Do Hybrids Need a Smog Check in California?
Yes. Hybrid vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, have a gasoline engine, so California treats them like gasoline vehicles for smog check purposes. They are exempt during their first eight model years, then need a smog check every two years at registration renewal and when sold. Only fully electric vehicles with no engine are exempt.
Hybrid vs electric vs gasoline
| Vehicle | Smog check |
|---|---|
| Hybrid (for example Prius, RAV4 Hybrid) | Yes, after the first 8 model years |
| Plug-in hybrid | Yes, after the first 8 model years |
| Battery electric | Never |
| Gasoline | Yes, after the first 8 model years |
Tips for hybrid owners
- Drive the car with the engine running for a while before the test, for example a highway trip, so the engine and catalytic converter are warm.
- If you replaced the 12-volt battery recently, drive for several days before testing so the monitors complete.
- Your DMV renewal notice says whether a smog certification is required this year.
Find a smog station
- Smog check in San Jose — 2 listings
- Smog check in Anaheim — 1 listing
- Smog check in Los Angeles — 1 listing
- Smog check in Sacramento — 1 listing
- Smog check in San Diego — 1 listing
- Smog check in San Francisco — 1 listing
- Smog check in Santa Clara — 1 listing
- Smog check in Sunnyvale — 1 listing
Frequently asked questions
How is a hybrid tested?
Like other modern gasoline cars: a visual inspection, functional checks and an on-board diagnostics (OBD II) scan. There is no tailpipe test for these model years.
Why does my hybrid show readiness monitors not ready?
Hybrids run the engine less, so some self-tests take longer to complete. Drive with a mix of highway and town driving for several days, and avoid testing right after a 12-volt battery replacement.
Do plug-in hybrids need a smog check?
Yes. A plug-in hybrid still has a gasoline engine and follows the same rules as other hybrids.
How much does a smog check cost in California?
Each station sets its own test price. Listed prices on AppointAuto are $49.75 for a regular smog check and $59.75 for a STAR smog check. California also charges an $8.25 state certificate fee for every vehicle that passes; ask the station whether its price already includes it.
Related guides
- Which Cars Are Exempt From the California Smog Check? (2026) — The 8-model-year rule, electric vehicles, motorcycles, pre-1976 cars, diesels and the smog abatement fee: who needs a smog check in California and who does not.
- Check Engine Light and Readiness Monitors: Why Your Car Is "Not Ready" for Smog — Why a car shows "not ready" for smog after a battery change or repair, how a drive cycle completes the monitors, and how many can be incomplete.
- How to Pass a California Smog Check: 10 Checks Before You Go — A practical pre-test checklist: check engine light, readiness monitors, gas cap, oil change, warm engine and the mistakes that make good cars fail.