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How to Pass the Smog Check. It's a Easy 3-Part Test!

How to Pass - Learn how to pass the smog check. 3 part emission test.

California Smog Check Program Laws & Regulations

Laws - California's smog check program. Smog check laws & regulations.

FREE Smog Check Coupons. Station Photos & Details

Free Coupons - Get smog check coupons. Search & compare.

STAR Smog Check - What is a STAR station?

STAR Smog Check - What is a STAR smog station? Why do I need STAR test?

Get $500.00 Smog Repair Assistance Program (CAP)

CAP - Free smog check repairs from Consumer Assistance Program.

VIR Reports - FREE Online Smog Check Diagnosis

Free Diagnosis - Smog test results diagnosed online by ASE techs.

Under Your Hood - The Visual Smog Inspection

Visual Test - Visual smog inspection. What to look for under your car's hood.

OBDII Check Engine Light Trouble Codes

Buy Back - CA vehicle retirement and vehicle buy back program.

Ask a Tech - Do you have a Smog Check Question? Get a Response in 24 hours.

Ask-A-Tech - Do you have a smog check question? Ask us.

Does My Car Need a Smog Check?

Need Inspection - When is a smog check needed? Do I need a smog test?

DMV - Vehicle Registration & Smog Check Requirements

DMV - Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle registration & smog check requirements.

SMOG Q & A - California Emissions and Auto Repair Questions & Answers

Smog Check Q & A - CA smog check emission questions & answers.


Up to 50% Smog Check Coupons
Find the lowest smog check prices at local California smog check stations, smog test only centers, test & repair shops and STAR certified smog stations. We're California's leading smog check coupon resource. See photos, get details, save cash!

California Vehicle Retirement
Get up to $1500 when you retire your smog check failing car, truck, van or SUV. California's vehicle buy back program will pay you up to $1500.00. Retire your vehicle if it failed the smog test. California will buy it!

What is a Gross Polluter Vehicle?
The California smog check program has identified Gross Polluter (GP) vehicles as a significant source of smog emissions and toxic particulates. STAR smog repair shops can perform auto repairs on GP vehicles.

What is a Smog Test Only Center?
Can smog test only centers perform smog repairs? Is there a smog test only in or near my city? Do test only smog centers charge more for the smog test?

  Free Online Smog Check Diagnosis
Visit a SmogTips.com™ smog repair or smog check center, and get a FREE online diagnosis of your vehicle's smog test results. Expert advice about your smog test by an ASE technician!

8 Must Do's Before the Smog Test
What you need to know about the California emissions test before you take your car in to a smog test only center or regular smog station. DIY tips that may make the difference between passing or failing the emissions test.

Turn Off Check Engine Light
Can my car pass the emissions test with the check engine light or service engine soon light ON? How can I turn the check engine light off?

California Emissions Test Centers
California emissions test and emissions test centers. How do we differ from other states? Are emission tests the same? Who can perform repairs if my vehicle failed the emission test?

 

 


 

 

Diesel Smog Check - 1998 & newer diesel cars and diesel trucks need smog checks.

Smog Test Types - California smog test center differences and definitions.

Smog Check Waiver - How to register your car without a smog check certificate.

STAR Smog Program - Learn how the STAR program affects your vehicle's smog inspection.


Common high HC, CO and NOx emission problems - Your vehicle may have failed the emissions test portion of the smog check inspection for several different reasons. Three emissions test results are measured and required to determine whether a vehicle passes or fails the emissions test inspection. Learn about the top causes for high Hydrocarbon, Carbon Monoxide, and Nitrogen Oxide, emissions results. A passing emissions test ensures only completion of one portion of the three independent tests required to complete the entire smog inspection process. Download our FREE Illustrated Top 10 Smog Check Failures poster in PDF.


Consumer Assistance Program - The California smog check Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) provides financial assistance for qualified consumers whose vehicles fail their biennial smog check at certified California smog centers. Vehicle owners can receive up to $500 financial assistance toward smog check related repairs to help their failing vehicles pass the smog check inspection. Approved applicants must have their vehicles repaired by a STAR (CAP) certified smog repair station. STAR smog test stations are licensed smog check centers that are independently owned and under contract with the State of California to perform government assisted smog repair. There are two ways to qualify for smog repair assistance. Once approved the BAR will send you a list of California emissions test centers authorized to perform CAP repairs. Sponsored by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair.

OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics II - Functional Inspection) is a on-board self-diagnostic smog check computer; required for all California vehicles manufactured after 1996. OBDII vehicles have the capability to diagnose virtually every smog check component that can affect emission results. Smog check components such as the oxygen sensor (O2), catalytic converter (CAT), engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensors as well as several others are inspected by the smog technician during the visual inspection and are checked by the OBDII computer for proper operation and to ensure fuel is being burned thoroughly. If a smog check problem or malfunction is detected, the OBD II computer will illuminate a warning light on the vehicle instrument panel known as the Check Engine light or Service Engine Soon light, and record an OBDII trouble code. Very often you may not notice an engine problem. This is due to the OBDII computer operating under pre-programmed data rather then real time. The problem exists but the engine ignores the defective sensors input and provides its own manufacturer programmed data.

To avoid causing further damage to the smog check emission system/s the Check Engine light should be diagnosed as soon as possible by a repair certified smog check station, emission test center or smog service center. The OBDII system will store malfunction information so the smog check repair technician can find and fix the problem. Smog stations are required to have OBDII trouble code retrieval tools or scanners on hand.

