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Do I Need to Get Another Smog Check, Again?

The previous owner of the car I bought smog checked it before he sold it to me. It hasn't been two years since he got the smog check. My registration came reticently and it says that I need to get another smog test.

The smog check which the seller got was required by the company that gave me the loan to buy the car. I have the smog certification paper on hand with me. It was registered with that smog certificate when I went to transfer the car to my name. I'm surprised that the registration renewal has come today asking for another smog inspection. Is this false, because it hasn't been two years? Do I really need to provide a new smog certification?

Answer:

The DMV does not reset a vehicle's biennial smog check requirement year when a vehicle is bought or sold. The odd or even number year in which its smog check inspection is due does not change. When purchasing a vehicle which needed a smog check in a previous year, the vehicle will require one smog inspection for title transfer purpose, and a second smog inspection in its first year of registration renewal; a smog inspection will be required two years in a row. posted by SmogTips Support

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