I bought my 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am new, and would have to have it checked every two years.
Then, it seemed that after a few of these, I always got the California State Check only. A special place, not just anybody.
I used to get turned away from places, including a few state places, as they would look under the hood, and tell me that the car was swapped with a different motor. I even was told that an aftermarket company put in the engine.
No one could test the car.
I even had one guy pull out the California book (looked like the big phone book), and show me that the only engines allowed in the Trans Am was the 305 and 350.
Finally, after about 10 different places, I found one that just hooked everything up, and passed the car.
I waited till after the car passed, and got my papers, then asked him about the car not being in the book.
He pulled out the book, and could not find it listed.
He said don't worry, it passed.
Seems that once he typed in the vin, the machine knew all about it.
Be careful though, one place, a state only test station, in the South Bay (Los Angeles area), had a guy try to do something under the hood with a screwdriver. He leaned under the hood, over the engine, and was doing something with the screwdriver.
I yelled at him, he jumped up surprised, and started yelling at me not to be in the shop area.
The manager came out, and yelled at the guy that he could not have any tools under the hood, or do anything to my car. The manager then smogged the car himself. The car passed.
I have since moved to Arizona, and don't have to worry about smogging my car anymore.
Good luck,
George