§ 44005 Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program

Health and Safety Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

Key Takeaways

•The DMV and another department work together to make car checks better, cheaper, and easier.
•Cars must be checked for pollution when you first register them, every two years when you renew, when you sell or buy a used car, and if the car pollutes too much.
•The goal is to make sure cars don’t pollute too much and to make the process simple.

Example

You buy a used car from your neighbor.

Before you can drive it, you have to take it to get checked to make sure it doesn’t pollute too much. If it does, you’ll have to fix it.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 44005 Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program

(a) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall cooperate with the department in implementing any changes to enhance the program to achieve greater efficiency, cost effectiveness, and convenience, or to reduce excess emissions in accordance with this chapter. (b) The program shall provide for inspection of specified motor vehicles, as determined by the department, upon initial registration, biennially upon renewal of registration, upon transfer of ownership, upon the issuance of a notice of noncompliance to a gross polluter pursuant to Section 44081, and as otherwise provided in this chapter. (Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 803, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1998.)

Last verified: January 24, 2026

Key Terms

registration ownership pollution gross polluter emission vehicle compliance inspection

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 44005.

§ 44005 Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program

Health and Safety Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 44005 Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program

Key Takeaways

•The DMV and another department work together to make car checks better, cheaper, and easier.
•Cars must be checked for pollution when you first register them, every two years when you renew, when you sell or buy a used car, and if the car pollutes too much.
•The goal is to make sure cars don’t pollute too much and to make the process simple.

Example

You buy a used car from your neighbor.

Before you can drive it, you have to take it to get checked to make sure it doesn’t pollute too much. If it does, you’ll have to fix it.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 44005 Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program

Last verified: January 24, 2026

Key Terms

registration ownership pollution gross polluter emission vehicle compliance inspection

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 44005.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References