What does a Tesla smog check involve in California?

Tesla vehicles are pure battery-electric, so they are fully exempt from California's smog check — no emissions test, no OBD-II scan, and no smog station visit required. The DMV processes Tesla registration without a smog certificate.

• All Tesla models (Model 3/Y/S/X, Cybertruck) are battery-electric and fully exempt from the smog check program
• No emissions test, no OBD-II scan, no VIN/odometer smog inspection, and no smog station visit
• The DMV processes Tesla registration without requesting a smog certificate
• If a DMV notice incorrectly flags a Tesla as smog-required, contact the DMV directly to correct the record — a smog station cannot clear it

Per BAR Smog Check exemption list (bar.ca.gov/smog-check) and CA DMV electric vehicle registration rules.