$69.66average California smog check price, September 2026, as stations report it to the state
California Smog Check Stations, Rules and Real Numbers
Find a licensed station near you, check what your car needs, and see what the state's own data says about prices and fail rates.
5,926 licensed stations listed, 2,922 STAR certified.
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Check Engine Light and Smog Check in CaliforniaA check engine light fails a California smog check. See how the light is tested, what clears it right, and warranty and CAP options. Fix it the right way.Do I Need a Smog Check in California? The Complete RulesDoes your car need a California smog check? Rules by fuel, model year, sale and registration, with every exempt vehicle listed. Check your car now.Failed Smog Check in California, Step by StepFailed your California smog check? Follow the steps, check warranty, and see CAP help up to $1,450, retirement and the $650 waiver. Start with your report.How Much Does a Smog Check Cost in CaliforniaThe average California smog check costs $69.66 as of September 2026, plus an $8.25 certificate fee on a pass. See prices by station type and year.California Smog Check by the Numbers, Stations, Inspectors and TestsEvery key smog check number for California from 2019 to 2026. 11.28 million tests in 2025, 7,329 stations and an 8.5% fail rate. Use and cite it.STAR Smog Check Stations and What Directed to STAR MeansWhat a STAR smog check station is, why DMV directed your car, how STAR scores work and what the 2025 BAR data shows about price and fail rates.
Illegal smog check stations are real
Some stations sell a passing smog certificate for a car that never passed. They test a clean car in its place, or fake the readings. The state revokes hundreds of these licenses, and the dirty cars stay on the road. Here is how to spot one and the cases caught lately.
Biggest cities
- Los Angeles 247
- San Diego 185
- San Jose 172
- Sacramento 129
- Fresno 100
- Riverside 81
- Bakersfield 79
- Modesto 56
- Oakland 55
- San Francisco 55
- Escondido 54
- San Bernardino 53
- Santa Ana 52
- Stockton 49
- Santa Rosa 47
- El Cajon 46
- Long Beach 43
- Chula Vista 41
- Fremont 41
- Santa Maria 41
- Fontana 39
- Ontario 39
- Anaheim 36
- Salinas 36
Statewide