ATTN: All ye smog-knowin' people

[Xrated O.G.]

You need to have the test performed. If for whatever reason it does not need to be tested the testing computer will kick it out and reject the test. NO TEST NO PAY.... Better to be safe than sorry IMO.

[Kaiser]

You need to have the test performed. If for whatever reason it does not need to be tested the testing computer will kick it out and reject the test. NO TEST NO PAY.... Better to be safe than sorry IMO.

Quoted for Emphasis. This man speaks truth.

If you DO have questions about it, you CAN call your local county tag office and ask them what all you need to bring with you to renew your tags for your car. Tell them what car it is etc and they will happily answer what all you have to have. The website is pretty much rubbish, and just confuses people. You also can certainly find some places that charge as little as $17.99 for the test. $25 is the MAXIMUM the state allows anyone to charge, though the state also charges emissions stations for the certificates so it is not "pure profit" and there's a price to the station setting the minimum as well. Also, your emissions tests are good for 12 months, and you can have your car tested any time up to 12 months before your required date of renewal (First listed registered owner's birthday) I have seen people who have issues with their cars passing come the week they need to renew and finally pass, then come again the day after their renewal date and pass again and have a perfectly valid test for the next year. It's possibly shady but the state certainly allows it.


PS: Thanks for your service. You guys certainly don't get thanked enough by everyone else.


Edit: And not to contradict Pat, but I have seen a car from a model year that is in it's first year of required testing that came back and said no test was required. Happens every now and then when a car (2004 for example) was built as an 04 but was actually built during the 05 model year.