Smog Check News – Page 3

Consumer Assistance Program for Failed Smog Check

The Consumer Assistance Program is basically California's way to help drivers repair a vehicle to pass the smog check or pay them cash to get their clunkers off theroad. The goal of the smog test program is to help improve or protect improvements in the state's air quality. Smog test Repair Assistance (Failed Smog test Required) If you fail your smog test, and meet income requirements, California will send you a $500 smog check repair voucher that you may use at any participating smog check and repair station. Participating smog test and repair stations can be found by typing in your zip code and pressing search. Results with a "Y" underneath the CAP Repairs column are stations you can take your smog check voucher to for repairs. Vehicle Retirement (Smog test NOT Required) If for any reason you want to turn in your clunker, California will pay income eligible drivers up to $1500 for the vehicle. All other drivers will be paid $1000. California requires all vehicles to undergo…

“Check Before You Burn” – smog check near me

No-Burn Alerts Issued When Fine Particle Air Pollution is Forecast to be High; Prohibits Wood Burning for 24 Hours The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) today announced the launch of its annual “Check Before You Burn” program, designed to protect public health by reducing harmful wood smoke during winter months. Under the program, mandatory no-burn alerts will be issued for Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties when fine particle air pollution levels are forecast to be high. Similar programs exist throughout much of California and in many other areas of the nation. This is what makes finding a smog check near me so important. During a no-burn day, residents in affected areas are not allowed to burn wood – both indoors and outdoors. The no-burn prohibition also applies to manufactured fire logs, such as those made from wax or paper. “While fine particle pollution levels in Southern California have been d…

Technology Research – Star Stations

Cleaning up Southern California's smog -- the worst in the nation -- by achieving the federal and state clean air standards, will require significant technological advances resulting in cleaner cars, trucks, industries and consumer products, in addition to using star stations. We will have to reduce emissions from both mobile and stationary sources much further than can be expected with our current technologies. Therefore, in 1988, the SCAQMD Governing Board established the Technology Advancement Office to expedite the development, demonstration and commercialization of cleaner technologies and clean-burning fuels. Cooperative Partnerships The SCAQMD uses cooperative partnerships with private industry, academic and research institutions, technology developers, and government agencies to cosponsor projects intended to demonstrate the successful use of clean fuels and technologies that lower or eliminate emissions. Public-private partnerships have enabled the SCAQMD to leverage …

Industry Associations Offer Resources for Automotive Professionals – smog check near me

Automotive industry associations can offer many member benefits and a variety of resources to automotive professionals, including locations of smog check near me. Membership advantages often include: • Education and training opportunities • Access to industry and networking events • Representation by advocacy programs • Insurance programs • Discounts • Access to industry information and resources Membership also demonstrates a commitment to the highest industry standards, which can provide consumers added assurance of professionalism. The Bureau of Automotive Repair Advisory Group (BAG) includes members and representatives from various industry associations. BAG was established by the Department of Consumer Affairs and BAR to increase the level of communication between BAR, the automotive repair and Smog Check industries, and consumers. This voluntary membership group helps to advocate for a fair automotive repair marketplace and provides input to the Chief on BAR’s programs…

What is Smog?

Smog is a kind of air pollution, originally named for the mixture of smoke and fog in the air. Smog check stations are designed to measure the amount of toxic gases emitted from vehicles' exhaust. Classic smog results from large amounts of coal burning in an area and is caused by a mixture of smoke and sulfur dioxide. In the 1950s a new type of smog, known as Photochemical Smog, was first described. Smog is a problem in a number of cities and continues to harm human health. Strict smog check regulations are installed to control this problem. Ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide carbon monoxide are especially harmful for senior citizens, children, and people with heart and lung conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma. It can inflame breathing passages, decreasing the lungs' working capacity, and causing shortness of breath, pain when inhaling deeply, wheezing, and coughing. It can cause eye and nose irritation and it dries out the protective m…

Car Scrappage – Voluntary Accelerated Vehicle Retirement

California’s updated voluntary vehicle retirement program is now available. The program is administered by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) and provides $1,000 per vehicle and $1,500 for low-income consumers for unwanted vehicles that have FAILED their last Smog Check Test and that meet certain eligibility guidelines. For more information, visit the Consumer Assistance Program website, or call BAR at (866) 272-9642. Background Voluntary accelerated vehicle retirement or “car scrap” programs provide monetary incentives to vehicle owners to retire older, more polluting vehicles. The purpose of these programs is to reduce fleet emissions by accelerating the turnover of the existing fleet and subsequent replacement with newer, cleaner vehicles. Reducing emissions from the existing fleet is a component of California’s State Implementation Plan, which outlines the State’s strategy for meeting health-based ambient air quality standards. Both State and local vehicle retirement…

