California Smog Testing Process (Question for CA Residents)

[LR170Shelby350R]

Hi All - I recently moved to the SF Bay Area from the Midwest and it's time to get the smog testing completed for my GT350R and M4 daily driver. We do not have this testing in the Midwest so I'm curious as to what the testing procedure actually is. Does anyone know if this is explained anywhere or can a CA resident on this forum provide an overview of their experience?

Plus, I always seem to be the guy that has bad luck when I take my cars in for service (damage, oil on front seat, it goes on and on...), which is why I now do all maintenance myself. I'm concerned about having someone I don't know crawl all over my car for a smog test. Can anyone suggest a trustworthy place I should take my cars to that are actually going to be careful and meticulous? I live in Solano County, so somewhere close would be preferred, but I'll travel anywhere in SF for quality service...which is increasing difficult to find nowadays.

I also need to have a "Vehicle Verification" conducted to apply for a registration. The form states it can be a DMV person, peace officer, or car club. Not sure what "car club" means. I'm also not looking forward to this potentially awful experience...

Any feedback would be very helpful. Thanks everyone!!

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[bryyce62]

As far as the testing goes, nowadays with newer cars, they plug in a computer to your OBD-II port and read something. They don't put it on the treadmill or sniffer like they do with older cars, pre OBD-II autos, if I'm not mistaken.
Regarding your inspection question, not sure exactly but they're looking for aftermarket parts that delete the factory emission control components.
If it were me, I'd look for a smog only station in your area with some decent reviews. They all follow the same state rules & regs.

 

[OutWest]

What @bryyce62 said. Looks to me that you are changing registration to CA. If that is the case, first smog test the car, then go to a DMV office that has an inspection station (the smog people already reported the results directly to the DMV). Just drive to the inspection area and wait for a DMV employee to verify your car complies with CA emissions. Take the paperwork and go inside to get your new CA title. I believe Car club means AAA but I don’t think they do that anymore. Also, not sure if you need an appointment beforehand. This is basically the same process if a CA resident buys a newer car from out of state

 

[LR170Shelby350R]

What @bryyce62 said. Looks to me that you are changing registration to CA. If that is the case, first smog test the car, then go to a DMV office that has an inspection station (the smog people already reported the results directly to the DMV). Just drive to the inspection area and wait for a DMV employee to verify your car complies with CA emissions. Take the paperwork and go inside to get your new CA title. I believe Car club means AAA but I don’t think they do that anymore. Also, not sure if you need an appointment beforehand. This is basically the same process if a CA resident buys a newer car from out of state

You are correct, I need to register my car in CA, which requires a "vehicle inspection", which is additional to the smog test. On the vehicle inspection form, there is a section for the inspector to verify engine VIN, vin tag rivet type, smog decals, etc. Do they actually do this? I'm not concerned about passing because my car is unaltered, but I am concerned with some random person crawling under and in my car or under the hood to check VINs and stickers.

Is the form considered more of a formality that they just look at the VIN through the windshield and sign, or do they really investigate VIN rivets and engine VINs? This is what I'm really trying to determine so I know what I'm walking into.

To the other point - If the Smog Test is just an OBDII Scan, that's usually no big deal and can be conducted pretty quickly.

Thanks for the info!

 

[OutWest]

You are correct, I need to register my car in CA, which requires a "vehicle inspection", which is additional to the smog test. On the vehicle inspection form, there is a section for the inspector to verify engine VIN, vin tag rivet type, smog decals, etc. Do they actually do this? I'm not concerned about passing because my car is unaltered, but I am concerned with some random person crawling under and in my car or under the hood to check VINs and stickers.

Is the form considered more of a formality that they just look at the VIN through the windshield and sign, or do they really investigate VIN rivets and engine VINs? This is what I'm really trying to determine so I know what I'm walking into.

To the other point - If the Smog Test is just an OBDII Scan, that's usually no big deal and can be conducted pretty quickly.

Thanks for the info!

Yes, they need to check the tag that says your car is manufactured in compliance with CA regulations. Usually a tag on the back of the engine hood. This regulation is kind of outdated because I don’t see a manufacturer producing two types of cars anymore; one fed compliant and one CA compliant. Generally, for cost purposes, they are all CA compliant.

As an aside, it is not only registration but a change of title. Your out of state title is destroyed and you are issued a new CA title.

 

[Jackson1320]

The dmv is going to do the inspection. The smog test is done by plugging in to the obd2 port then bringing the rpm’s up to match what the computer tells the tech to match. Then they will look under your hood for a few seconds and then you are finished. Whole thing should take 5-10min

 

[Robert3487]

As someone that works in SF I feel obligated to tell you never to park your car on the street, always in a garage if you value your windows lol. I forgot to tell my friend that when he visited and when he came back to his charger he was missing a passenger window and his subwoofers/amps.

 

[LR170Shelby350R]

As someone that works in SF I feel obligated to tell you never to park your car on the street, always in a garage if you value your windows lol. I forgot to tell my friend that when he visited and when he came back to his charger he was missing a passenger window and his subwoofers/amps.

Thanks for the heads-up! I've heard that car break-ins occur pretty frequently in the city.

 

[wingnutt]

all true…the only thing i see not mentioned is;

a) put the stock tune back on if you don’t have it, as that’s now an automatic fail.

b) check your underhood emissions sticker first, just in case.

and

c) stay safe in SF, it ain’t what it used to be!

 

[LR170Shelby350R]

all true…the only thing i see not mentioned is;

a) put the stock tune back on if you don’t have it, as that’s now an automatic fail.

b) check your underhood emissions sticker first, just in case.

and

c) stay safe in SF, it ain’t what it used to be!

All great points and will do! Thanks wingnutt.

 

[K4fxd]

So, what happens if you don't have the cali emissions sticker?

 

[wingnutt]

So, what happens if you don't have the cali emissions sticker?

dont even bother showing up at DMV. I went thru this about 4 years ago with my Canada-built 2015 Focus ST

 

[LR170Shelby350R]

dont even bother showing up at DMV. I went thru this about 4 years ago with my Canada-built 2015 Focus ST

So at that point how do to prove your vehicle is CA compliant? Or did you have to pay for additional emissions equipment to be added to get it into compliance?

 

[wingnutt]

So at that point how do to prove your vehicle is CA compliant? Or did you have to pay for additional emissions equipment to be added to get it into compliance?

you can’t, and the car never will be no matter what you add…I just kept my out of state plates until I sold it.

 

[LR170Shelby350R]

you can’t, and the car never will be no matter what you add…I just kept my out of state plates until I sold it.

That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. California Fail.

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