Counties on the DMV list
The DMV says you need a smog inspection at renewal if you live in Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Ventura, Yolo and Yuba. List checked November 1, 2026.
A county missing from that list is not proof your car is exempt. BAR says some counties have portions in two or three program areas (BAR Smog Check Reference Guide), and we haven’t found a public table by ZIP code. Your notice is the answer.
Rural areas still need one in some cases
In all program areas, a car needs a smog check when it changes ownership, with an exception for gasoline vehicles four or fewer model years old, and when it is first registered in California (BAR). See who needs a smog check for the vehicle exemptions.