Do I need a Smog Check in the Sacramento area?
Probably, if you drive a gasoline or hybrid car. The DMV lists Sacramento and Yolo counties among the counties where registration renewals require a Smog Check every other year. Placer and El Dorado counties are split by ZIP code, and the DMV's list of covered ZIP codes includes Roseville (95661, 95678, 95747), Rocklin (95677, 95765), Lincoln (95648), Loomis (95650), Granite Bay (95746), Auburn (95602-95604), El Dorado Hills (95762), Cameron Park (95682) and Placerville (95667).
The Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) also requires a Smog Check when a vehicle changes ownership and when a car is first registered in California, including cars from other states.
Which vehicles are exempt from Smog Check?
BAR lists these exceptions:
- Gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles eight model years old or newer at renewal. They pay a smog abatement fee with registration instead. Add eight to the model year to find the first check: a 2020 car needs one at renewal in 2028.
- Gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles four model years old or newer when sold. The buyer pays a smog transfer fee instead.
- Gasoline vehicles from model year 1975 or older.
- Diesel vehicles from model year 1997 or older, or with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds.
- Electric vehicles and motorcycles.
What is a STAR station, and do I need one?
STAR stations meet higher BAR performance standards and can inspect every vehicle. BAR's Smog Check Reference Guide explains that some cars in the most polluted areas are directed to STAR stations, either because a statistical profile flags them as more likely to fail or as part of a 2% random sample. If your DMV notice says 'Smog Certification Required at a STAR station,' only a STAR station or a Smog Check Referee can certify the car, though any licensed repair station can fix it first.
How do I prepare for a Smog Check?
BAR's checklist:
- Fix the check engine light first. A car won't pass with it on.
- Drive a week or two after battery work, so the readiness monitors can reset.
- Restore stock engine software. Software not approved by the California Air Resources Board fails.
- Bring your DMV renewal notice if you have one.
What does a Smog Check cost?
Stations set their own prices; BAR doesn't regulate them. Every station must give you an estimate and charge an $8.25 certificate fee. BAR's 2025 Smog Check Executive Summary put the statewide average initial inspection at $67.20 across about 11.2 million tests: $58.21 at non-STAR test-only stations, $60.85 at STAR test-only, $69.22 at STAR test-and-repair, and $72.64 at non-STAR test-and-repair. The prices are self-reported by inspectors.
The inspection usually takes about 30 minutes. Most 2000-and-newer vehicles get an on-board diagnostic check, and older vehicles get a tailpipe test.
What happens if my car fails Smog Check?
Read the vehicle inspection report, which lists why the car failed, then have a test-and-repair or repair-only station fix the problem and retest. In 2025, 7.78% of 2000-and-newer vehicles failed their initial on-board diagnostic inspection statewide, and the average repair at a STAR test-and-repair station (outside the assistance program) was about $666, according to BAR.
If a station can't or won't test your car, or you dispute a result, the Smog Check Referee handles disputes, unusual vehicles and hard-to-find parts.
Can I get help paying for smog repairs?
Yes, if you qualify. BAR's Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) pays up to $1,450 toward emissions repairs on 1996-and-newer vehicles and up to $1,100 on 1976-1995 vehicles. Your household income must be at or below 225% of the federal poverty level, you must be the registered owner, and the car must have failed its biennial Smog Check. You pay a co-payment, and repairs are done at STAR test-and-repair stations. Don't start repairs until BAR sends your eligibility letter; CAP won't reimburse work done earlier.
CAP can also pay you to retire a running car: $1,350 with no income test if it failed its most recent Smog Check, or $1,500 or $2,000 for income-qualified owners. Income-qualified Sacramento County residents in eligible ZIP codes may also get up to $12,000 toward a cleaner replacement through Sacramento's Clean Cars 4 All.
What if my catalytic converter was stolen?
Replace it before your next Smog Check. BAR says the replacement must be an original-equipment part or a California Air Resources Board-approved aftermarket converter, installed at a licensed Smog Check station. CAP doesn't cover stolen converters, so check whether your auto insurance does. Anti-theft shields are fine as long as they don't modify or damage the converter or hide its identifying labels.
| Situation | Smog Check needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration renewal, car more than eight model years old | Yes, every other year | Your DMV notice says if a STAR station is required |
| Registration renewal, car eight model years old or newer | No | Smog abatement fee paid with registration |
| Selling the car | Yes, before the sale | Certificate valid 90 days; give the buyer a copy of the report |
| Selling a car four model years old or newer | No | Buyer pays a smog transfer fee |
| Transfer between immediate family members | Usually no | Required if a relative bought it for you without titling it first |
| First registration in California | Yes | Includes cars from other states |
| Electric vehicle or motorcycle | No | Exempt |
Need a mechanic in the Sacramento area?
One call connects you with an independent local mechanic. Calling is free; you agree on the price and the work directly with the provider.
Frequently asked questions
Do hybrids need a Smog Check in California?
Can I check a used car's smog history before buying it?
Sources
- Smog Inspections — California Department of Motor Vehicles
- Appendix 1C: Partial Biennial Smog Counties Zip Codes — California Department of Motor Vehicles
- Smog Check: When you need one and what's required — Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)
- Smog Check Reference Guide (2025) — Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)
- Smog Check Executive Summary Report 2025 — Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)
- Consumer Assistance Program: apply for repair assistance — Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)
- Consumer Assistance Program: apply for vehicle retirement — Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)
- Check a vehicle's Smog Check inspection history — Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)
- Catalytic converter theft and the Smog Check Program — Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)
- Smog Check Referee Program — Smog Check Referee (BAR program)
- Sacramento's Clean Cars 4 All — Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District