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Do electric cars need a smog check?

One of the primary reasons I’m looking at electric cars is because I am so tired of the air pollution in my city, and having to get emissions testing done is a real hassle. Do electric cars need a smog check?

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Allison Stone · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Emissions testing, or a smog check, is when you make sure your vehicle produces low enough tailpipe emissions to safely meet your state or localities’ standards.
It’s an important part of car ownership as it helps keep our air clean, but one of the benefits of driving an electric car is that you’ll never have to worry about it again!
Unlike a combustion engine, electric motors don’t produce tailpipe emissions or have an exhaust pipe, so not only do you not produce any foul tailpipe gases, but the drive is also incredibly smooth and quiet both for passengers inside the cabin and for passersby on the street.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and plug-in electric cars qualify as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) and are exempt from routine emissions testing. If you’re not ready to go fully electric but still would like to guarantee you pass your emissions test every time, consider a hybrid option or another low-emissions vehicle.
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