Smog Check & DMV Registration FAQs in Citrus Heights

Most smog checks on 2000 and newer vehicles take about 10 to 15 minutes. Older vehicles take longer, and those from 1976 to 1995 need additional functional tests. There is a waiting area at the shop, so for most drivers it is a single short stop rather than a trip you plan your day around.

No appointment is needed. Dave's Smog and Registration takes walk-ins and is open every day from 8 AM to 7 PM. Drive in whenever it suits you, or call (916) 720-4474 first if you want to check how busy the bay is.

Bring the vehicle and your registration renewal notice or current registration. That is all most smog checks need. If your situation is unusual, such as an out-of-state vehicle, a change of ownership, or a DMV letter directing you to a STAR station, call (916) 720-4474 first and we will tell you exactly what to bring so you do not make the trip twice.

We show you what failed and explain it in plain terms. You get the vehicle repaired, then bring it back for a retest, which is $10 off the price of the original test. A failed test is not a wasted trip: you leave knowing precisely what needs fixing.

Yes. We offer a free pretest on request. It is worth doing if you have any doubt about whether the vehicle will pass, because it tells you where you stand before the certificate fee and the official test are on the table.

A California smog certificate is valid for 90 days from the date of the test. Your results are transmitted to the DMV electronically, so in most cases there is no paper certificate for you to deliver anywhere.

STAR certified stations are held to a higher performance standard by the state's Bureau of Automotive Repair. If the DMV sends you a notice directing your vehicle to a STAR station, you need one. Dave's Smog and Registration is STAR certified, so if your DMV notice directs your vehicle to a STAR station, we can help.

At Dave's Smog and Registration, a smog check starts at $46.75 for 2000 and newer vehicles, starts at $91.75 for 1996 to 1999, and is $209.99 for 1976 to 1995, plus the $8.25 state certificate fee. The rate depends on your vehicle's model year because older emissions systems take longer to test.

Older vehicles need more work. A 2000 or newer vehicle reports its emissions data electronically and tests in minutes. A 1996 to 1999 vehicle takes a longer evaluation, and 1976 to 1995 vehicles need additional functional tests of the emissions system. The price reflects the time and equipment each one takes.

The certificate fee is set by the state of California, not by the shop, and it is charged on top of the test price at every smog station. It covers issuing your smog certificate and filing the result with the DMV.

No. Retests are $10 off the price of the original test. If your vehicle failed, was repaired, and is coming back to us, you pay the discounted rate.

A registration renewal is $50, a title transfer is $109.99, and a VIN verification is $54.99. Those are our service fees and do not include the DMV's own fees, which vary by vehicle. Call the shop with your details and we can tell you what to expect.

Cash, credit, and debit accepted at Dave's Smog and Registration.

Most vehicles in California need a smog check every two years, at registration renewal. Your renewal notice from the DMV will say whether a smog certificate is required for that cycle, so it is worth reading before you drive over.

Gasoline vehicles from model year 1975 and older, motorcycles, fully electric vehicles, and older diesels are generally exempt from California's smog check program. Rules do change, so if you are unsure about your vehicle, call the shop and we will tell you whether it needs a test before you make the trip.

Gasoline vehicles less than eight model years old are generally exempt from the biennial smog check, though the DMV charges a smog abatement fee instead at renewal. Once your vehicle passes that age, it joins the regular two-year testing cycle.

Usually, yes. A change of ownership generally requires a valid smog certificate, with an exemption for vehicles less than four model years old. The seller is normally responsible for providing it. We handle both the smog check and the paperwork, so a private-party sale can be one stop.

Newer diesel vehicles up to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating do require smog checks in California; older and heavier diesels are handled differently. Call with your vehicle's year and weight rating and we will confirm whether we can test it before you drive over.

Hybrids have a gasoline engine, so they follow the same smog check schedule as other gasoline vehicles once they reach testing age. Fully electric vehicles have no tailpipe emissions and are exempt from the smog check program.

Yes. We handle DMV registration renewals and tags for $50 plus the DMV's own fees. For most drivers it is faster than waiting for a DMV appointment, and it happens in the same visit as your smog check.

Yes, and that is the point of the shop. We are a STAR certified smog station that also handles DMV registration paperwork, so the errand that usually means two trips takes one visit to Greenback Lane.

Yes. A title transfer for a vehicle changing hands is $109.99 plus DMV fees. Call ahead with the details of the sale and we will tell you which documents and signatures to bring so the transfer goes through the first time.

A VIN verification confirms that a vehicle's identification number matches its paperwork. The DMV commonly requires one for vehicles coming in from out of state or where the records need confirming. We perform them for $54.99.

Yes. Smog check results in California are transmitted to the DMV electronically as soon as the test is complete, so there is usually nothing for you to file. If your renewal was waiting on the smog certificate, that requirement clears on the DMV's side.

No. Registration services are walk-in like everything else, every day from 8 AM to 7 PM. Calling (916) 720-4474 first is still worth it for title transfers and VIN verifications, so we can tell you what paperwork to bring.

Dave's Smog and Registration is open every day from 8 AM to 7 PM, including weekends. Walk in any time during those hours.

We are at 6234 Greenback Ln #B, Citrus Heights, CA 95621. Around the back of the plaza. Look for the SMOG rock sign. If you have driven past the plaza on Greenback Lane, you have probably seen the red arrow and the word SMOG painted on the rock wall out front, pointing to the back of the lot.

Yes. We are open every day from 8 AM to 7 PM, so a smog check or registration renewal does not have to come out of a workday.

Yes. There is a comfortable waiting area at the shop. Most smog checks on newer vehicles are done in 10 to 15 minutes, so for the majority of drivers it is a short wait rather than a drop-off.

We serve Citrus Heights, Sacramento, and the surrounding northeast Sacramento communities. The shop sits on Greenback Lane, which is a straightforward drive from most of the area, and drivers regularly come to us rather than wait for a DMV appointment closer to home.

Our family has more than 20 years in the smog business. Dave's Smog and Registration is a family-run shop on Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights, serving local drivers with smog checks and DMV registration services.

Yes. Dave's Smog and Registration is a STAR certified smog check station in Citrus Heights, which means we meet the state's higher performance standard. If your DMV renewal notice says your vehicle needs a STAR station, we can help.

Because it saves you a trip. A smog check and a registration renewal are normally two errands at two places on two days. Handling both in one visit is the reason most of our customers come to Greenback Lane instead of splitting the job up.

Call (916) 720-4474 with your vehicle's model year. We will quote you the rate, tell you what to bring, and confirm whether your vehicle needs a test at all, all before you drive over.