{"id":3767,"date":"2026-04-14T08:30:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T08:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/ask\/?p=3767"},"modified":"2026-04-14T12:32:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T12:32:16","slug":"how-long-does-a-smog-check-take","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/ask\/how-long-does-a-smog-check-take\/","title":{"rendered":"How long does a smog check take\u200b?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>What are the factors that affect the length of a smog check?<\/h2>\n<p>These are some factors that impact the time taken for your vehicle\u2019s smog check.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Age of your vehicle:<\/strong> If you own a new vehicle, it can go through the smog check process quickly. An older vehicle will take longer to finish the process.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wait time:<\/strong> Scheduling the check during off-peak hours or choosing a \u2018drive-thru\u2019 option can cut down the total time. Some stations may offer the service in under 15-20 minutes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Process:<\/strong> The inspection process itself can take time as it involves steps like a visual check, a gas cap pressure test, an OBD check, and an emissions test.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3768\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3768\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/ask\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/car-emission-Maryland.jpg\" alt=\"how long does a smog check take\u200b\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3768\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/combustion-fumes-coming-out-car-exhaust-456280921?trackingId=6eaa007b-404d-477d-9cd2-3cc9f7570eff&amp;listId=searchResults\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ody_Stocker\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>How to have a faster smog check for your vehicle<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Warm up your vehicle\u2019s engine:<\/strong> Before the test, drive your vehicle for about 20 minutes to make sure it reaches its optimal operating temperature.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inspect the check engine light:<\/strong> Always ensure that the check engine light isn\u2019t on. If it is on, it indicates an issue in your vehicle. So, you must diagnose the issue and do the required repairs before taking your vehicle for the smog check.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No recent battery changes:<\/strong> Avoid replacing or disconnecting your vehicle\u2019s battery just before the check, as it will result in the powertrain control module not having the required \u2018readiness monitors\u2019 set. This will cause a failure or delay in the check.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are the factors that affect the length of a smog check? These are some factors that impact the time taken for your vehicle\u2019s smog check. Age of your vehicle: If you own a new vehicle, it can go through the smog check process quickly. An older vehicle will take longer to finish the process.&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/ask\/how-long-does-a-smog-check-take\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How long does a smog check take\u200b?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-car-repair-maintenance","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How long does a smog check take\u200b?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is your vehicle ready for the smog check? How long does a smog check take\u200b? 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