Smog Check Reference Guide 2023 with complete
solution;best guide for your final
Gasoline vehicles 4 or less model years old
Smog Check certification is required in all program areas when an affected vehicle
changes ownership, with the exception of...
Enhanced Areas
These areas do not meet federal or state air quality standards for ozone and carbon
monoxide.
Enhanced Areas
Gasoline vehicles between 1976 and 1999 MY are subject to a loaded mode emissions
test in these program areas.
Basic Areas
These areas are less polluted than Enhanced Areas, but biennial inspections are
required.
Change of Ownership Areas
These are more rural areas of the state that require Smog Check only when an affected
vehicle changes ownership.
Zip code based station locator
Some counties are solely in one program area, while other counties may be in two or
three program areas. Use this tool on the BAR website to determine your program area.
Gasoline
Affected vehicles include 1976 and newer vehicles powered solely or in combination by:
Propane
Affected vehicles include 1976 and newer vehicles powered solely or in combination by:
Natural gas
Affected vehicles include 1976 and newer vehicles powered solely or in combination by:
Methanol
Affected vehicles include 1976 and newer vehicles powered solely or in combination by:
Ethanol
Affected vehicles include 1976 and newer vehicles powered solely or in combination by:
1998 and newer
Any vehicle powered solely or in combination by diesel is only affected by the Smog
Check program if it is from a model year...
14,000 lbs and less
Any vehicle powered solely or in combination by diesel is only affected by the Smog
Check program if it has a GVWR of
Exempted until further notice
Vehicles powered by CNG, LNG, or LPG with a GVWR of 14,001 or more are...
Affected
What is the status of a 1999 diesel vehicle under 14,000 GVWR?
Exempted
What is the status of a 2001 diesel vehicle over 14,001 GVWR?
Affected
What is the status of a 2000 gasoline hybrid vehicle?
, Affected
What is the status of a 2008 gasoline vehicle over 14,001 GVWR?
Exempted
What is the status of a gasoline vehicle 1975 or older?
Exempt from change of ownership inspection and biennial inspection
What is the status of a gasoline vehicle 4 or less model years old?
Affected
What is the status of a diesel vehicle 4 or less model years old?
Exempt from biennial inspection
What is the status of a gasoline vehicle 6 or less model years old?
Exempted
What is the status of a diesel vehicle 1997 or older?
Exempted
What is the status of a diesel vehicle with a GVWR of 14,001 lbs or more?
Exempted
What is the status of a vehicle powered solely by electricity?
Exempted
What is the status of a vehicle with two cylinders or less?
Affected
What is the status of a vehicle with a rotary engine?
Exempted
What is the status of a vehicle with a two-stroke piston engine?
Exempted
What is the status of a motorcycle?
90 days
If a vehicle is undergoing a transfer of ownership, a Smog Check certificate is not
required if a certificate has been issued in connection with registration renewal within
the past...
Spouse, sibling, child, grandchild, parent, or grandparent
If a vehicle is undergoing a transfer of ownership, a Smog Check certificate is not
required if the the vehicle is being transferred between a person's...
No
Is a Smog Check certificate required when an additional individual is added to the
vehicle title?
Directed vehicles
For program evaluation purposes, 2% of the vehicles in Enhanced Areas are randomly
selected as...
Enhanced Areas
The 2% Random Sample selected to become directed vehicles is only in this program
area.
Profile
This is a statistical model used to identify vehicles more likely than others to fail a Smog
Check inspection.
Directed vehicles
Vehicles identified by the Profile are selected as...
Yes
solution;best guide for your final
Gasoline vehicles 4 or less model years old
Smog Check certification is required in all program areas when an affected vehicle
changes ownership, with the exception of...
Enhanced Areas
These areas do not meet federal or state air quality standards for ozone and carbon
monoxide.
Enhanced Areas
Gasoline vehicles between 1976 and 1999 MY are subject to a loaded mode emissions
test in these program areas.
Basic Areas
These areas are less polluted than Enhanced Areas, but biennial inspections are
required.
Change of Ownership Areas
These are more rural areas of the state that require Smog Check only when an affected
vehicle changes ownership.
Zip code based station locator
Some counties are solely in one program area, while other counties may be in two or
three program areas. Use this tool on the BAR website to determine your program area.
Gasoline
Affected vehicles include 1976 and newer vehicles powered solely or in combination by:
Propane
Affected vehicles include 1976 and newer vehicles powered solely or in combination by:
Natural gas
Affected vehicles include 1976 and newer vehicles powered solely or in combination by:
Methanol
Affected vehicles include 1976 and newer vehicles powered solely or in combination by:
Ethanol
Affected vehicles include 1976 and newer vehicles powered solely or in combination by:
1998 and newer
Any vehicle powered solely or in combination by diesel is only affected by the Smog
Check program if it is from a model year...
14,000 lbs and less
Any vehicle powered solely or in combination by diesel is only affected by the Smog
Check program if it has a GVWR of
Exempted until further notice
Vehicles powered by CNG, LNG, or LPG with a GVWR of 14,001 or more are...
Affected
What is the status of a 1999 diesel vehicle under 14,000 GVWR?
Exempted
What is the status of a 2001 diesel vehicle over 14,001 GVWR?
Affected
What is the status of a 2000 gasoline hybrid vehicle?
, Affected
What is the status of a 2008 gasoline vehicle over 14,001 GVWR?
Exempted
What is the status of a gasoline vehicle 1975 or older?
Exempt from change of ownership inspection and biennial inspection
What is the status of a gasoline vehicle 4 or less model years old?
Affected
What is the status of a diesel vehicle 4 or less model years old?
Exempt from biennial inspection
What is the status of a gasoline vehicle 6 or less model years old?
Exempted
What is the status of a diesel vehicle 1997 or older?
Exempted
What is the status of a diesel vehicle with a GVWR of 14,001 lbs or more?
Exempted
What is the status of a vehicle powered solely by electricity?
Exempted
What is the status of a vehicle with two cylinders or less?
Affected
What is the status of a vehicle with a rotary engine?
Exempted
What is the status of a vehicle with a two-stroke piston engine?
Exempted
What is the status of a motorcycle?
90 days
If a vehicle is undergoing a transfer of ownership, a Smog Check certificate is not
required if a certificate has been issued in connection with registration renewal within
the past...
Spouse, sibling, child, grandchild, parent, or grandparent
If a vehicle is undergoing a transfer of ownership, a Smog Check certificate is not
required if the the vehicle is being transferred between a person's...
No
Is a Smog Check certificate required when an additional individual is added to the
vehicle title?
Directed vehicles
For program evaluation purposes, 2% of the vehicles in Enhanced Areas are randomly
selected as...
Enhanced Areas
The 2% Random Sample selected to become directed vehicles is only in this program
area.
Profile
This is a statistical model used to identify vehicles more likely than others to fail a Smog
Check inspection.
Directed vehicles
Vehicles identified by the Profile are selected as...
Yes
