Referee Program

The Referee Program is a statewide network of smog inspection centers that assist motorists with unusual Smog Check issues. Referees provide the following specialized services not available through licensed Smog Check stations:

Smog Check Dispute Resolution

Sometimes consumers disagree with the results of their Smog Check. If you would like to dispute the results of your smog test or get a third party evaluation, make an appointment with the Referee.

Repair Cost Waivers

A Repair Cost Waiver is available in situations where a vehicle failed its Smog Check and the consumer had over $650 in emission-related repairs performed at a licensed Smog Check repair station to reduce the vehicle’s emissions and cannot afford the additional repairs needed for the vehicle to pass the smog test. This one-time waiver allows the vehicle to be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

To be eligible, the vehicle must not have any tampered emissions control systems or components and has to have had at least $650 in emission-related repairs performed by a licensed Smog Check repair technician at a licensed Smog Check repair station.

Inspections of Vehicles with Issues Involving the Vehicle’s OBD II System

Referee Centers may provide limited assistance to consumers whose vehicles have OBD II related issues. For example, 1996 and newer OBD II equipped vehicles have readiness monitors programmed into the On-Board computer. These monitors require specific driving conditions for them to complete their task to ensure that the vehicle is ready for an smog inspection. If the vehicle’s battery has been disconnected, or if computer codes were recently cleared, the monitors may not have completed their assigned tasks and therefore the vehicle would not pass a Smog Check inspection. In this case, the Referee may be able to provide consumers with the appropriate drive cycle information required for the monitors to complete.

In other cases, the monitors may not complete due to a vehicle malfunction or communication error. In these cases, the consumer must have the vehicle properly diagnosed by a qualified technician to determine the cause of the problem.

Assistance to Consumers when Smog Check Stations Refuse to Test Vehicles

Consumers may call the Referee Call Center to make an appointment if a station will not perform a smog inspection on their vehicle. To reach the Referee Call Center, call (800) 622-7733.

Gross Polluter (GP) Vehicles

Vehicles that fail a Smog Check inspection at approximately two times the Pass/Fail Standard are considered Gross Polluters (GPs). Only Referee Centers and STAR Stations can issue a certificate of compliance once a Gross Polluter is repaired and passes a Smog Check inspection.