California DMV Smog Check Stations

Vehicles registered in the state of California are required to obtain a smog certification every two years, unless exempt. Nearly 40 counties within the state require smog certification, which can be obtained by bringing the car to a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) smog check station.

DMV Smog Check Stations

There are currently more than 7,000 California DMV smog check stations which can inspect your car and provide the necessary certification. The California DMV website offers you the option to search smog check stations by zip code, county or name. Each smog check station sets an individual price for inspection, as well as a fee for the smog certificate.

Used cars

If you purchased a used car, the previous owner must provide you with a valid smog inspection certification which was performed no more than 90 days before your purchase. The vehicle will need to be reinspected if the smog certification was older than 90 days. This is not necessary for gas powered vehicles less than four years old. Instead, the new owner pays a smog transfer fee.

Exemptions

The following vehicles are exempt from biennial smog certification: hybrid, electric, gas powered models prior to 1978, diesel powered models prior to 1998 or those with a gross vehicle weight rate over 14,000 lbs, motorcycle; natural gas powered with gross vehicle weight rate over 14,000 lbs, and a trailer. Vehicles less than six years old do not require smog certifications, but do require the owners to pay an annual smog abatement fee.

Failed Inspection

If your vehicle fails the smog inspection and you meet certain income requirements, the California Department of Consumer Affairs Consumer Assistance Program may be able to repair your vehicle so that it passes smog inspection. If you do not meet that requirement, you may want to take advantage of the Voluntary Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program, which will pay you a set fee for older vehicles which may have failed the smog inspection.
Source: Renata Yvonne

What is smog check?

Anyone who owns a car should know that a smog check should be done regularly to ensure that the car is functioning properly and that the emissions do not exceed the maximum rate. In fact, this check is so important, that by law, it is a requirement for car owners.

This is beneficial to both the car and the environment because the test checks if the car needs repair and to make sure damage done to the air quality is minimal. Getting a regular smog check if you don’t own a hybrid, electric, or natural gas powered car* is one way to be responsible in managing one’s carbon footprint while avoiding any accidents that come with defective cars.

A smog test is done by a technician who attaches a device to the tail pipe while the car is on neutral gear and when revved up. A measurement is captured by the device which indicates if the car is emitting less than the required maximum. When a car fails a smog check, repairs should be made accordingly until the emissions reach a reasonable rate.
Other tests are done during the smog check. The technician will even make sure that all connections (pipes, computer, muffler, et al) are secure for the car and in order.

Different states have varied requirements when it comes to smog check requirements. Usually annual or biannual checks are done. It is best to find out when exactly to have the smog test done in your state Department of Motor Vehicles.
Although it may be a big hassle to car owners, it is an easy trade off when you have the convenience of owning a car.

Looking to get your smog checks in Fullerton? Look no further. Go to https://www.smogcheckfullerton.com. Trust and reliability it’s what www.smogcheckfullerton.com strives for.

What is Smog Check Certificate Number?

This is the number of the electronic certificate sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) which allows the owner to complete his or her registration. The Vehicle Inspection Report is proof of the vehicle passing a Smog Check.

