[arizona charlie]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Three brands of hybrid-electric vehicles no longer require smog checks every two years or when they change owners.

The state's Department of Consumer Affairs says it's exempting all model years of the Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius.

Hybrid-electric cars use both an electric motor and internal combustion engine.

State officials say it's a way of encouraging more environmentally friendly vehicles.

 

[Barbara in LA]

Yippee! There's a savings in both time and money! Owning this car just gets better & better.

 

[Bob Allen]

Washington State also exempts hybrids from smog checks. We pay 15 bucks every two years for a checkup, so that means I'm saving a whopping 7.50 annually. In only 1000 years, that savings alone will offset the cost difference between my Prius and, say a Matrix, assuming they will still be making a Matrix in 1000 years.
Best part of it, though, isn't the astounding cost savings, it 's NOT having to go through the hassle of taking a long lunch break to sit in an endless line of idling cars eating a sandwhich and hoping my trusty Escort will make it through yet another breathalizer test.

 

[hdrygas]

Washington State also exempts hybrids from smog checks. We pay 15 bucks every two years for a checkup, so that means I'm saving a whopping 7.50 annually. In only 1000 years, that savings alone will offset the cost difference between my Prius and, say a Matrix, assuming they will still be making a Matrix in 1000 years.
Best part of it, though, isn't the astounding cost savings, it 's NOT having to go through the hassle of taking a long lunch break to sit in an endless line of idling cars eating a sandwhich and hoping my trusty Escort will make it through yet another breathalizer test.

Actually only 3 or 4 counties have this! Seattle, Tacoma Everett area and maybe Spokane. Those of you in the Inland Empire chime in on the latter!

 

[Richard]

There's an Inland Empire in Washington, too? Do the people there have mullets?

 

[moocatdog]

There's an Inland Empire in Washington, too? Do the people there have mullets?

Mullets rule!

Drive happy,
Moo

 

[PureSpeed1]

Does this mean us 2004 Prius owners do not have to get a smog check at all? Or, is it a certain amount of years compared to every two years??

Please let us know exactly when we're supposed to get it smogged then since we dont do it every 2 years like the regular vehicles??

 

[mrv]

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/vin_m ... 4vin04.pdf

VEHICLE INDUSTRY NEWS VIN 2004-04

Subject: Hybrid Vehicles
Background
Hybrid vehicles are exempt from smog certification by the Bureau of Automotive Repair
(BAR) until 2011. Therefore, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will not require
a smog certification for initial, biennial, or transfer applications of hybrid vehicles until
January 1, 2011.
Procedures
Show .hybrid. in the motive power field when completing a New Vehicle Report of
Sale REG 397 for a hybrid vehicle. If .hybrid. is not shown on the application, the
application may be returned to you or the record will be marked gas powered and a smog
certification will be required.
Distribution
This memo was distributed in May 2004 to the following:
. Dealers
. Registration Services
Contact
Call the DMV Customer Communications Section at (916) 657-6560 for further
clarification of this memo. Upon request, this document can be produced in Braille or
large print.

V2004-10 © 2004 State of California, Department of Motor Vehicles. All rights reserved. Visit us at our Web Site.http://www.dmv.ca.gov

 

[lasrx]

Last time I checked the new smog checks were almost $100 a pop, so its a pretty significant savings for Californians.

 

[mrv]

Last time I checked the new smog checks were almost $100 a pop, so its a pretty significant savings for Californians.

well, previous to this announcement, the Prius could only be SMOG checked in CA at a "referee" station. They'd check that you've got a hybrid, and give you the sticker. I think the base sticker cost was something like $8 or so (less than $20), but you had the hassle of making an appointment and going to one of these referee stations...