Home / Compare states / California
California emissions test (Smog Check): the official wording
Everything in quotation marks here is from 2 sources and was matched to them on November 11, 2026. The quotes are the sources’ words; ours only label them.
About these quotes.
The county list is quoted with the sentence that introduces it; read them together. The lines about a change of ownership and a first registration are quoted separately, further down.
On this page: where · how often · fee · new and older vehicles · diesel, electric, hybrid · check a vehicle · sources
What does the text call it?
A Smog Check is required every other year to renew your vehicle registration.
The page we point to: Bureau of Automotive Repair, Smog Check: When you need one and what's required.
Which counties does the text name?
The quoted text names 34 counties:
- Alameda County
- Butte County
- Colusa County
- Contra Costa County
- Fresno County
- Glenn County
- Kern County
- Kings County
- Los Angeles County
- Madera County
- Marin County
- Merced County
- Monterey County
- Napa County
- Nevada County
- Orange County
- Sacramento County
- San Benito County
- San Francisco County
- San Joaquin County
- San Luis Obispo County
- San Mateo County
- Santa Barbara County
- Santa Clara County
- Santa Cruz County
- Shasta County
- Solano County
- Stanislaus County
- Sutter County
- Tehama County
- Tulare County
- Ventura County
- Yolo County
- Yuba County
If you live in one of these counties, you need a smog inspection when you renew your vehicle registration.
Listed under:
If you live in one of these counties, you need a smog inspection when you renew your vehicle registration.
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 Yuba
How often is the test?
A Smog Check is required every other year to renew your vehicle registration.
What does the test cost?
The station must charge a $8.25 Smog Check certificate fee.
The cost of a Smog Check inspection varies by station.
Inspection prices are not regulated by BAR.
What does the text say about new and older vehicles?
Listed under:
Here are the exceptions for gasoline, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles :
Eight model years and newer - do not need a Smog Check for vehicle registration renewal.
Shown with it, so that neither is read alone:
Instead, California law requires a smog abatement fee. This fee is due with your DMV vehicle registration renewal fees.
For example, a 2020 model-year vehicle will need a Smog Check for registration renewal in 2028 (2020 + 8 = 2028).
Listed under:
Model year exceptions
Gasoline, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles generally need a Smog Check. But, there are exceptions for certain newer model year vehicles. These exceptions depend on the vehicle's model year and the specific inspection requirement.
Listed under:
Model year exceptions
There are no model year exceptions for diesel vehicles.
Listed under:
Vehicle Registration RenewalListed under:
Your vehicle does not need a smog inspection if your:
Gasoline-powered and less than eight model-years old.
Starting January 1, 2019, if your vehicle is less than 4 model years old, you can pay a smog abatement fee instead of getting a smog inspection for the first 8 years that your vehicle is registered.
Listed under:
Vehicles that do not need a Smog Check
Gasoline, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles - model year 1975 and older
What about diesel, electric and hybrid vehicles?
Every current line we hold for California that uses the word diesel, electric or hybrid. Some are about one place or one kind of test; each speaks for itself.
Listed under:
Vehicles that do not need a Smog Check
Gasoline, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles - model year 1975 and older
Listed under:
Vehicles that need a Smog Check
Gasoline, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles - model year 1976 and newer
Listed under:
Vehicles that need a Smog Check
Diesel vehicles - model year 1998 and newer
Listed under:
Vehicles that do not need a Smog Check
Diesel vehicles - model year 1997 and older
Listed under:
Vehicles that do not need a Smog Check
Diesel vehicles - with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 14,000 pounds
Listed under:
Here are the exceptions for gasoline, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles :
Eight model years and newer - do not need a Smog Check for vehicle registration renewal.
Shown with it, so that neither is read alone:
Instead, California law requires a smog abatement fee. This fee is due with your DMV vehicle registration renewal fees.
For example, a 2020 model-year vehicle will need a Smog Check for registration renewal in 2028 (2020 + 8 = 2028).
Listed under:
Model year exceptions
Gasoline, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles generally need a Smog Check. But, there are exceptions for certain newer model year vehicles. These exceptions depend on the vehicle's model year and the specific inspection requirement.
Listed under:
Model year exceptions
There are no model year exceptions for diesel vehicles.
Listed under:
Vehicle Registration RenewalListed under:
Your vehicle does not need a smog inspection if your:
Gasoline-powered and less than eight model-years old.
Starting January 1, 2019, if your vehicle is less than 4 model years old, you can pay a smog abatement fee instead of getting a smog inspection for the first 8 years that your vehicle is registered.
Listed under:
Vehicles that do not need a Smog Check
Electric vehicles
What about heavier vehicles?
Listed under:
Vehicles that do not need a Smog Check
Diesel vehicles - with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 14,000 pounds
What else does the text say?
Listed under:
Here are the exceptions for gasoline, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles :
Four model years and newer - do not need a Smog Check for a change of ownership.
A Smog Check is required when a vehicle changes ownership.
A Smog Check is required to register a vehicle for the first time in California
Transferring a vehicle between immediate family members does not require a Smog Check.
Check a vehicle against these quotes
Enter a model year, a fuel and a weight rating, and choose the county. The checker repeats the quotes above and, where a figure can be compared, says where your entry falls against it. It does not decide anything about your vehicle.
Where do these quotes come from?
- Bureau of Automotive Repair, Smog Check: When you need one and what's required (bar.ca.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
- California DMV, Smog Inspections (dmv.ca.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
Spotted a quote that has changed at its source? Tell us. See also the comparison table for the other states.