If your car passed its smog check, the test station sends the certificate to the DMV electronically. You do not mail anything or carry anything to the DMV. The Bureau of Automotive Repair describes that update as immediate, so in most cases your result is on file by the time you drive away.
Still, it is normal to want proof, especially when your registration is about to expire. Here is how the certificate gets to the DMV, three ways to confirm it arrived, and what to do if it does not seem to have.
How Your Smog Result Gets to the DMV
When a vehicle passes, the station issues an electronic smog certificate. BAR’s smog check program sends it to the state’s vehicle database, which updates the DMV’s records. The certificate is valid for 90 days from the test date.
You also get a printed vehicle inspection report. It shows your results and the electronic certificate number, so it is the one piece of paper worth keeping. BAR says to keep a copy of the report for your records.
How Long Does It Take for a Smog Check to Reach the DMV?
BAR’s Smog Check Reference Guide describes the update to certificate and test information as immediate, so for most drivers the DMV has your result within the same visit. If your renewal does not reflect it right away, give it a little time, then check using the steps below before you worry. If it still is not showing after a business day or so, call the station that did the test.
Three Ways to Check
1. Start Your Renewal Online
This is the easiest check. The DMV’s online registration renewal requires that it has electronic smog certification information for your vehicle on file. If your renewal moves forward without stopping on a smog requirement, the DMV has your certificate. If it still says a smog check is required, either the result has not posted or the test was not a pass.
The DMV also notes that paying your fees does not finish a renewal that needs a smog certification. The renewal stays open until the certificate is on file. After you renew, the DMV’s processing times page shows how long your new registration card and sticker should take.
2. Look Up the Vehicle’s Test History
The Bureau of Automotive Repair lets you check a vehicle’s inspection history online. A passing test dated within the last 90 days confirms that the station recorded your result. Our step-by-step guide to checking your vehicle’s smog check history walks through the lookup using a VIN or license plate.
3. Check Your Inspection Report
Look at the vehicle inspection report the station handed you. If it shows a pass and an electronic certificate number, the station issued the certificate. That is also the number to have ready if the DMV or anyone else ever asks for it.
Where to Find Your Smog Certificate Number
The certificate number is printed on the vehicle inspection report from your test, and it is listed as the electronic certificate number. If you cannot find the paper copy, the station that tested your car keeps copies of inspection reports, so a call to them is the quickest fix. The BAR history lookup is also worth a try, although it shows limited history.
What to Do if the DMV Still Does Not Show Your Certificate
Work through these in order:
- Confirm the test was a pass. A fail does not produce a certificate. If you failed, see the consequences of not passing a smog check for the next steps.
- Check the test history. If a passing test shows up there, the result exists in the system. If no test appears, the station may not have completed it.
- Check the details on your report. Make sure the VIN and plate printed on the report match your vehicle.
- Call the station. Ask them to confirm the test was submitted and to look up the certificate number.
- Contact the DMV. If the history lookup and the station both confirm a pass, the DMV can look into why your record is not updating.
Do not wait until the last day. You have 90 days from the test date, and rushing a missing certificate at the end of your registration period is the most stressful way to find a problem. How long a smog check is good for explains the window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to send my smog certificate to the DMV?
No. Passing results are sent electronically. Keep your inspection report for your own records.
Can I renew my registration before the smog result posts?
You can start the process, but the renewal will not be finished until the DMV has the smog certification on file.
What is a smog certificate number?
It is the electronic number tied to your passing test. It appears on your vehicle inspection report.
How long is a smog certificate valid?
For 90 days from the test date.
I am selling my car. Does the buyer need the certificate?
In many sales, yes. See can you sell a car without a smog check in California for the rules.
What if my car is not due for a smog check?
Then none of this applies. The DMV renewal notice tells you whether a test is required, and how often you need a smog check explains the two-year cycle.
Need a Smog Check in Monterey Park?
If your renewal is waiting on a test, we can help. Our STAR-certified station tests both regular and STAR-required vehicles, and the result goes to the DMV electronically when you pass. What happens during a smog check shows what the visit involves, and how long a smog check takes tells you how much time to set aside.
AB Smog Check 501 E Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91755 Phone: 626-280-2678
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Sunday, closed
No appointment necessary. Pass or have a free re-test.
