Whatever the reason for your smog inspection — registration renewal, vehicle sale, or moving to California — we handle it all at our South Broadway location.
California requires different types of smog checks depending on your situation. Here's what we offer and when you need each one.
This is the most common smog inspection we perform at our Santa Maria location. The state of California requires most vehicles to pass a smog check every two years as part of the registration renewal process. You'll receive a notice from the DMV when it's your turn.
If your vehicle is model year 1976 or newer and isn't otherwise exempt, you'll need this test. Gasoline vehicles, hybrids, and certain alternative-fuel vehicles all fall under this requirement. It's routine, it's fast, and we file the results electronically with the DMV the same day.
Every two years, timed with your vehicle registration renewal. The DMV includes a notice with your renewal paperwork indicating whether a smog check is required this cycle.
Selling your car in California? State law requires the seller to provide the buyer with a valid smog certificate at the time of sale. The certificate is good for 90 days from the test date, so you can get it done ahead of time to make the transaction smoother.
This applies to private party sales. If you're buying from a licensed dealer, they're responsible for providing the smog certificate as part of the sale. Either way, we can handle the inspection quickly at our South Broadway shop.
If you're listing your vehicle on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or anywhere else, get the smog check done before the first buyer shows up. A current certificate signals that you've maintained the car and it speeds up the sale considerably. Buyers in the Santa Maria area appreciate not having to deal with it themselves.
Moved to the Santa Maria area from another state? Welcome to the Central Coast. And yes — you'll need a California smog check before the DMV will register your vehicle here, regardless of how new it is or whether it passed emissions testing in your previous state.
California has some of the strictest emissions standards in the country. Vehicles that are fully compliant in Texas, Arizona, or Oregon may not meet California's thresholds. If your vehicle doesn't pass on the first try, don't worry — as a full-service Multicare facility, we can diagnose the issue and handle the repair right here.
You have 20 days from establishing California residency to register your vehicle. Don't wait until day 19 — come by early so there's time to address any issues if your vehicle needs adjustments to meet California standards.
Registering a vehicle in California for the first time — whether you've purchased it from a private party, received it as a gift, or inherited it — requires a smog inspection. This applies even if the vehicle was previously registered in another state and passed their testing.
Diesel vehicles have specific emissions testing requirements that differ from gasoline-powered cars. Our Santa Maria technicians are trained and equipped for diesel inspections, including the opacity testing methods required by the state for measuring particulate emissions.
If your vehicle was flagged as a gross polluter during a previous inspection, you'll need to complete the required repairs and then get re-inspected before the DMV will process your registration. We can perform both the diagnostic work and the certification re-test.
Unlike test-only stations, we're a full-service Jiffy Lube Multicare location. If your vehicle needs work — whether it's related to a smog failure or just regular maintenance — we handle it all under one roof.
Check engine light on? That's an automatic smog failure. Bring it in and we'll read the codes, diagnose the root cause, and explain your options clearly before any work begins. In many cases, the same issue causing the light is what would cause a smog failure.
Catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, EGR valve, EVAP system — if your vehicle failed its smog check, we can diagnose and repair the specific component that's out of spec. Then we re-test to confirm the fix before you leave.
The best way to pass your smog check is to keep your vehicle well-maintained year-round. Oil changes, spark plugs, air filters, fluid exchanges — regular service keeps your engine running clean and reduces the chance of surprises at smog time.
The Santa Maria Valley sits in a unique geographic position — bordered by coastal hills to the west and the San Rafael Mountains to the east. That bowl-like topography means air quality is particularly sensitive to local vehicle emissions.
With thousands of acres of strawberries, broccoli, wine grapes, and other crops surrounding the city, the quality of the air we all breathe has a direct impact on the agricultural economy that feeds this community. Every vehicle that passes its smog check is a small but real contribution to keeping the valley healthy.
We're not just checking a box for the DMV. We're doing our part to protect the place we all call home.