Do car insurance companies require smog checks?

Here's what you need to know...

• If your state does require a smog check, your auto dealer or department of motor vehicles will know exactly what’s required
• In most cases, the emissions testing will take place side by side with your annual safety inspection and will be included in the cost
• States that require such checks will usually not allow a safety inspection to be passed until such time as vehicle emissions are within designated standards

Smog checks or vehicle emissions testing are required by most states for vehicle registration, but they are in no way related to acquiring car insurance.The idea of car insurance is to protect drivers and accident victims against financial loss in the case of a motor vehicle accident.Compare car insurance quotes from several providers by entering your ZIP code now!

What states require a smog check?

Smog checks are not currently required by all states, so it is important to know the requirements of your state before purchasing a car.

The current states that require a smog check service for vehicle registration are:

• Tennessee
• Missouri
• Connecticut
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey
• Virginia
• Vermont
• Delaware
• Alaska
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• California
• Rhode Island
• New Hampshire
• Colorado
• Washington
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Washington D.C.
• Indiana
• Nevada
• Maryland
• North Carolina
• Missouri
• Texas
• Oregon
• Ohio
• Utah

Each state has its own smog check requirements. Some states only require a smog check in certain areas, like more densely populated urban areas. Some states will only accept a smog check from approved dealers.

Read More: Minimum Car Insurance Requirements by State

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What is smog?

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Smog is a form of air pollution that is mainly caused by the emissions from cars. While smog can be caused by large industrial factories, cars are the main sources in the majority of areas.Many people might think that smog is a condition caused by modern advancements, but in reality smog has been an issue for more than one hundred years.

During the early 20th Century, large cities had a smog problem because of the amount of coal people used to heat their homes and because of its use to power trains and other forms of industrial machinery.

The causes of smog were very apparent due to the fact that people in rural areas that lived further apart from each other did not also have these types of environmental problems.The term “smog” was actually created by Dr. Henry Antoine Des Voeux. The term is a combination of the words smoke and fog and was used to describe the condition of London’s air quality in the early 1900s.

What if my car doesn’t pass a smog check?

In states that require smog checks, the result of that inspection is tied only to your vehicle registration. In terms of a registration renewal, you will have a limited amount of time after renewal is granted in order to pass the smog check.

If your car fails the inspection, you must rectify it within a certain amount of time or surrender your registration. For a new registration, you probably won’t be able to get one until the car passes inspection.

Regardless of the status of your registration, failing a smog check will have no bearing on your car insurance. As far as your car insurance provider is concerned, they will be willing to provide coverage for you even on a car that’s never driven on public roads.Car insurance companies do not care whether or not it’s licensed, registered, or inspected, to the extent that they will cover accidents or damage as long as it wasn’t incurred through illegal activity. In simple terms, you can still insure a car that fails a smog check.

Read more: Are car insurance inspections required?

Why are smog checks required by some states?

As a way to fight against the negative and unsightly effects of smog, many states now require smog checks. Each state has its own guidelines on the maximum amount of smog-producing emissions that are allowed for each type of vehicle.

Smog checks are mainly a worry for people that have older or damaged cars.

If a driver takes their car in for a smog check and they do not pass, they are given a certain amount of time to fix the problem. If the problem is not fixed and the driver’s car fails the second smog check, then their vehicle registration will be revoked.If the driver’s vehicle registration is revoked they can fix the problem and then apply for a registration renewal. Smog checks are currently the most affective way that states can fight against smog-causing car emissions.Luckily hybrid and electric cars are becoming more popular and more affordable. These types of vehicles have the lowest amounts to absolutely no emissions at all.If the popularity of these earth-friendly cars continues to rise as technological advancements keep being made, there is the possibility that the future will witness cities with no smog at all.Smog checks do not directly affect car insurance rates since car insurance providers do not require cars to be registered for someone to purchase coverage.

Do safety inspections affect car insurance?

Your car insurance policy will always cover accidents that you’re involved in when driving legally. To some extent, it will also cover some portions of accidents you might have while driving illegally.But, depending on the circumstances, they may not cover everything. If your car fails a safety inspection, and you have an accident because of the safety issue, expect your insurance company only to cover a limited amount of damage.

Exactly what each one will and will not cover varies from policy to policy and state to state.

For example, if you’re involved in an accident due to faulty brakes that did not pass inspection, and your insurance company determines you were only 50 percent at fault, it might be willing to cover a portion of property damage and bodily injury.But if you live in a fault-based state and the accident is determined to be 100 percent your fault, you may be headed for litigation with your insurance company.

Failed Emissions Testing

While smog checks and safety inspections have a minimal effect on car insurance, it’s not exactly true to assume they have no effect.For example, if your car failed emissions testing and you chose not to rectify the problem, and you decided not to surrender your registration, your state may be required to revoke your registration and suspend your license.Those two actions by the state will be recorded in the public record and your insurance company will find out the next time it checks your driving history.Registration and license suspensions, and revocations for that matter, will always result in increased insurance premiums. Your car insurance company views those things as the result of poor judgment on your part, which makes you a higher insurance risk.So the idea here is to make sure that your car passes both emissions and safety inspections on annual basis. If your car fails it is your responsibility to make sure the repairs are done in the allotted time.

As long as everything remains in order your registration will remain intact and insurance will remain unaffected.

If you live in a state with no smog check regulations, and you plan to move to a state that does, you’ll need to have your car inspected in your new state before registration will be awarded. In that case, everything you’ve previously read in this article applies accordingly.While waiting to schedule your smog check, you can still compare car insurance quotes online by entering your ZIP code now!

Case Studies: Do car insurance companies require smog checks?

Case Study 1: Smog Check Required

In the state of California, smog checks are mandatory for vehicle registration. Sarah recently moved to California and had to undergo a smog check as part of the registration process. Her car passed the emissions test, and she was able to complete the registration successfully. Sarah’s car insurance company required proof of registration, including the smog check certification, to maintain coverage.

Case Study 2: No Smog Check Requirement

James lives in a state where smog checks are not required. He purchased a new car and was not obligated to undergo a smog check during the registration process. His car insurance company did not request any documentation related to smog checks since it was not a requirement in his state.

Case Study 3: Exemption for Electric Vehicles

Emily owns an electric vehicle in a state that requires smog checks. However, electric vehicles are exempt from the emissions testing requirement in her state. Therefore, she does not need to undergo a smog check for her vehicle. Her car insurance company acknowledged the exemption and did not require any documentation related to smog checks for her policy.