Quick answer. Most smog checks in Riverside County cost about $40 to $90, plus an $8.25 state certificate fee if you pass. The state does not set the price, so stations post their own. California's own report put the 2025 statewide average at $67.20.
Key Points
- The inspection price is set by each station. The $8.25 certificate fee is set by the state.
- Test only stations are usually a few dollars cheaper than stations that also do repairs.
- Most cars need a smog check every two years at renewal, and when the car is sold.
- Gas cars from 1975 and older, electric cars, motorcycles and the newest eight model years skip the every other year test.
- If your check engine light is on, fix that first. A lit light fails the test every time.
What a Smog Check Costs
The Bureau of Automotive Repair does not cap what a station can charge for the test. That is why one station can charge $40 with a coupon while another across town charges $90. What the state does control is the certificate fee. When your car passes, the station sends the result to the DMV and charges you $8.25 for that certificate.
Here is what the state's own 2025 report found people paid on average, by type of station.
| Station Type | Average Price in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Test only | $58.21 |
| STAR test only | $60.85 |
| STAR test and repair | $69.22 |
| Test and repair | $72.64 |
| All stations | $67.20 |
Those prices are for the test. Add the $8.25 certificate if you pass. Older cars, big trucks and some diesels can cost more because the test takes longer.
Test Only, Test and Repair, and STAR
California has three kinds of smog stations, and the sign out front tells you which one you are at.
- Test only. They test the car and that is all. They cannot fix it, so they have no reason to find a problem.
- Test and repair. They can test the car and fix it if it fails. Handy if you want one stop.
- STAR. A station that meets higher state standards. Some renewal notices say your car must go to a STAR station. If yours does, any other station will not count.
Read your DMV renewal notice before you pick a station. It tells you if a smog check is due and if it has to be at a STAR station.
Does All of Riverside County Need a Smog Check?
Most of it does. The DMV lists Riverside County as a partial county, which means the every other year test depends on your ZIP code. Riverside, Moreno Valley, Hemet, San Jacinto, Palm Springs, Indio and most of the populated county are on the list. Some far eastern desert ZIP codes around Blythe are likely not, and those cars may only need a test when they are sold. Your renewal notice is the final word.
Which Cars Are Exempt
These vehicles skip the every other year smog check in California.
- Gas and hybrid cars from model year 1975 or older.
- Diesels from model year 1997 or older, or over 14,000 pounds.
- Fully electric cars.
- Motorcycles.
- Natural gas vehicles over 14,000 pounds.
- Gas cars in their newest eight model years. Instead of a test, you pay a smog abatement fee with your registration.
Hybrids are not exempt. They follow the same rules as gas cars.
When You Sell or Buy a Car
The seller has to give the buyer a passing smog certificate when a car changes owners. There is one big exception. A gas car that is four model years old or newer does not need a test at sale. The new owner pays a small transfer fee instead. That exception does not apply to diesels.
A car passed between family members, like a parent to a child, usually does not need a new smog check either.
Supercanic tip. Our side of smog is the repair. If your check engine light is on before your test, call us at (951) 644-1599 first. Paying for a test you already know you will fail is money gone.
How to Pass the First Time
- Get the light fixed first. A lit check engine light fails the test on its own. Our check engine light guide explains the common causes.
- Drive it before the test. Twenty minutes of normal driving, with some freeway, gets the engine and the converter hot.
- Do not test right after a battery change. The car's self tests reset. Give it a week of normal driving.
- Check your gas cap. A loose or worn cap can set an evaporative leak code.
If your car already failed, our guide on what to do after a failed smog check walks through the report line by line. California also has a program that can help pay for emissions repairs. That guide covers it too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a smog check in Riverside, CA?
Most stations in Riverside charge about $40 to $90 for the test, plus the $8.25 state certificate fee if you pass. Coupons are common, so call ahead and ask for the out the door price.
Does Riverside County require a smog check?
Yes, for most of the county. Cars registered in most Riverside County ZIP codes need a smog check every two years and when they are sold. A few far eastern desert ZIP codes may only need one at sale. Your DMV renewal notice will tell you.
Which cars are exempt from smog in CA?
Gas cars from 1975 and older, diesels from 1997 and older or over 14,000 pounds, electric cars, motorcycles, and natural gas vehicles over 14,000 pounds. Gas cars in their newest eight model years pay a yearly fee instead of testing.
How often do you need a smog check in California?
Every two years when you renew your registration, plus when the car is sold. Your renewal notice says if this is a smog year.
How many times can a car fail smog in California?
There is no state limit on how many times you can test. Each retest costs a new test fee unless the station offers a free retest. Fix the cause before you go back, so you are not paying to fail twice.
How long does a smog check take?
Usually 15 to 30 minutes for a normal car. Older cars and some trucks take longer.
Check Engine Light On Before Your Smog?
We find the cause and fix it, so you pass the first time. Shop in San Jacinto, or we come to you.
