Vehicle Code section 5751.5

(a)

Upon transfer of the title or interest of the registered owner of a motor vehicle that is subject to Part 5 (commencing with Section 43000) of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, if no certificate of compliance or certificate of noncompliance is submitted to the department pursuant to the exemptions described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 4000.1, the transferor of that vehicle shall sign and deliver to the transferee, upon completion of the transaction, the original copy of a statement, under penalty of perjury, that he or she has not modified the emissions system of the vehicle and does not have any personal knowledge of anyone else modifying the system in a manner that causes the emission system to fail to qualify for the issuance of a certificate of compliance pursuant to Section 44015 of the Health and Safety Code. The transferor shall keep a duplicate copy of the statement delivered to the transferee pursuant to this section. The department shall prescribe and make available to transferors the necessary forms to comply with this subdivision.

(b)

Any form prescribed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a) shall contain the following statement and a space for the signatures of the transferor and transferee at the end of the statement:
“A valid certificate of compliance was submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles with an application for the renewal of registration of this vehicle. If an application for transfer is submitted to the department within the 90-day validity period of the smog certification, no new smog certification will be required. However, at present, you may be purchasing a vehicle that may not be in compliance with specified emission standards.
“By signing this statement, you acknowledge that the seller is not required to provide you with an additional certificate of compliance prior to the completion of this transaction.
“You may have this vehicle tested at a licensed smog check station prior to completion of this transaction to verify compliance. If the vehicle passes the test, you shall be responsible for the costs of the test. If the vehicle fails the test, the seller is obligated to reimburse you the cost of having the vehicle tested and, without expense to you, must have the vehicle repaired to comply with specified emission standards prior to completion of this transaction.
(Transferor)
(Date)
(Transferee)
(Date)”

Source: Section 5751.5, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=5751.­5.­ (accessed Apr. 24, 2025).

Last Updated

Apr. 24, 2025

§ 5751.5’s source at ca​.gov