Smog check resources
California DMV
Which Cars Are Exempt from Smog Checks in California?
Pre-1976 gas, pre-1998 diesel, EVs, motorcycles, and anything 8 model years old or newer. Here's the full exemption list, plus the fees exempt owners still pay.
Smog Check Tips
Test Only vs Test and Repair Stations: The Difference
A test-only station can inspect your car but never fix it, and legally can't tell you what's wrong. Here's why California built it that way and which one to use.
Smog Check Tips
STAR Station vs Regular Smog Check: Which Do You Need?
Your DMV renewal notice decides whether you need a STAR station. If it doesn't say STAR, any licensed station works. Here's how to read it and what STAR means.
California DMV
California's History with Smog
Why California tests cars at all: what smog is, what a smog check measures, and what the state's dirty air has cost in health and hospital bills.