Air Pollution Control Requirements

Read the information below and start the quiz whenever you're ready. You can come back to this page at any time.

Smog Certificates

Dealers are required to provide a smog Certificate for all vehicles before a vehicle being offered for sale, including:

Gas-powered 1976 and newer model-year vehicles
Diesel-powered 1998 and newer model-year vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 14,000 pounds or less

Smog Exempt Vehicles

Smog Certificates are not required for vehicles:

Four (4) years old or newer*
Sold to other licensed Dealers
Sold at dealer-only auctions

*The DMV regulations say “When you transfer a vehicle that is four or less model years old, a Smog Certificate is not required. Determine the oldest-qualifying year model by subtracting three from the current year”

For example, 2023 – 3 = a 2020 (or newer) vehicle is smog exempt during 2023.

Maximum Smog Fees

Dealers are allowed to charge $50 for the smog test plus the actual fees charged for Certificates. Smog Certificates obtained by dealers remain valid for the sale of a vehicle for up to two years.

Dealers that sell a vehicle before satisfying the smog inspection requirements are subject to the following administrative actions.

A suspension or revocation of their Dealer License and substantial fines ranging from $15 to $750 per violation
Additional fines for each day the dealer is noncompliant with the Air Resources Board (ARB) requirements