The California Smog Inspection
A California Smog Check is a mandatory emissions inspection required by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to ensure vehicles do not exceed legal pollution limits. As an official station in Compton, we perform the technical inspections necessary to validate your vehicle's engine management and emissions control systems.
```Vehicles Required to Test
- Biennial Renewals: Most vehicles in California are required to test every two years.
- Change of Ownership: Vehicles older than 4 model years require a smog certificate upon sale.
- Out-of-State: All vehicles being registered in California for the first time.
- STAR Requirements: If your DMV notice specifies a "STAR Station," our facility is fully authorized to perform your test.
The Inspection Process
During the official test, our licensed technicians perform three critical checks:
- Visual Inspection: Verifying all emissions components (Catalytic converter, EGR, PCV) are present and untampered.
- Functional Test: Checking the OBD-II system for fault codes and verifying the Check Engine Light functions correctly.
- Emissions Test: Measuring the actual pollutants exiting the tailpipe (for older vehicles) or verifying digital monitors (for newer vehicles).