It’s obvious to everyone that we all need clean air to breathe. One way to ensure we have this is by limiting the harmful emissions the vehicles on our roads produce. This is why the state of California requires all vehicle owners to have their vehicles inspected to ensure that they don’t have excess emissions. The Smog Check Program has helped to reduce the emissions of the millions of vehicles that occupy California roads each day. Since California vehicle owners have to do emissions tests a few times in their lives, here are things you should know about smog testing.
First and foremost, you should know that your DMV registration renewal notice will indicate when you need an emissions inspection. As you probably know, if you have renewed your registration at the DMV or with eTags, you must have valid registration on your vehicle to operate it on a California road. The same holds true for smog testing. If you do not get it tested and pass, you can expect to be fined if you are pulled over by a California police officer.
In general, most vehicles are subject to smog testing in California. The only exceptions are vehicles that were manufactured before 1976, gas-powered vehicles that weigh more than 14,000 lbs., electric-powered vehicles, hybrid vehicles, diesel-powered vehicles that were made before 1997, and vehicles that are six years or younger. Owners of vehicles that are six years old or newer simply have to pay a yearly smog abatement fee. After six years, the vehicle is then subject to regular smog testing.
Before you take your vehicle for smog testing, it might make sense to have it checked if you have had issues to ensure that it passes. If there is something wrong with the exhaust system, you can find that out in advance so you can have it fixed before you have it tested. If you do fail the testing, you are given a set period of time to have the vehicle fixed so it can then pass the test. If you do not have it fixed, you can be fined.
Smog testing is a crucial part of protecting our air, so while an inconvenient step for most, it’s something that you should take seriously. You are encouraged to learn more about smog testing and other driving issues on the eTags blog.