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Smog check rules and DMV offices for Irvine
California asks for a smog check at every other registration renewal once a gas or hybrid car is more than eight model years old. Diesels have no age exemption.
Selling a car older than four model years needs a certificate under 90 days old, and a car moving here from another state needs one to register.
Your DMV renewal notice is the final word for an address in Irvine. It says whether this year's renewal needs a check and whether it has to be at a STAR station.
The nearest DMV field offices to central Irvine:
- Santa Ana 1330 E First Street, Santa Ana 92701
- Costa Mesa 650 W 19th Street, Costa Mesa 92627
The Irvine stations listed here cover ZIP codes 92606, 92612, 92618, and 92620.
Smog check questions
- How much is a smog check in Irvine?
- Each station sets its own price, and it varies by vehicle. Here: $28.75 at Auto Check Center with coupon, $29.75 at Us Smog with coupon. Plus the $8.25 state certificate.
- Test-only vs test & repair?
- Test-only just runs the inspection. Test & repair can also fix a fail.
- What do I bring?
- Your DMV renewal notice and a way to pay. Most stations take walk-ins.
- How long does a smog check take?
- 20–30 minutes. Call ahead to skip the wait.
- How long is a California smog certificate good for?
- 90 days from the test. A sale or a registration has to happen inside that window.
- What is the smog abatement fee?
- A yearly DMV fee for cars in their first eight model years, which skip the smog check. It's paid with registration, not at a station.
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