are these even more of a scam now than they have historically been?

seems like before, they used to do actual exhaust gas measurements.

now, it seems it's just a visual check for things like hoses and sensors and valves (egr) to confirm presence and condition.

what percentage of cars made after 2006 (say, 20 years old) actually fail a smog check?

seems like we should get rid of these things....

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
seems like we should get rid of these things....

Most have.

Only 7 states require them statewide.

18 states have them in certain more heavily populated areas only.

25 states don't have them at all.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

what percentage of cars made after 2006 (say, 20 years old) actually fail a smog check?

seems like we should get rid of these things....

Had to look that up, around 9% in California over the years.

Lots of information here if you want to get specific.

https://www.bar.ca.gov/smog-ch...-summary-report/2025

The old style tail pipe emission testing sites are fewer and fewer in CA because they require expensive testing equipment. Now it's just plug into the OBDII and monitor engine and emission systems.

I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey, 2001 Porsche 911, and 2014 Nissan Rogue and they've always passed CA smog using the OBDII system testing.

My only smog failures have been catalytic issues where it failed, I replaced it with a CARB approved catalytic converter, only to have that very same cat determined to be illegal. Cost me $600 to replace a cat that they tested two times (every two years) only to fail it visually (wrong part number). Ugh.

In Wisconsin there is no visual inspection. They plug into the OBDII port, and as long as there are no emissions codes or CEL, it will pass. We're one of those states that only require it in a few metro area counties, so a complete waste of time and money.

I really don’t think it’s about the pollution. It seems to just be another money grab for the state.

Life in the gilded cage...

They're a scam, along with the HOV lanes.

I bought the 2004 GTO new and on its first smog check, the results were printed together with how the vehicles compared to Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) and Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV). In order for a vehicle, at the time, to qualify for an HOV sticker based on emissions (you know, like a hybrid might qualify for), the engine had to burn as LEV and/or ULEV.

My LS1 GTO burned that clean in all categories.

After going back and forth with the DMV trying to get said sticker for my GTO, (to include the smog station getting a surprise visit from the state), I was directed to a state referee for another test.

The car burned cleaner still even after the ref called K&N to verify the air intake was CARB legal. This was about 20 months after the initial smog check and 4 months until the next one was due.

I had a letter from the DMV stating that with the next registration / smog check, an HOV sticker would be issued if the smog readings were still in the LEV/ULEV range.

Lo and behold, those California smog equipment and readouts no longer give the result number or LEV/ULEV comparison(s), only PASS / FAIL.

Guess California didn't think the optics would be very good if a GTO with a 350 v8 in it was burning as clean as a Prius.

No more smog tests for me here in California.

I’m sure they will come out with something else for my EV.

This is California…

They do charge me an extra $120 road use fee at registration time.

^^^^^^
Grok query:
Does California charge EVs an extra $120 road use fee at registration time?

Grok response:
Yes. California charges a Road Improvement Fee (RIF) on qualifying zero-emission vehicles (primarily battery-electric and fuel-cell vehicles, model year 2020 and later). It is intended to help replace lost gasoline tax revenue that funds roads.

Ass holes tell us to stop using gasoline, then tax us for not using gasoline.

Equivalent to about the gas tax for a hybrid car driven 10000 miles per year?