Air board votes to end smoke test on many vehicles

By Steve Adler
Rejecting a recommendation from its staff and agreeing instead with a proposal from the California Farm Bureau Federation and other agricultural and business groups, the California Air Resources Board voted unanimously last week to drop a requirement that certain on-road diesel vehicles undergo annual smoke testing. Instead, those vehicles will be required only to have biennial smog checks.
The ruling applies to 1998 and newer diesel vehicles, such as pickup trucks, between 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating and 14,000 GVWR. Requirements of the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program still apply to many diesel vehicles that are 1997 and older.
Without this change, owners of two or more commercially operated 1998 and newer on-road diesel vehicles could have been required to have the vehicles tested every year, alternating between smog checks one year and smoke testing the following year. This was because of an overlap between a fairly new smog check law enacted by the state Legislature and long-existing CARB smoke testing regulations. Now, only the smog check is required of these vehicles.
Cynthia Cory, CFBF director of environmental affairs, testified before the board that the regulation being proposed by its staff amounted to excessive testing and that the biennial smog check—similar to what is required of gasoline-engine vehicles—is sufficient. The board agreed.
“The Periodic Smoke Inspection Program is a separate program from smog check, with which most of us are already familiar. A wrench got thrown into the works on Jan. 1, when diesel passenger cars and trucks that are 1998 model year and newer and 14,000 GVWR or smaller, were included for the first time in the smog check program,” Cory said.
“The diesel smog check program now requires all California vehicles that fit certain size and age specifications to undergo emissions checks every other year. Confusion arose because the expansion of the smog check program meant that diesel vehicles from 1998-2007 and between 6,000 and 14,000 pounds GVWR would have been regulated under both PSIP and smog check,” she said.
Rancher and hay producer John Pierson of Vacaville was among the farmers who had expressed their concerns about the regulation. When he was told of the CARB vote, he commended Farm Bureau for carrying this message to the air resources board.
“It was just grossly unfair what they were doing to the small individual who had only a couple of diesel pickups. It was so confusing that I was highly against it,” said Pierson, who serves on the CFBF board of directors.
“This is the kind of thing that really hurts our economy. It indirectly affects everybody, not just our agricultural sector,” he said. “The average family farmer can’t go buy this new equipment like it’s yesterday. So what you do is either put a guy out of business or he runs as a renegade until he gets caught and he pays a fine.”
Cory said that CARB acknowledged that it has not done an adequate education outreach effort on the PSIP with farmers and ranchers, and will work to rectify that. The PSIP is a confusing program, she said, because unlike being notified by the Department of Motor Vehicles during the registration process that you need to get a smog check, “you are just supposed to know that if you own two or more diesel vehicles from 1997 or before that are used for non-personal use over 6,000 GVWR, that you need an annual PSIP test.”
But, Cory said, if you only own one 1997 or older diesel vehicle over 6,000 GVWR, no matter how you use it, you are exempt from PSIP. All diesel vehicles from those model years over 6,000 GVWR that are exclusively for personal use—driving to church, school, grocery store and so on—are also exempt, she said, but agricultural activities are not considered personal use. A person would also be exempt if he or she owned one 1997 or older diesel vehicle that was used exclusively for personal use and another that was used for farming.
Even though the CARB voted to drop the smoke testing regulation for 1998 and newer diesel vehicles between 6,000 and 14,000 GVWR, the vehicles must still comply with other CARB requirements. For example, the engines need to be equipped with an “Emission Control Label” that verifies the engine meets California emission standards. These are put on the engine when it is manufactured. If the label is missing or not readable, regulators may charge an additional penalty. An authorized dealer should be able to help replace an engine label if one is needed, Cory said.
For more information about PSIP, see the California Farm Bureau website at www.cfbf.com/psip.

 

Truck Donations

Truck donations are experiencing an increased popularity as many truck owners are upgrading to more modern fuel efficient vehicles Owners Truck donations are experiencing an increased popularity, as many truck owners are upgrading to more modern, fuel efficient vehicles. Owners of other unwanted vehicles as well, such as cars, boats, and even motor homes, are also turning to donation as a solution to their problem.

Unwanted vehicles can be a burden for their owners, taking up storage space and costing money for repairs and constant maintenance. Older vehicles, especially, usually have more difficult time passing the DMV’s smog check requirements, making it more costly to keep the vehicle road-worthy. In some instances, repair is not even an option.

Instead of simply relegating unwanted vehicles to the salvage yard, donating trucks and other vehicles provides a number of distinct advantages. The most tangible benefit, for instance, is that individuals who give their old cars or trucks to charity are eligible for a tax write-off, when tax season comes along. Depending on the state of the vehicle, it’s possible to receive a tax rebate based on the vehicle’s fair market value.

A less tangible, but equally important benefit to truck donations is the fact that every vehicle donation goes towards helping charitable institutions that desperately need funds to continue their good work. Grassroots organizations that provide assistance to needy communities, groups that support disabled veterans, and even medical and educational organizations often rely on donations from groups and individuals in order to continue their operations.

A number of organizations are constantly working to help provide assistance to people who wish to donate their old cars and trucks. By working with such groups, vehicle owners will not only gain financial benefit, but also help their charity of choice.
Source: pr-usa .net