A California Smog Check has two parts: what the station charges for the inspection, plus a fixed $8.25 state certificate fee. The Bureau of Automotive Repair reported a statewide average inspection cost of about $68.70 (April 2026), though prices vary by station and vehicle.
Find a smog station near you →Los Angeles San Diego Escondido Carlsbad all cities →
Your total is the station's inspection price plus the fixed state fee:
BAR's April 2026 figures show the inspection price varies by station type:
| Station type | Avg inspection |
|---|---|
| Non-STAR test-only | $55.52 |
| STAR test-only | $62.58 |
| STAR test-and-repair | $70.58 |
| Non-STAR test-and-repair | $74.40 |
Source: BAR Smog Check Executive Summary Report, April 2026 (self-reported by stations; BAR caps data entry at $99, so high-cost outliers may be undercounted).
A few things move the price: the station type (test-only shops often price lower than full-service test-and-repair shops), your vehicle (older vehicles needing a loaded-mode dynamometer test can cost more than a newer OBD-II scan), and local competition. That's why the same inspection can range widely across town.
To keep the cost down: compare a couple of nearby stations (many post their price when you call), and if your DMV notice doesn't require a STAR station, a test-only shop is often the lower-priced option. Ready to compare? Find licensed smog stations near you and call ahead for current pricing.
The statewide average shown is a self-reported figure published by BAR in its monthly Smog Check Executive Summary and can vary by station, vehicle type, and region. It is not a quote. Individual station prices are set by each shop — call ahead to confirm. Sources: bar.ca.gov/smog-check, BAR Executive Summary (Apr 2026).