The Importance Of Smog Checks
When most people hear the word “pollution,” they think of big city buses letting out clouds of black air, or third-world countries where the sky is thick with dust. Few people understand that even normal cars can be the cause of a great deal of pollution in everyday life. Whenever you drive your car, there is a good chance it is letting out some degree of pollution. However, the amount of pollution depends on the condition of the car.
Smog Check in California
California currently has the toughest smog check laws in the country. The goal of these laws is to make sure we do everything possible to protect the environment. Smog checks are required for all vehicles except diesel vehicles from 1997 or older with a Gross Vehicle Weight of more than 14,000 lbs.
Electric cars, natural gas cars over 14,000 lbs, motorcycles, trailers, or gasoline-powered cars from 1975 and older are also exempt from these laws. The law states that all other vehicles must get a smog check every other year of registration.
You will be notified if you need a smog check to renew your registration when you get your registration renewal notice. There is one loophole. You don’t need to get a smog check for the first 8 registration years of a vehicle that is 8 years old or younger at the time of initial purchase.
That means if you buy a 2019 car in 2019, you will not need to get your first smog check until the year 2027. But you will still need to get a smog check in 2027 if you buy a 2019 model in 2023.
