Smog and MoreWhat a VSSI is
California created the Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection under AB 471. The program started statewide on July 8, 2024, and it replaced the old brake and lamp inspection system. The brake and lamp programs ended on September 27, 2024, and those licenses ceased by operation of law on that date.
If you are holding DMV paperwork that asks for a “brake and light certificate,” that requirement is now the VSSI. The forms in circulation have not all caught up with the law. The inspection you need is the VSSI, and it has to be done at a station licensed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair.
Smog and More is that station. Fred is an ASE Master Technician and performs the inspection himself.
VSSI Inspection
From $295
Every vehicle in this program is a little different. Call and describe yours and Fred will go through it with you.
Smog Check
$69
STAR Test & Repair station. Most vehicles in this process need one too — do both in one visit.
State Certificate Fee
$7.00
Set by the state. By law, sales tax cannot be applied to it.
Who needs a VSSI
You need a Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection if your vehicle is any of the following:
- A revived salvage vehicle — declared a total loss, taken off the road, and being brought back for registration
- A revived junk vehicle
- A specially constructed vehicle (SPCNS) — including kit cars and scratch-built vehicles
- A motorcycle in one of these registration categories
- A trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating of 3,000 pounds or more
- An off-highway vehicle being converted to on-highway use
If DMV handed you a checklist and you are not sure which category you fall into, bring the paperwork in or call and read it to Fred over the phone. He does these every week and can tell you what you are looking at in about a minute.
When you do not need a VSSI
A VSSI is not required for a fix-it ticket. A licensed station can sign off on a correctable violation. If someone told you that you need a full safety inspection for a fix-it ticket, that is not correct. Call and ask — Fred will tell you straight whether you need the inspection or just a sign-off.
What gets inspected
The Bureau of Automotive Repair sets the scope of the inspection, not the shop. A VSSI covers:
- Body structure
- Brakes and lights
- Passenger compartment
- Steering and suspension
- Tires and wheels
Beyond those systems, the inspection also includes an OBD scan, a road test, and an open safety recall check.
That recall check surprises people. A manufacturer recall that has never been performed is a live safety issue on a state inspection, and it comes up more often than owners expect. It is free to check your VIN for open recalls before you come in, and it is worth doing.
We do not publish a “point count” for this inspection. BAR does not publish one either, and any shop advertising a specific number of checkpoints is making it up. What matters is the system list above and whether your vehicle passes it.
What commonly causes a vehicle to fail
BAR tracks why vehicles fail the VSSI. The recurring causes:
- Open safety recalls that were never performed
- Brake problems — worn pads, low or contaminated fluid, uneven or inadequate stopping
- Lighting — a burned-out bulb, a bad ground, an aftermarket assembly that does not meet the standard
- Seat belts and airbags — missing, damaged, or not properly reinstalled after a rebuild
- A cracked windshield
- Worn tires, or a TPMS light on
- Repairs not performed to OEM specification — the big one on revived salvage. If the rebuild cut corners on how the manufacturer specified the repair, the inspection catches it.
Every item on that list is something you can look at yourself before you drive over. Walk the lights with someone standing outside the car. Check the tire tread. Look at the dash for a TPMS light. Run the VIN for recalls. Fixing the easy ones in your driveway costs you nothing and takes a variable out of the inspection.
The check engine light question
This is the single most misunderstood part of the program, so here it is plainly. BAR states that a vehicle with an illuminated check engine light — or a stored permanent DTC — will not fail a VSSI. The VSSI is a safety inspection. Emissions readiness is not part of what it measures.
Here is the part that matters: that same check engine light will fail a smog check. And most vehicles going through this process need a smog certificate too — smog may be required for model year 1976 and newer. The light does not stop the VSSI, but it will stop the registration on the smog side.
Line up both in one visit — call (714) 995-7591What happens when you pass
- You receive a vehicle safety report for the inspection.
- The station transmits the certificate to DMV electronically. There is no paper certificate to carry, lose, or mail in.
- No future VSSI is required for that vehicle at registration renewal or at transfer of ownership. This is a one-time inspection for that vehicle, not a recurring obligation.
What happens if the vehicle does not pass
You get a report showing exactly what did not pass. Nothing on it is a mystery — Fred will walk you through each item in person and tell you what it will take to correct it.
One rule you should know before you start, because it is a state rule and not a shop policy: BAR requires that all safety systems be re-inspected, not just the items that were repaired. A VSSI re-inspection is a complete re-inspection. That is how the program is written.
What that means for you practically is that it is cheaper and faster to arrive with the obvious problems already handled. That is what the failure list above is for.
For anything about your specific situation, call Fred at (714) 995-7591. He handles these case by case and will tell you exactly where you stand for your vehicle.
