California vehicle inspection requirements

Frequency and due triggers

Emissions inspection · renewal: Every two years; Before the DMV registration-renewal deadline.

Emissions inspection · move in: Once for the first California registration; Before California completes the first registration.

Emissions inspection · private sale: Once for the ownership-transfer transaction when the vehicle is not transfer-exempt; Before the ownership transfer is completed when a Smog Check certificate is required.

Emissions inspection · dealer: Once for the dealer transfer transaction when the vehicle is not transfer-exempt; Before the dealer completes the transfer when a Smog Check certificate is required.

Emissions inspection · retest: One reinspection after a failed Smog Check; After repairs and before the registration or transfer requirement can be cleared.

Safety inspection · move in: Once for a qualifying revived junk or salvage title/registration event; Before DMV registration of a revived junk or salvage vehicle; rebuilders must complete it before sale.

Safety inspection · private sale: Once for a qualifying revived junk or salvage title/registration event; Before DMV registration of a revived junk or salvage vehicle; rebuilders must complete it before sale.

Safety inspection · dealer: Once for a qualifying revived junk or salvage title/registration event; Before DMV registration of a revived junk or salvage vehicle; rebuilders must complete it before sale.

Safety inspection · retest: Once for a qualifying revived junk or salvage title/registration event; Before DMV registration of a revived junk or salvage vehicle; rebuilders must complete it before sale.

VIN / identity inspection · move in: Once for each California registration or title transaction that falls within an official REG 31 verification trigger; repeat only if the verification remains incomplete; Before California completes registration or title processing for the out-of-state, revived salvage/junk, or other listed verification branch.

VIN / identity inspection · private sale: Once for each California registration or title transaction that falls within an official REG 31 verification trigger; repeat only if the verification remains incomplete; Before California completes registration or title processing for the out-of-state, revived salvage/junk, or other listed verification branch.

VIN / identity inspection · dealer: Once for each California registration or title transaction that falls within an official REG 31 verification trigger; repeat only if the verification remains incomplete; Before California completes registration or title processing for the out-of-state, revived salvage/junk, or other listed verification branch.

Smog abatement fee: With the California registration renewal.

Smog transfer fee: With the California title transfer.

Fees

Emissions inspection: Price set by the inspection station. Inspection price is set by the station; state certificate fee applies.

Smog abatement fee: Fee collected with registration. $20.00 is collected by the registration authority, not by an inspection station.

Smog transfer fee: Fee collected with registration. $8.00 is collected by the registration authority, not by an inspection station.

Smog abatement fee: Fee collected with registration. $25.00 is collected by the registration authority, not by an inspection station.

Safety inspection: Price set by the inspection station. The cost of a vehicle safety systems inspection varies by station.

VIN / identity inspection: Amount set or confirmed by the listed authority. The reviewed DMV verification procedure does not publish one statewide consumer fee; confirm any charge with the authorized verifier

What to bring

DMV renewal or registration document; Vehicle safety report or other proof of a passed vehicle safety systems inspection; Vehicle for physical identification-number and descriptor verification; Completed Verification of Vehicle form REG 31; Out-of-state ownership record or the revived-salvage/junk documents that triggered verification; Registration or title transaction documents

High-impact exceptions

• California does not require a periodic safety inspection for an ordinary vehicle; the BAR safety-systems program is limited to the listed special registration categories, and a revived-salvage vehicle that already passed does not need another inspection for future renewals.
• Battery-electric vehicles are exempt from Smog Check.
• Vehicles model year 1975 or older are exempt.
• A gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or qualifying alternative-fuel vehicle in its first six model years is exempt from the renewal Smog Check; DMV instead collects a $20 smog abatement fee.
• A gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or qualifying alternative-fuel vehicle in its first four model years is exempt from the transfer Smog Check; DMV instead collects the smog transfer fee.
• California BAR Smog Check does not apply to diesel vehicles model year 1997 or older.
• Diesel vehicles over 14,000 lb GVWR are outside the California BAR Smog Check program.
• Diesel vehicles over 14,000 lb GVWR are outside the California BAR Smog Check program.