily polluting. The state figured that if they zeroed in on the very populated areas of the state, there would be a significant reduction in car emissions air polluting. The government also decided that since some areas needed more attention than others in relation to smog checks, those areas were to have stricter test/ smog laws then others. While inspecting cars for smog, the state recognized the fact that 10-15% of the states smog was coming from the emissions of large cars with large engines. This led to truck owners being closely zeroed in on for their car being checked. What was interesting to the government though was how such a heavily populated region like the Bay Area had a fairly low rate on air pollution.

"I found this place on Yelp and i was very pleased with the staff and the service. There was no wait so i came at the right time and they did my smog check quickly. The staff was friendly and welcoming." MT Smog Check Star Station is licensed by California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair and authorized to do all types of smog tests. California exempts you as new owner from passing smog only if the vehicle passed smog within 90 days of being sold to you. It is mandatory for all used vehicle transfers in California. If you are not sure whether your car will pass the test, you can opt for a prior unofficial test.
Driving without a smog certificate in California is an offense. And if caught by law enforcement, you must pay a huge fine. What’s worse, you can lose the ability to register the vehicle in the state. A visual inspection of emissions-control equipment and systems. Location and called expecting a long ring time or voicemail, John answered and patiently guided me to the location amidst my frustrations, even walking out into the street to flag me down lol.
The smog check program mandates that a portion of cars be “Directed” and those cars were directed to Test Only Smog Check Stations. The law changed in 2012 and now vehicles that are directed, are directed to a Star Certified Smog Check Station. STAR Certification - A smog check station may choose to apply an added fee for vehicle inspections which require STAR certification. The added charge may be used to subsidize the expense of maintaining equipment required to participate in the STAR certification process. Your registration renewal notice will indicate whether or not your vehicle requires a smog check inspection from a STAR certified smog center.

It’s time to familiarize yourself with smog certification – a vital document that you need to drive in the state of California. This post breaks down everything you need to know about smog certification in California. There are lots of reasons why your vehicle can fail a smog check. Follow these tips below to insure your vehicle passes the first time. You don’t have to have your car tested every two years for smog if your vehicle is six years old or less.
If you’re unsure about whether your car will pass California’s smog check, stop by and see us today. The other rule approved today requires emissions reporting for big rigs, which have long had a pass for the kind of smog checks required of older cars and SUVs. If you have a vehicle that is six or less model years old, you will not need to go and get a smog certification every other renewal period. Instead, you will be subjected to an annual smog abatement fee. When you receive your registration renewal form in the mail, it will tell you whether or not you need to have a smog check done. Vehicles from 1975 and older are not required to get a smog check.

If your car fails the smog inspection, you should contact the Bureau of Automotive Repair Referee Program. Smog inspections are required when you register or renew registration for a vehicle in California, but there are some exceptions. If you require a California resident that needs a smog check on your vehicle, please consider taking it to Dhillon Motorsports. Our techs will you in and out quickly, so you can carry on with your busy day.
The registration tags will be mailed to wherever the car is currently located. Hybrid vehicles with registration renewals in 2015 or later are required to get a Smog Check. Basically, aftermarket companies' "canned" ECM calibrations that are installed via tuning devices with CARB Executive Order numbers are fine. Now, their Star Smog Check programming will actually be searched for during the smog test process, and when identified, they will be considered a violation warranting immediate failure of the inspection. Failing a smog check means you can't renew your car's registration, and violating exhaust system regulations can lead to additional fines.