Are you sure about California? I remember having to do smog inspections, but I don't ever remember having to do safety inspections for any of my vehicles. FWIW, I've lived in WA, SC, CA, NY, AZ, OR, and most recently NV. The only state that I had to do safety inspection in was NY. Ironically I failed a safety inspection there because they couldn't remove my wheels to inspect the brakes because I didn't own the special lug nut key thing.