Smog Check When Selling a Car in California: Who Pays and When
When you sell a car in California, the seller is responsible for providing a valid smog certificate, issued within the last 90 days. Cars four model years old or newer are the exception: no certificate is needed, and the buyer pays a smog transfer fee to the DMV. Transfers between certain family members are also exempt.
Who needs what
| Situation | Smog certificate needed? |
|---|---|
| Private sale, car older than four model years | Yes, from the seller, issued within 90 days |
| Car four model years old or newer | No; the buyer pays a smog transfer fee |
| Transfer to a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild or sibling | Generally no |
| Electric vehicle, motorcycle, gasoline 1975 or older | No |
| Car sold by a dealer | The dealer handles it |
Tips for sellers
- Get the smog check shortly before you list the car, so the 90-day window covers the sale.
- A passing certificate is also a selling point: it tells buyers there is no hidden check engine problem.
- File the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability with the DMV within 5 days of the sale.
Tips for buyers
- Ask for the smog certificate before you pay. You can check a vehicle's smog history by VIN on bar.ca.gov.
- Be wary of a seller who has just cleared codes: readiness monitors that are "not ready" can hide a problem (why).
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
Can I sell my car "as is" without a smog check in California?
No. Writing "as is" on the bill of sale does not remove the seller's duty to provide a valid smog certificate when one is required.
Which family transfers do not need a smog check?
Transfers between spouses or domestic partners, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and siblings are generally exempt. Check with the DMV for your situation.
Does the buyer or seller pay for the smog check?
The seller is legally responsible for providing the certificate, so the seller normally pays. Buyer and seller can agree otherwise, but the certificate still has to exist at transfer.
How long is a smog certificate valid?
A passing smog certificate is valid for 90 days, so get the test within 90 days of your registration renewal or sale.
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.
- How Much Does a California Smog Check Cost? (2026) — Smog check prices are set by each station, plus a fixed $8.25 state certificate fee. What changes the price, who is exempt and what happens if you fail.
- Moving to California: Smog Check and Registering an Out-of-State Car — New residents need a California smog check and VIN verification to register a car from another state. Deadlines, emissions labels and what to bring to the DMV.