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California's Smog Certificate program
emphasizes repairs for vehicles that fail their emissions inspections.
Identifying and repairing the worst-polluting vehicles will
significantly improve California's air quality. But for those
motorists who cannot afford to make all necessary emissions-related
repairs, there is some temporary financial relief—the Repair Cost
Waiver and the Economic Hardship Extension. The Department of Consumer
Affairs/Bureau of Automotive Repair (DCA/BAR) also has a Repair
Assistance Program to help low-income motorists pay for
emissions-related repairs, and a Vehicle Retirement Program which
offers $1000.00 cash to owners of qualified high-polluting vehicles.
Repair Cost
Waiver
The Repair Cost Waiver allows a vehicle to
be registered without passing its Smog Check inspection, as long as
the vehicle owner first makes at least $450 in emissions-related
repairs to the vehicle at a licensed test and repair station.
After emissions-related repairs have been
performed, the motorist must take the vehicle and any repair invoices
to a Consumer Assistance and Referee Center, where the vehicle may be
inspected. Once the Referee determines that the vehicle meets the
criteria, the Referee will issue a waiver. The vehicle can then be
registered, and the owner has up to two years to make additional
repairs to bring the vehicle into compliance with emissions standards.
The Repair Cost Waiver may only be used
once by an owner during his or her ownership of a vehicle.
Economic Hardship
Extension
An Economic Hardship Extension is
available to qualified low-income vehicle owners who cannot afford
emissions-related repairs. Like the Repair Cost Waiver, it allows a
vehicle to be registered immediately without passing its Smog Check
inspection and gives a vehicle owner up to two years to complete the
repairs needed to bring the vehicle into compliance with emissions
standards.
To qualify, a motorist must complete
an application, which can be obtained by calling DCA/BAR's Consumer
Hotline at 1-800-952-5210. Household income must be at or below 185%
of the federal poverty level (about $31,543.00 a year for a family of
four). In addition, a motorist must spend at least $250 on
emissions-related repairs at a licensed Smog Check station or have an
estimate indicating a single repair would cost more than $250. The
motorist then takes the vehicle, the application, and repair bills or
estimates to a Consumer Assistance and Referee Center. The motorist's
application will be reviewed. If approved, the Referee will issue an
Economic Hardship Extension.
The Economic Hardship Extension may only
be used once by an owner during his or her ownership of a vehicle.
Repair
Assistance Program
The Bureau of Automotive Repair's Repair Assistance
Program for low-income motorists is up and running. Up to $450 may be
offered by DCA/BAR to help low-income motorists make emissions-related
repairs to their vehicles. To qualify, the motorist will be required
to make a $75 co-payment and have all repairs performed at selected
Gold Shield Gross Polluter
Certification stations.
Click
here for a CAP Application
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