How often should I get a smog check in California?

by | May 17, 2016 | Automotive

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For a California vehicle registration, you’ll more than likely have to have a smog check for your automobile for which you can use our Smog Check Coupons. But, you might want to know when a smog check is needed.

In California, all cars need to have a smog vehicle registration inspection, except these: electric, diesel powered, natural gas powered cars more than 14,000 pounds, motorcycles, hybrids, trailers, or cars older than 1975.

Vehicle registration in California may cost more if you reside in specific areas. Within these particular places, cars have to submit smog certification with all other registration renewals. It’s called the biennial smog certification plan.

If the car is 6 or less model years old, the owner pays a yearly smog abatement charge for the first 6 years rather than providing a smog certification. But, the 6 or less model years old regulation doesn’t apply to all cars.

An automobile which is 4 or less model years old which is transferred doesn’t need a smog certificate, yet a smog transfer charge is going to be collected.

If an auto is over 4 model years old, a seller has to provide an updated smog certificate. If a transfer is between a domestic partner, spouse, child, sibling, grandparent, parent, or grandchild this doesn’t apply.  An additional exception is as a biennial smog certification is submitted within ninety days before the car transfer date.

As an automobile is sold, a seller must provide the purchaser a valid smog certificate during the time of the transfer or sale.

The inspection isn’t required on a transfer if the biennial smog certification was submitted to the DMV within ninety days before the car transfer date, yet an automobile inspection report might be required as evidence of certification.

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