California at a glance Statewide inspection program
| Safety inspection | No periodic safety inspection for personal vehicles. |
|---|---|
| Emissions test | Smog Check every two years in most of California, plus at change of ownership and first California registration. Vehicles eight model years old or newer skip the biennial check; some rural counties and ZIP codes are exempt or change-of-ownership only. |
| Smog Check | Not published — Set by each station; not published statewide |
| Find a station / office | BAR: Smog Check |
Official sources: BAR: Smog Check, when you need one · BAR Smog Check Reference Guide (PDF) · CA DMV Appendix 1C: partial biennial smog ZIP codes. Checked 2026-10-04.
About the missing details
Why it's missing: We only list inspection fees published by an official source. Stations or the local program set the price for California, and we couldn't find an official published price, so check the station's posted price or call the program below.
General information
Not specific to California
Where states publish an inspection price, it ranges from free (Illinois, Delaware DMV lanes, Ohio's first passing E-Check) to $55 every two years (Rhode Island). Many states let each station set its own price and only require it to be posted. Texas caps emissions tests at $11.50–$18.50.
Closest place with verified data
El Paso County, TX (about 922 miles away): emissions test up to $11.50
Call or visit the official office
BAR: Smog Check · Official website
Know the current fee? Tell us. We check every tip against an official source before publishing it.
Frequently asked
Does California require a vehicle safety inspection?
No periodic safety inspection for personal vehicles.
Does California require an emissions test?
Smog Check every two years in most of California, plus at change of ownership and first California registration. Vehicles eight model years old or newer skip the biennial check; some rural counties and ZIP codes are exempt or change-of-ownership only.