Getting Your Car Smog Checked in California

The state of California has some of the strictest vehicle emissions regulations in the United States. All but six counties in California require that cars be tested. Because California was at once known as having the worst smog in the whole nation the state of California has become diligent on reducing the amount of photochemical pollution released from cars and put laws the limit the acceptable level of emissions coming from all vehicles.

If a person in California purchases a car here they are not required to get smog checked but they are required to pay a smog abatement fee when you register your car annually until it has reached it six year mark. When it time for you to get a smog check the DMV notifies you before your registration is due. In bold print on your registration renewal form will be printed, SMOG CHECK REQUIRED. You can take you car to any smog check facility to have your car tested. It a pretty quick test and in my experience it has cost me anywhere from $40.00 for $50.00 including the pass certificate which is sent electronically by the smog check facility electronically. When you get to the smog check facility you are told to drive your car into the bay and stop on the rollers. There rollers are there so that the tester can accelerate your car and it stay in place. They also stick a device in your gas tank and tail pipe and that is where they are looking for emissions.

It takes approximately ten to 15 minutes once the tester starts. If you're lucky your car passes if not then you don't pass and you can net get your tags for your vehicle until your car passes. You will get a fail notice which you can take to the DMV when you go to pay your fees and you will be given a red card with the number of the month that the DMV grants you to get it fixed. You have to place that in the window of your car and that is your moving permit and it prevents you from getting ticketed and pulled over for not having current registration. California can be very helpful when it comes to getting your car repaired if you don't pass either. California has the CAP program which is the California Assistance Program and if you qualify the state will pay for up to $500 dollars of the repair price. If it exceeds that you have to come up with the difference yourself and when you do pass you have to be tested again and then go to the DMV to pick up your tags. If you still fail again after repairs and it is just too expensive you can get a waiver that last for two years and you must get your car repaired within those two years because you will not be given another waiver as in my case. Also, will be allowed to get your tags but you will be block from transferring your vehicle and selling it. As you can see it can be a lengthy task to get your car smog checked if you don't pass but if it does if very easy.