Your DMV paperwork
The inspection is one piece of a larger DMV packet. For a revived salvage registration, you are generally assembling:
- REG 343 — Application for Title or Registration
- Proof of ownership — a REG 135 bill of sale, or a REG 262 from a licensed dismantler with the acquisition number on it
- VIN verification — REG 31 or CHP 97C
- The electronic VSSI certificate — transmitted by the station
- Fees
Depending on your vehicle you may also need REG 488C, REG 256, REG 4008, REG 4017, surrender of plates, and a smog certificate.
The VIN verification trap
This is where most people lose a day. A revived salvage VIN verification must be performed by a DMV employee (REG 31) or by CHP (CHP 97C). Licensed verifiers cannot do it. AAA cannot do it.
People drive to AAA, wait in line, and get turned away. If your vehicle is a revived salvage, go to DMV or schedule with CHP. The CHP line is 1-800-835-5247. Get that appointment on the calendar early — it is often the longest lead time in the whole process, and everything else waits on it.
Why Fred
Fred Eslami is an ASE Master Technician. He acquired the shop at 10711 Beach Blvd — formerly California Smog & Repair — and runs it as Smog and More. He does the diagnostic and mechanical work himself. When you call, you are talking to the person who will be under your car, not to a service writer relaying a message.
Smog and More is a mechanical repair shop. We do not do bodywork — no fenders, no dents, no paint, no collision work. If your project needs body and paint, we will tell you that up front so you are not wasting a trip.
What we do handle:
- VSSI safety inspections
- Smog checks — $69
- Diagnostics and mechanical repair
- Brakes, steering and suspension
- Electrical and lighting
- RVs and van builds — conversions, house-side integrations, and the drivetrain and chassis work that comes with them
Se habla español.
How to get started
- Call or text (714) 995-7591. Tell Fred what the vehicle is and what DMV asked you for.
- Bring your paperwork. Whatever DMV handed you, bring the whole stack.
- Bring the vehicle. It needs to be drivable — the inspection includes a road test.
Fred will look at the vehicle, look at your paperwork, and tell you exactly what your path looks like from where you are standing. Everything specific to your vehicle gets answered in person.
Frequently asked questions
What does a VSSI cost?
VSSI from $295. The state certificate fee of $7.00 is set by the state and cannot have sales tax applied to it. What your vehicle needs beyond the inspection itself depends entirely on the vehicle — a clean revived salvage and a half-finished kit car are not the same job. Call Fred at (714) 995-7591, tell him what you have, and he will go through it with you.
How long does a VSSI take?
It depends on the vehicle. A well-prepared revived salvage and a specially constructed vehicle with no documentation history are different animals. Fred schedules these case by case. Call or text (714) 995-7591 and he will tell you what your vehicle looks like on his end.
What does a re-inspection cost?
BAR requires that a re-inspection cover all safety systems, not just the repaired items — that is state rule, not shop policy. What it means for your specific vehicle is a conversation with Fred. Call (714) 995-7591.
Will a check engine light fail my VSSI?
No. BAR states that a vehicle with an illuminated check engine light or a stored permanent diagnostic trouble code will not fail a VSSI. It will fail a smog check, though, and most vehicles going through this process also need a smog certificate. We do smog for $69.
DMV told me I need a brake and light certificate. Where do I get one?
You do not. The brake and lamp programs ended September 27, 2024, and those licenses ceased by operation of law. The requirement is now the VSSI. Some DMV paperwork still uses the old wording. Bring it in and we will handle it correctly.
Do I need a VSSI for a fix-it ticket?
No. A licensed station can sign off on a correctable violation. Call (714) 995-7591 and describe what you were cited for.
Do motorcycles need a VSSI?
Yes, in the covered registration categories. Motorcycles, trailers rated 3,000 pounds GVWR or more, revived junk vehicles, specially constructed vehicles including kit cars, and off-highway vehicles converted to on-highway use all require the inspection.
Will I get a paper certificate?
No, and you do not need one. When your vehicle passes, the station transmits the certificate to DMV electronically. You receive a vehicle safety report for your records.
Will I have to do this again next year?
No. Once your vehicle passes the VSSI, no future VSSI is required at registration renewal or at transfer of ownership.
Can AAA do my VIN verification?
No. For a revived salvage, VIN verification must be performed by a DMV employee on a REG 31 or by CHP on a CHP 97C. Licensed verifiers and AAA cannot perform it. CHP can be reached at 1-800-835-5247. Schedule it early — it is usually the longest wait in the process.
Do you do bodywork?
No. Smog and More is a mechanical shop. We do not do fenders, dents, paint, or collision work. We do diagnostics, mechanical repair, smog, and VSSI inspections, and we work on RVs and van builds.
Do you speak Spanish?
Sí. Se habla español. Ver nuestra página en español.
Call Fred
Every vehicle in this program is a little different. Rather than guess from a website, call and describe yours.
Call or text (714) 995-7591Smog and More · 10711 Beach Blvd, Stanton, CA 90680
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM · Sat 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Se habla español