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What is a
Test-Only Smog Stations' role?
Why did my car
get sent to a TEST ONLY stations for my DMV registration renewal?
What is a Test
and Repair Smog Station?
Who manages smog
tests in the State of California?
What do I do if
my car fails?
What is a Gross
Polluter?
Does my vehicle
have to get a Smog Check?
What is a
Test-Only Smog Station?
According to the State of California, Test-Only Stations are
privately-owned Smog Check stations licensed by the Bureau of
Automotive Repair (BAR) to inspect and certify most vehicles,
including Gross Polluters. While they can perform oil changes and
lubrication services, they are prohibited from providing any repair
services.
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What is a
Test-Only Smog Stations' role?
Test-Only Smog Stations provided non-biased Smog Checks for most
vehicles. Since Test-Only Stations are not allowed to conduct
emission repairs, there is no incentive to fail vehicles for the
purpose of offering fraudulent repairs. The addition of Test-Only Stations to the Smog Check program
augments a service previously provided on a temporary basis by
state-contracted Referee Centers. Now, owners of gross-polluting
vehicles must have their vehicles tested and certified at either a
Test-Only Station or a Gold Shield Gross Polluter Certification Pilot
station.
About 15% of vehicles in Enhanced Areas will be directed to
Test-Only Stations for their initial inspections at the time of their
biennial Smog Check. These vehicles represent the 13% of vehicles most
likely to fail as well as a 2% random sample.
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Why did my car
get sent to a TEST ONLY stations for my DMV registration renewal?
Your vehicles make, year and model could
be High Emitter Profile (HEP) vehicle.
Your car was most likely picked up in the High Emitter Profile.
A HEP is a statistical model used to identify vehicles most
likely to fail a Smog Check inspection.
Even though it may never have failed
before, it has been identified through a computer-based selection
process as a vehicle which is likely to be emitting unhealthy levels
of harmful pollutants. The model year is significant weighing
factor in identifying HEP vehicle.
About 15% of vehicles in Enhanced Areas will be directed to
Test-Only Stations for their initial inspections at the time of their
biennial Smog Check. These vehicles represent the 13% of HEP vehicles most
likely to fail.
Or, it could be part of the 2 % Random Selection Program, which is
required by state law. Even though your particular
vehicle may not be a HEP or your car may have never failed a previous
Smog Check, it could have been randomly sampled for the BAR.
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What is a Test and Repair Smog
Station?
Test-and-Repair Stations are licensed to
test, inspect, repair, diagnose, adjust and repair failed vehicles.
Vehicles directed to a Test-Only Station may not be tested for
certification at a Test-and-Repair Station.
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Who manages smog
tests in the State of California?
The Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) is
part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. BAR
registers and regulates approximately 34,000 California automotive
repair facilities, and licenses smog check, lamp and brake inspection
stations.
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What do I do if
my car fails?
You have a few options if your vehicle
fails a Smog Check.
- You may have your vehicle repaired a State
licensed Test-and-Repair Smog Station and we can RE-TEST your
vehicle at a Test-Only Station once the appropriate repairs have
been conducted.
- If your vehicle was identified as Gross
Polluter, you are required under
current law to have their vehicles repaired at Gold Shield Station
and certified at a Test-Only station or authorized Gold Shield
Stations.
- For motorists who cannot afford to make
repairs, there are three options under the
Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) that offer some temporary
financial relief.
Bottom line - a Smog Check inspection/certification is
required in all areas when affected vehicle changes ownership or is
registered in California for the first time. Additionally, Basic
and Enhanced Area requires inspection/certification every other
registration renewal (biennally).
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What is a Gross
Polluter?
The Smog Check program has identified
Gross Polluter (GP) vehicles as a significant source of smog
emissions. Gross Polluter vehicles are chosen through these
strategies:
- Vehicles tested at licensed stations which
exceed at least one of the gross polluter standards (twice the
maximum emission limits)
- Vehicles selected from the High Emitter
Profile (HEP) database which have a high probability of failing the
Smog Check inspection.
Once a vehicle is classified as a Gross
Pollutter it has to initially be tested at a "Test-Only" inspection
station. If the vehicle fails this inspection it must undergo repairs
and return to a Test-only, Referee or CAP
(Consumer Assistance Repair) station for certification.
Vehicles, which are not classified, as gross
polluters, do not have to seek a Test-Only inspection and can visit
any local smog station. Once again, your DMV documents will state
which type of test your vehicle requires.
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Does my vehicle have to get a Smog Check?
Not all vehicles must get a Smog Check.
Additionally, some vehicles only need a Smog Check when they are being
sold or being registered in California after previously being
registered in another state. Whether or not a vehicle needs a Smog
Check depends on the type of vehicle, the model year, and the area in
which the vehicle is registered.
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Some
vehicles are completely exempt
All 1973 and older model year vehicles are exempt from all
aspects of the Smog Check program, but owners of these vehicles are
required by law to keep their emissions systems intact. Vehicles
built in 1973 for the 1974 model year are 1974 vehicles and must be
tested accordingly.
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Additionally,
vehicles with diesel engines, vehicles with two-cycle engines,
vehicles with engines smaller than 50 cubic inches of displacement,
electric vehicles, and motorcycles are exempt from the Smog Check
program.
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New
vehicles exempt until their fifth year
Vehicles four model years old and newer (model years 2000-2003,
for registrations due after 1/1/2003) are
not required to have a biennial Smog Check performed until their
fifth year. However, these vehicles must have a Smog Check performed
if the vehicle is sold or being registered in California for the
first time during that time.
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Change of
Ownership areas vs. Basic and Enhanced areas
Most areas of the state require vehicles to have a Smog
Check performed every two years, when being sold, and when being
initially registered in California. These areas are referred to as
the state's Basic and Enhanced Areas. However, Change of Ownership
Areas only require a Smog Check when the vehicle is being sold or
initially registered in California. You can determine the Smog Check
area you are in by calling the Department of Consumer Affairs/Bureau
of Automotive Repair toll-free at 1-800-952-5210.
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No Smog
Check required on sales within immediate family
Section 4000.1 (d)(2) of the California Vehicle code
exempts transfers from parents, grandparents, children,
grandchildren, siblings, or spouses from the smog inspection
requirement.
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