How much is a smog check?
A smog check costs $40 to $90 in California in 2026. What changes your price is below.
SmogCheck.com's 2025 report, built from prices at over 1,200 California stations, found an average of $56.38 for gas cars from 2000 and newer, including the $8.25 state certificate fee. Most tests run $40 to $90. STAR stations, older cars and diesels cost more.
Estimate your smog check cost
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Is this price fair?
A fair price is $40 to $70.
Type a price above to check it.
Middle of the range: $55
What you are paying for
How we calculate this
Prices are for the United States in 2026 from published cost guides, checked September 2026. This is an estimate, not a quote.
How much is a smog check by vehicle?
| Average, 2000 and newer gas car | $56.38 with the $8.25 certificate (SmogCheck.com 2025). |
|---|---|
| Passenger cars, 2000 and newer | $40 to $70. |
| SUVs and light trucks | $50 to $80. |
| STAR station | $60 to $90. |
| Hybrid premium | About $7.63 more on average. |
| Diesel premium | About $16.75 more on average. |
What pushes a quote up
| Station type | STAR stations can charge more. |
|---|---|
| Car age | 1999 and older need a harder test. |
| Fuel | Hybrids and diesels cost more. |
| County | San Francisco costs the most. |
| Coupons | Many shops run deals. |
Smog check cost by region
| Lower cost states | $30 to $70. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and most rural areas. |
|---|---|
| Average cost states | $40 to $90. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and most mid size cities. |
| Higher cost states | $50 to $115. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, plus big metros such as Chicago, Denver and Washington DC. |
These rows are our estimate. We took the typical national range and adjusted it for local labor costs, which run about 20 percent lower in the cheapest states and about 30 percent higher in the dearest ones. Bay Area and Orange County stations charge the most.
The fees that change the price
California adds an $8.25 smog certificate fee, but only if your car passes. It is the same at every station. Some stations also add $1 to $3 to send results to the DMV.
If your DMV notice says STAR station required, you must go to a STAR station. For cars from 1999 and older, the state's averages by station type ran about $57 to $75 before the certificate fee.
If you fail
Ask about the retest policy before the test. Some stations retest free within 30 days; others charge $20 to $40.
Why this costs more in 2026
Shop rent and labor keep rising in California, and fewer stations keep the older test equipment.
Two costs moved in 2026. Diesel passed $6 a gallon on September 11 (CBS 8 reporting AAA), and building inputs rose 4.8 percent in a year (Roofing Contractor). Ask if your price can change before work starts.
How to judge the quote in your hand
- Ask if the price includes the $8.25 certificate.
- Ask about any DMV transmission fee.
- Ask if they are a STAR station if your notice needs one.
- Ask the retest price.
- Ask if the coupon has fine print.
Ways to pay less
- Use a coupon but read the fine print.
- Drive 20 minutes first so the engine is warm.
- Fix a check engine light first.
- Compare test only stations.
- Test early so you have time to fix problems.
Before you decide
A worked example
Say a station advertises a $39.99 smog check. Add the $8.25 certificate and a $2 DMV fee and you pay about $50. If your car fails and the retest is not free, add $20 to $40 more. Ask for the full total up front.
Other states run their own emissions programs with different fees. See our state inspection cost page.
About $40 to $90, plus $8.25 if you pass. $56.38 in 2025, including the certificate fee. 90 days. A station that meets higher state standards. Your DMV notice says if you need one.Common questions
How much is a smog check in California?
What was the average smog check price?
How long is a smog certificate good for?
What is a STAR smog station?
Other car repair costs