(Cradle to Grave)
The following material profiles the stages of Smog Check II from Notice of Renewal to Completion of Smog Check, vehicle scrappage and Sale of Vehicle. The material documents where to look in each stage of a Smog Check.
The first stage of vehicle registration renewal begins with the annual registration form received from California Department of Motor Vehicles. Questions about the registration of vehicles in California may be answered on the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Web Site. The DMV Site Map will provide answers to many questions on the registration process.
The following sites should be looked at:
If your registration does not say "Smog Check Required" take it to a DMV or Renew Your Registration Online . You may also renew your registration through your local CSAA Office .
If your registration says "Smog Check Required" begin by becoming familiar with the Bureau of Automotive Repairs Smogcheck web site. A very useful part of this web site is: Smog Check Procedure. Other important parts include Fact Sheets and the Smog Check Table of Contents .
You must begin by determining if this is "Smog Check on Transfer of Vehicle", "Basic" or "Enhanced" smog check. Explanation of this is included in the Fact Sheet Smog Check Station Types . This can be established from the Smog Check Program Areas Fact Sheet and the Zip Code Locator. This tells you what Type of Smog Equipment will be used
If you are in an enhanced (Dynamometer) area read the EPA Page US EPA IM240 Dynamometer Program
Every motorist has a right under the law to a Pretest to determine if their vehicle is a Gross Polluter. A Gross Polluter is defined in the Glossary of Terms as "The emissions levels", or "Cut Points" for the highest polluting vehicles. The emissions level of a Gross Polluter are typically at least twice as high as those of an ordinary failing vehicle. Repairs on a Gross Polluter Vehicle must be verified at a Test-Only or Gross Polluter Certification (GPC) Station. ASM Cutpoints are the cutpoints for dynamometers. ASM stands for Accelerated Simulation Mode. TSI Cut Points. TSI stands for Two Speed Idle Test.
Cutpoints were changed on October 4, 1999
Fifteen Percent of vehicles in Enhanced Areas will be sent to Test-Only Stations for their Smogcheck. 13% will be selected by use of the High Emitter Profile. The High Emitter Profile is made up from Engine Size, Engines which have a history of not passing smog check, etc. It is important to become familiar with the High Emitter Profile as it has to do with one of the prime reasons why Test only is in existence.
If you passed your smog check all is done. Go renew your registration. If You Failed The Smog Check, Bureau of Automotive put together a guide to help you through getting the vehicle repaired. It will answer most questions. Read it.
Bureau of Automotive Repairs FAQ on Smog Check
If you have problems at anytime during the Smog Check process, here are some useful 800 Numbers
Another good resource is Department of Consumer Affairs
Classic Car Owners (Pre-1981): If Bay Area Air Quality Management District has their way--Your car will be scrapped. Read This. Tell them NO!!!
Classic Car Owners (Pre-1981): Now read my Response to Bay Area Air Quality District.
When your 1966-1973 vehicle is scrapped out, California issues M1 Pollution Credits under the Voluntary Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program or "Scrappage".
"The following quote may be found on Ford Motor Companies Web Site at Ford on Vehicle Emissions in Germany :
"In Germany, we are the first automobile manufacturer to initiate a vehicle retirement program to promote cleaner air- the Clean and Safe Campaign. Since 1994, this program has taken vehicles without a catalytic converter off the market by offering incentives to purchase or lease new Ford products. As a result, more than 300,000 vehicles have been taken off the road and recycled. These vehicles have generated 290,000 tons of recycled metal - more than enough to build 20 Eiffel Towers. "
Could this be driving scrappage in California?
All of the above is governed by the California 1994 State Implementation Plan For Ozone
Governor Gray Davis allocated $100 Million of your Tax Dollars in 2000/2001 Budget to Crush Your Cars in order to buy compliance with the Federal Ozone State Implementation Plan. At $1000 per car that will buy 100,000 cars that will be unavailable for parts recycling. 1 crushed car equates to $13,000 in pollution Credits on the Cantor Fitzgerald Emissions Trading Website. That is a net profit of $12,000 to the state at your expense (your car). That looks like a net $12 Billion to the State Treasury. Thank You Governor Davis ---- NOT!!!!!Look who Trades in Units of Industrial Pollution at your expense.They give it a fancy name Emissions Banking but it still means POLLUTION TRADING!!! Once again -- Your Car Goes To Pay For Their Pollution!!!!
California authorizes M1 Pollution Credits under Scrappage . Your scrapped car goes to offset industrial pollution. Welcome to the real world.
Pollution Credits may be found everywhere from California Air Resources Board to US EPA to the Kyoto Treaty.In California the Governing Source for vehicles is Mobile Source Emission Reduction Credits Program . California Senate Bill SB501 from State Senator Calderon brought us the Scrappage Program. Bureau of Automotive Repair wants it for $1000 under the Consumer Assistance Program. Scrapping Old Cars For Clean Air explains Senator Calderon's Rationale. Is this your car??? The following are a sample list of Pollution Trading Sites:
Pollution Credits originated with US EPA. They call it the Market Incentive Program. Three EPA sites that apply include:
EPA Market Incentive Resource Center Draft Economic Incentive Program Guidance Proposed Open Market Trading Rule For Ozone (Smog) Precursors
If you wonder where Smog Check II is going, the answer is the State is pushing toward Electric Vehicles and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles. They want your car off the road and these on the road. If you can't afford these vehicles they want you to take the bus. I do not agree. Read the following web sites:
Electric Vehicles Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Efforts In Fuel Cells Future In Fuel Cells Fuel Cell Systems International Fuel Cells
CalEPA
California EPA
Car Organizations Interested in Smog Check II and Scrappage
Car Clubs Interested in Smog Check II
Concepts, Remote Sensing
Remote Sensing will become an important issue in California in the future. This section will expand significantly
Automobile Emissions: An Overview Remote Sensing:A Supplemental Tool for Vehicle Emission Control Vehicle I/M and Clean Fuel Fleets - Remote Sensing Vehicle Profiling & Remote Sensing Device (RSD) Issues
On-Board Diagnostics (OBD)
Another topic that will be important in the future is On-Board Diagnostics (OBD).
Vehicle I/M, OBD, and Clean Fuel Fleets - Key Terms Vehicle I/M and Clean Fuel Fleets - Other Links On -Board Diagnostics (OBD)