New cars in California that do not need a smog test for 5 years are charged a "no smog required" fee by California at registration renewal. The fee is about the same amount I pay for a smog test so they rip you off even on new cars...the whole program is a rip off now. They plug into your OBD2 diagnostics plug, if there is no check engine light or other problems they look at a couple things like making sure your cat is there, and glance under the hood and they are done. $45 for 5 minutes work, it takes longer to do the paperwork. No tailpipe tests anymore for OBD2 vehicles 2000 and newer.