California · CA · Vehicles
California: Is there an annual vehicle safety inspection?
No safety inspection
California has no safety inspection for private cars, but most cars need a smog check.
Smog inspections apply when registering, at renewal in 34 counties, and when selling a car. Gas cars less than eight model years old are exempt, as are electric cars and older vehicles. No DMV page we opened requires a check of brakes, lights or other equipment for ordinary cars, so this answer is inferred.
What the law says
Smog inspections are required when you register or renew registration for a vehicle in California, but there are some exceptions
Sources
- California DMV: Smog inspections Official · dmv.ca.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- California Department of Motor Vehicles
- Website
- dmv.ca.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arizona No safety inspectionArizona has no regular safety inspection for private cars; it requires emissions tests only in certain metro areas.
- Nevada No safety inspectionNevada does not require safety inspections of private cars, though cars in the Las Vegas and Reno areas need emissions tests.
- Oregon No safety inspectionOregon does not require safety inspections of passenger cars; only VIN checks and emissions tests in Portland and Medford.
All 50 states for this question · Other topics in California