What to bring and what to check first
- The renewal notice, if you have one. It says whether the vehicle must go to a STAR station.
- Paymentfor the inspection and the $8.25 certificate. Prices aren’t regulated, so compare first or bring a coupon.
- No check engine light. Fix the cause before the test; the car will not pass with it on.
- A normal week of driving after any battery replacement, dead battery or cleared codes, so the readiness monitors can finish. BAR suggests a week or two.
- Legal parts only. Aftermarket parts that affect emissions need a CARB exemption to pass the visual inspection (CARB).
The station must give you an estimate, and you approve it before the inspection starts (BAR).
Vehicles that need a smog check
| Vehicle | Needs a smog check |
|---|---|
| Gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel | 1976 model year and newer |
| Diesel | 1998 model year and newer, 14,000 lb GVWR or less |
| Motorhomes, RVs, collector cars, government vehicles | Yes, when they meet the rules above |
Source: BAR, Smog Check.
When a smog check is required
| When | Rule |
|---|---|
| Registration renewal | Every other year. Gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles skip it for their first eight model years and pay a smog abatement fee instead. Diesels get no new-vehicle exception. |
| Change of ownership | The seller provides a valid certificate. Gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles four model years old or newer skip it; the buyer pays an $8 transfer fee instead. Diesels always need one. |
| First registration in California | Required, including vehicles from out of state |
A few rural areas require the check only at a change of ownership; your renewal notice is the final word. A certificate is valid for 90 days (how long a smog check takes and lasts).
Who is exempt
- Gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles from 1975 and earlier.
- Diesel vehicles from 1997 and earlier, or over 14,000 pounds GVWR.
- Natural gas vehicles over 14,000 pounds.
- Fully electric vehicles, motorcycles and trailers.
- Transfers between immediate family members, unless a relative bought the car for you without first titling it in their name.
Sources: BAR and DMV. More detail on edge cases in cars exempt from smog check in California.
What changed for 2026
- Readiness monitors. A BAR regulation in effect since October 1, 2025 requires all readiness monitors that can feasibly be set to be complete for a vehicle to pass. BAR is phasing it in gradually, by vehicle, as data comes in (BAR).
- Collector cars, from 2028. SB 1392, signed September 16, 2026 (Chapter 245, Statutes of 2026), exempts qualifying collector vehicles built before the 1981 model year starting January 1, 2028. The cutoff moves up one model year each year until it covers vehicles built before 1986, from 2033 (SB 1392). Nothing changes for an ordinary car.
- Repair help went up.Since January 1, 2025, BAR’s Consumer Assistance Program pays up to $1,450 toward repairs on 1996-and-newer vehicles.
Why cars fail
In BAR’s August 2026 report, 8.26% of initial inspections failed. The usual causes are a lit check engine light, monitors that haven’t finished, missing or modified emissions parts, and on older cars high tailpipe readings. The detail is in common smog check failures. If the car fails, the state may help pay for repairs, and the vehicle’s past results are in its smog check history.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Smog checks are still required in 2026 for registration renewal every other year, for most changes of ownership, and when a vehicle is registered in California for the first time. The one new exemption, for qualifying collector cars under SB 1392, does not start until January 1, 2028.
No. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids follow the same rules as gasoline cars. Only fully electric vehicles are exempt.
Yes. The DMV says active-duty military members and veterans still need a smog inspection for their vehicles.
The check engine light. BAR is plain about it: a vehicle will not pass a smog check with the check engine light on. Other warnings, such as oil pressure or tire pressure, are not what the emissions inspection checks, though you should still deal with them.
A required smog check can't be skipped, but there is help after a failure. The Smog Check Referee can grant a one-time repair cost waiver that gives you more time to finish repairs, and BAR's Consumer Assistance Program helps income-eligible owners pay for repairs or retire the car.
In BAR's August 2026 report, 8.26% of initial inspections failed: 7.60% of vehicles tested through the on-board computer and 17.81% of older vehicles on the tailpipe test.