Peña's Auto Electric, Smog & Repair at 303 Taft Hwy, Suite B, Bakersfield, CA 93307 does smog checks Monday to Friday 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM. Walk-ins are welcome for standard 15 to 30 minute tests. Call (661) 599-9098.
What a California smog check actually tests
A smog check is a state inspection that confirms your vehicle's emissions equipment is present, working and not producing too much pollution. For newer cars the inspector connects to the onboard computer and reads the status of the emissions monitors. The inspector also checks that the check engine light behaves correctly and looks for required emissions parts under the hood. Older vehicles may also get a tailpipe measurement.
Results go to the DMV electronically, so you do not carry a paper certificate to the DMV yourself. We tell you the result on the spot.
Who needs one, and when
Most gasoline vehicles from model year 1976 and newer need a smog check every two years when registration renews, and diesel vehicles from 1998 and newer do too. Gasoline cars eight model years old or newer are exempt from the two-year test and pay a smog abatement fee instead. Electric vehicles are exempt. Your DMV renewal notice states whether a smog check is due and whether you must use a particular type of station, so read it before you drive over.
If you are selling a car, California also requires a smog certificate at change of ownership in most cases. Our guide to selling a car in California explains the exceptions.
Walk-ins, Saturdays and what to bring
Standard smog checks are walk-in friendly. Bring the vehicle and your DMV renewal notice if you have one. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and closed Sunday, so a Saturday morning visit works if weekdays are crowded.
We accept credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments. The entrance and parking lot are wheelchair accessible. Call (661) 599-9098 if you want to confirm a vehicle before you come.
How to avoid a failed test
Most avoidable failures come from a lit check engine light, a loose or wrong gas cap, or monitors that have not finished after a battery change or a code reset. If the light is on, get it diagnosed first rather than paying for a test that will fail. If you just replaced the battery, the computer may need several days of mixed driving before it is ready. Warm the engine with a ten minute drive before the test and keep the oil change current.
Our guide on how to pass a smog check the first time covers a fuller checklist.
If your car fails
A failed smog check is information, not the end. The report lists what failed. Because this is also an auto electric and repair shop, we can diagnose the cause, fix it and retest in the same visit instead of sending you across town. Eligible owners may qualify for help through the state Consumer Assistance Program, which we explain on our smog repair page.
A car with a check engine light on will fail. Start with the diagnostics page if the light is lit.
Find us in south Bakersfield
We are on Taft Highway at S Union Ave in the 93307 ZIP code, convenient for Greenfield, Lamont, Arvin, Weedpatch and Pumpkin Center drivers as well as 93313 and 93304. If your notice says you must go to a Test-Only or STAR station, call us first so we can tell you whether we can test your vehicle. We would rather answer that on the phone than waste your trip.