Scan a car with your phone
Scan the VIN with your phone. SmogScanner fills in the car and the test it needs.
- Open SmogScanner on the phone and tap Scan a car.
- Hold the phone over the VIN on the dashboard or door jamb, and keep it still.
- Check the VIN it read against the car.
- The result shows the car and the smog test it needs. If it is the wrong car, scan again.
If the camera can’t read it
Tap Enter manually and type it. A VIN has 17 characters and never has the letters I, O or Q. Cars from before 1981 have shorter VINs, so look those up by plate.
Plates
- To look up a car by its plate, tap Enter manually, type the plate and pick the State. You need to be signed in.
- The free plan looks up 10 typed plates a day. Paid plans look up more.
- On Pro, the iPhone camera reads plates too: pick Plate at the top of the camera screen. The Android app reads VINs with the camera; type plates by hand.
What you need
- Scanning a VIN is free and works without an account.
- If the camera is off, the app asks you to allow camera access in the phone’s Settings.
Pick the Reason for the check on the result: Renewal, Transfer or Out of state. It can change which test the car needs.