July 12, 2023
According to California law and EPA standards, gasoline-powered, hybrid, and alternative fuel vehicles model year 1976 and newer will require a smog check. There are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, if the vehicle is 8 model years or newer, the car doesn’t need a biennial smog check. If the car is fewer than four model years old, it will not require a change of ownership smog check. That means if you buy a new car, you won’t need to have a biennial smog check for eight years. For diesel-powered vehicles, if the vehicle is a 1998 model or newer and has a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,000 pounds or less, you’ll need to have a smog check performed on your vehicle.