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Diesel Smog Check - Effective 01/01/2010: All Diesel vehicles, cars and trucks 1998 and newer, and weighing under 14,500 GVW will need a diesel smog check. All California certified smog check stations can perfrom the Diesel Smog Check. The diesel smog test will not include the emissions test portion of the regular inspection. There will be no tailpipe emissions inspection or smog test. Dynamometer testing will not be part of the diesel smog check inspection.
Your vehicle will not be driven on the dynamometer during the diesel smog check. Instead the diesel smog test will focus on a visual inspection of your vehicle's emissions/smog components, a system check of the On Board Diagnostics (OBD II) system, a visual smoke check for excessive black (carbon) smoke, and an EVAP functional test. Diesel cars and trucks which fail the diesel smog test will have to get their vehicles repaired at a diesel vehicle repair shop before retesting.
Diesel smog inspections are required during a diesel vehicle's initial registration in California and once, every two years, thereafter. The diesel smog check cycle will continue for as long as the vehicle is registered in this State.
The Diesel smog test program applies to 1976 and newer passenger vehicles and trucks powered singly or in combination by:
- Gasoline
- Propane
- Natural gas
- Diesel
- Methanol / Ethanol fuels
Smog inspections are also required anytime a diesel vehicle is sold or bought in California. During a title transfer the Department of Motor Vehicles will not allow a vehicle to be registered unless it is presented with a valid smog certificate. There are special testing procedures for vehicles, which are classified as "Gross Polluters". These include Test Only and State Referee inspections.
Diesel Smog Test Exemption: Exempt from the State of California Diesel Smog Check program are:
- Diesel cars & trucks (1997 & older)
- Diesel trucks (over 14,500 GVW)
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