New Smog Check Inspections

Smog Check Program's Updated Test Technology Californians getting Smog Check inspections today may notice that the traditional tailpipe test used for many years has been replaced by a quicker, computer-based test for gasoline-powered cars model-year 2000 and newer, and for most diesel vehicles that are model-year 1998 and newer. This updated test uses the diagnostic capabilities of the vehicle's computer system instead of the traditional tailpipe probe to measure the vehicle's emissions. This On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system gathers information and determines if the vehicle's emission control systems are operating properly. A visual inspection of emission control components is still required as well. The OBD only method of testing vehicles is the result of 2010 legislation (AB 2289-Eng) which is designed to improve the Smog Check inspections Program and further reduce air pollution. The Smog Check program removes hundreds of tons of smog-forming pollutants from California's a…

Smog Inspection rated STAR

STAR stations are Smog Inspection stations that meet higher performance standards established by the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Some STAR stations are licensed to perform only tests, while others are licensed to perform both tests and repairs. The station is required to post a sign on the services it performs. State law requires that a percentage of vehicles have their Smog Inspection performed at a STAR station. If your DMV renewal notice states your vehicle requires a Smog Check at a STAR station, you must take your vehicle to a STAR station for an inspection.

On Jan. 1, 2013, California began implementing a new vehicle Smog Inspection system known as the STAR Program. This new state program is another hurdle that anyone who drives on public roads must endure. City and DMV phones have been receiving a steady stream of angry/concerned calls from the few unfortunate individuals who received a STAR notice in the mail as well as local mechanic shops loo…

Consumer Assistance Program for Failed Smog Test

The Consumer Assistance Program is basically California's way to help drivers repair a vehicle to pass the smog test or pay them cash to get their clunkers off the road. The goal of the smog check program is to help improve or protect improvements in the state's air quality. Smog Test Repair Assistance (Failed Smog test Required) If you fail your smog check, and meet income requirements, California will send you a $500 smog check repair voucher that you may use at any participating smog test and repair station. Smog check and repair stations can be found by visiting Smog Coupons. Vehicle Retirement (Smog test NOT Required) If for any reason you want to turn in your clunker, California will pay income eligible drivers up to $1500 for the vehicle. All other drivers will be paid $1000. Repair Assistance FAQs 1. What is the Repair Assistance Program? The Repair Assistance Program is administered by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) and is desi…

Smog Certification Information

The following smog certification information update is brought to you by SmogCoupons Currently, smog inspections are required for all vehicles except diesel powered vehicles 1997 year model and older or with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) of more than 14,000 lbs, electric, natural gas powered vehicles over 14,000 lbs, motorcycles, trailers, or gasoline powered vehicles 1975 and older. Vehicles registered in areas subject to the biennial smog certification program are required to submit evidence of a smog certification every other renewal period. Owners of vehicles six or less model years old will pay an annual smog abatement fee for the first six registration years instead of being required to provide a biennial smog certification. The registration renewal notice mailed to you by the department will indicate if a smog certification is required. If a smog certification is required and you have not had a smog inspection, you may still pay your registration fees to avoid any late…

Smog check results in declined smog levels

Resulting from smog check: Southern California's air continues to get cleaner. That's according to the South Coast Air Quality District, which said we had 10 fewer high ozone days during 2015's peak smog season than the previous year. Ozone is the primary gas in smog and can damage lungs. In total, there were only 82 days when smog levels exceeded federal standards for clean air. That may sound bad, but it’s better than in 2014 when there were 92 such days. A high smog day is defined as any day in which the amount of ground level ozone reaches more than 75 parts per billion. Typically, the region sees the most smog between May and October, in part because there is more sunlight which helps the chemical reaction that creates ozone pollution. The Air Quality Management District said smog check and pollution cutting programs helped cut down the number of smog days. So did Mother Nature. Rain can clean the air and helps prevents smog from forming. Next year the number of high…

Regulations Update

The following regulatory actions are under development. For more information on regulation proposals or to learn about future opportunities for public participation, visit the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) website. Mobile Automotive Repair Dealer Advertising BAR is working with automotive repair industry stakeholders to address Internet advertising of unlicensed repair service on various websites. In addition to consumer complaints, BAR enforcement staff continuously monitor public advertising forums to track the growing number of unlicensed individuals and businesses reaching consumers. After identifying unlicensed activity, BAR coordinates with law enforcement agencies to conduct sting operations throughout the State. In 2014, the Bureau began posting on its website a list of citations issued to individuals and businesses found performing repairs without a valid automotive repair dealer (ARD) registration. Nearly 500 citations have been issued since regulations adopted …