Search Smog Check Stations By City

SmogTips.com™ certified smog tests station city list. Click the link above to find California cities and their zip codes. Cities in enhanced areas of the California smog check program will include regular smog check centers, also known as smog test & repair centers, STAR smog test only stations which are allowed to certify STAR directed and regular vehicles; A test only smog center is not allowed to repair vehicles however is allowed to perform smog inspections and certify any car, truck, van, suv, or RV, and STAR smog stations which are allowed to inspect, repair and certify all vehicles, smog test only station directed or not. Learn about the 3 types of emission test centers, smog service centers, auto repair shops.

Best Smog Check Coupons From Local Certified Smog Stations
Click on your city and take advantage of awesome smog check deals and discounts.

SmogTips Smog Check Coupons

A

Agoura Hills
  Alameda
  Alhambra
  Aliso Viejo
 
Anaheim
  Antioch
  Apple Valley
  Arcadia
 
Artesia
  Auburn
  Azusa
 

B

Bakersfield
 
Baldwin Park
  Banning
  Bell
  Bell Gardens
 
Belmont
  Benicia
  Berkeley
  Brea
 
Buena Park
  Burbank
  Burlingame
 

C

Calexico
 
Cameron Park
  Campbell
  Canoga Park
  Canyon Country
 
Carmichael
  Carson
  Castro Valley
  Cathedral City
 
Cerritos
  Chatsworth
  Chico
  Chino
 
Chula Vista
  Citrus Heights
  City Of Industry
  Clovis
 
Colton
  Concord
  Corona
  Corte Madera
 
Costa Mesa
  Covina
  Cudahy
  Culver City
 
Cupertino
  Cypress
 

D

Daly City
  Danville
 
Davis
  Del Mar
  Delhi
  Diamond Bar
 
Downey
  Dublin
 

E

Eagle Rock
  El Cajon
 
El Cerrito
  El Dorado Hills
  El Monte
  El Sobrante
 
Elk Grove
  Encinitas
  Encino
  Escondido
 

F

Fair Oaks
  Fairfield
  Folsom
  Fontana
 
Fountain Valley
  Fremont
  Fresno
  Fullerton
 

G

Garden Grove
  Gardena
  Gilroy
  Glendale
 
Glendora
  Gold River
  Granada Hills
 

H

Hanford
 
Hawthorne
  Hayward
  Hemet
  Hermosa Beach
 
Hesperia
  Hollywood
  Huntington Beach
  Huntington Park
 

I

Indio
  Inglewood
  Irvine
 

L

La Habra
 
La Jolla
  La Mesa
  La Puente
  La Verne
 
Lafayette
  Laguna Beach
  Laguna Hills
  Laguna Niguel
 
Lake Forest
  Lakeside
  Lakewood
  Lancaster
 
Lawndale
  Lemon Grove
  Livermore
  Lodi
 
Loma Linda
  Lomita
  Long Beach
  Los Altos
 
Los Angeles
  Los Gatos
  Lynwood
 

M

Manhattan Beach
 
Manteca
  Marina Del Rey
  Martinez
  Menlo Park
 
Mill Valley
  Milpitas
  Mira Loma
  Mission Hills
 
Mission Viejo
  Modesto
  Monrovia
  Montebello
 
Monterey Park
  Montrose
  Moorpark
  Moraga
 
Moreno Valley
  Mountain View
  Murrieta
 

N

Napa
 
National City
  Needles
  Newark
  Newbury Park
 
Newhall
  Newport Beach
  Norco
  North Highlands
 
North Hills
  North Hollywood
  Northridge
  Norwalk
 
Novato
 

O

Oakland
  Oceanside
  Ontario
 
Orange
  Orangevale
  Oxnard
 

P

Pacheco
 
Pacific Palisades
  Pacifica
  Palm Desert
  Palm Springs
 
Palmdale
  Palo Alto
  Palos Verdes
  Panorama City
 
Paramount
  Pasadena
  Perris
  Petaluma
 
Pittsburg
  Placentia
  Pleasant Hill
  Pleasanton
 

R

Rancho Cordova
  Rancho Cucamonga
  Redlands
  Redondo Beach
 
Redwood City
  Reseda
  Rialto
  Richmond
 
Riverbank
  Riverside
  Rocklin
  Rohnert Park
 
Rosamond
  Rosemead
  Roseville
  Rowland Heights
 

S

Sacramento
  San Bernardino
  San Bruno
  San Carlos
 
San Clemente
  San Diego
  San Francisco
  San Gabriel
 
San Jacinto
  San Jose
  San Juan Capistrano
  San Leandro
 
San Marcos
  San Mateo
  San Pedro
  San Rafael
 
San Ramon
  Santa Ana
  Santa Barbara
  Santa Clara
 
Santa Clarita
  Santa Cruz
  Santa Fe Springs
  Santa Monica
 
Santa Rosa
  Santee
  Seal Beach
  Selma
 
Sherman Oaks
  Sierra Madre
  Simi Valley
  Solana Beach
 
Sonoma
  South Gate
  South San Francisco
  Spring Valley
 
Stanton
  Stockton
  Studio City
  Sun City
 
Sun Valley
  Sunland
  Sunnyvale
  Sylmar
 

T

Tarzana
  Temecula
  Temple City
  Thousand Oaks
 
Torrance
  Tracy
  Tujunga
  Turlock
 
Tustin
  Twin Peaks
 

U

Union City
  Upland
 

V

Vacaville
  Vallejo
  Van Nuys
  Venice
 
Ventura
  Victorville
  Visalia
  Vista
 

W

Walnut
  Walnut Creek
  West Covina
  West Hollywood
 
West Los Angeles
  West Sacramento
  Westlake Village
  Westminster
 
Whittier
  Wilmington
  Winnetka
  Woodland Hills
 

Y

Yucaipa
 
 

 

 

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