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If you’re running a 2013 or newer heavy-duty diesel truck in California, you already know the state doesn’t mess around with compliance. Starting January 1, 2025, every compliance deadline requires a passing emissions test submitted by a CARB-credentialed tester. Miss it, and you’re looking at registration holds at the DMV and fines that can hit $1,000 per vehicle per day.
That’s not a scare tactic. That’s the regulation.
We handle Clean Truck Check testing for trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds and model year 2013 or newer. The test itself takes about five minutes using onboard diagnostics. You’re in, you’re tested, you’re back on the road. No guessing if it’s done right, no wondering if the results will actually get submitted to CARB. It’s handled.
And if you’re operating out of state but running routes through California, you’re still subject to these rules. The state doesn’t care where your truck is registered. If it operates here, it needs to comply here.
All SMOG Motors is a CARB-credentialed testing facility in Calimesa, California. We’ve been handling emissions testing for years, and we added Clean Truck Check services because the trucking industry in this area needed a reliable place to get it done without the runaround.
Calimesa sits right in the heart of Southern California’s freight corridor. You’ve got the I-15 running through, connecting routes from San Bernardino to Riverside and beyond. That means a lot of heavy-duty trucks moving through this area daily, and a lot of operators who need testing that’s fast, accurate, and actually submitted correctly to CARB.
We’re not trying to be the cheapest option in the region. We’re trying to be the one that keeps you compliant, keeps your registration clear, and keeps your business moving without the stress of wondering if your paperwork is actually filed.
You bring your truck in. We confirm it qualifies—model year 2013 or newer, gross vehicle weight rating above 14,000 pounds. If it doesn’t meet those criteria, this test doesn’t apply to your vehicle, and we’ll let you know upfront.
Once confirmed, we connect to your truck’s onboard diagnostic system using CARB-approved testing equipment. The OBD scan takes about five minutes. We’re checking emissions data that your truck’s computer has already been tracking. There’s no tailpipe test for this. It’s all electronic.
If your truck passes, we submit the results directly to CARB on your behalf. You’ll get documentation showing the test was completed and filed. That submission counts toward your compliance deadline, and you can submit a passing test up to 90 days before your deadline if you want to get ahead of it.
If your truck doesn’t pass, we’ll walk you through what the system flagged and what your next steps are. Most of the time, it’s a repair issue that needs to be handled before retesting. We don’t do the repairs here, but we’ll tell you exactly what CARB is looking for so you’re not guessing.
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California’s Clean Truck Check program started October 1, 2024. If your truck is model year 2013 or newer and weighs over 14,000 pounds, you’re required to submit a passing emissions compliance test at your compliance deadline. For most operators, that’s semi-annual—every six months.
Starting in October 2027, the testing frequency increases to four times per year for OBD-equipped vehicles. That’s the direction the state is moving, and it’s not optional.
The compliance fee for 2025 is $31.18, plus the cost of testing. That fee goes to CARB, not us. Our testing fee covers the time, equipment, and submission process. It’s straightforward pricing with no surprise add-ons.
Here’s what a lot of operators don’t realize until it’s too late: you can’t just go anywhere for this test. It has to be done by a CARB-credentialed tester using CARB-approved equipment. A regular smog shop can’t do it unless they’re certified for Clean Truck Check. A mechanic can’t do it. It has to be submitted through the state’s system by someone who’s gone through the training and has the credentials.
We’re set up for that. You’re not going to show up and find out we can’t actually file your results.
And if you’re running trucks through California but you’re based out of state, this still applies to you. The state’s position is clear: if your vehicle operates in California, it’s subject to California emissions rules, regardless of where it’s registered. That’s been a surprise for a lot of interstate operators, but it’s enforceable, and it’s being enforced.
Only heavy-duty trucks that are model year 2013 or newer and have a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds are required to complete Clean Truck Check emissions testing. If your truck is older than 2013 or weighs less than 14,000 pounds, this regulation doesn’t apply to you.
The state chose 2013 as the cutoff because that’s when onboard diagnostic systems became standard on heavy-duty diesel engines. The OBD system is what we plug into during the test. Older trucks don’t have the right diagnostics for this type of testing, so they’re not included in the program.
If you’re not sure whether your truck qualifies, bring in your registration or VIN. We can confirm eligibility before you schedule anything. There’s no point in booking an appointment if your truck doesn’t fall under the rule, and we’d rather tell you that upfront than waste your time.
Right now, most qualifying trucks are required to test semi-annually—that’s twice a year. Your specific compliance deadline depends on your vehicle’s registration and when it was last tested. CARB tracks this through their system, and your deadline is tied to your truck’s VIN.
In October 2027, the frequency increases to four times per year for OBD-equipped vehicles. That’s a little over two years from now, and it’s already written into the regulation. The state is phasing in more frequent testing as part of their long-term emissions reduction strategy.
You can submit a passing test up to 90 days before your compliance deadline. That means if you know your deadline is coming up in March, you can test as early as December and still have it count. A lot of fleet operators use that window to stagger their testing schedules and avoid last-minute scrambles.
If your truck doesn’t pass, the OBD system flagged something in the emissions data that’s out of compliance. We’ll give you a report that shows exactly what the system detected. Most of the time, it’s a sensor issue, a fault code that needs to be cleared after a repair, or an emissions component that’s not functioning properly.
You’ll need to get the issue repaired, then come back for a retest. We don’t handle the repairs ourselves, but we can tell you what CARB is looking for based on the diagnostic codes. You can take that information to your mechanic or fleet maintenance team and get it addressed.
Once the repair is done, you retest. If it passes, we submit the results to CARB just like we would have the first time. There’s no penalty for failing the test itself—the penalty comes from missing your compliance deadline. So if you test early and fail, you’ve still got time to fix it and retest before the deadline hits. That’s why testing ahead of your deadline is a smart move.
Yes. If your truck operates in California, it’s subject to Clean Truck Check requirements regardless of where it’s registered. The state’s rule is based on operation, not registration. So if you’re running freight routes through California, even occasionally, your truck needs to comply with CARB’s heavy-duty emissions testing program.
This catches a lot of interstate operators off guard. You might be based in Nevada, Arizona, or Oregon, but if your routes bring you into California, the state considers your vehicle subject to its regulations. And CARB has enforcement mechanisms in place—they can issue fines, prevent your truck from operating in the state, and even place holds on registration if you’re trying to register a California-based vehicle.
The fines aren’t small either. You’re looking at up to $1,000 per vehicle per day for non-compliance. For a fleet, that adds up fast. The simplest way to avoid it is to treat California operations the same way you’d treat any other compliance requirement: get tested on schedule, keep your documentation, and don’t assume being out of state exempts you.
The test itself takes about five minutes once we’ve got your truck connected to the diagnostic equipment. The onboard diagnostics scan is quick—we’re pulling data your truck’s computer has already been logging. There’s no tailpipe emissions test, no waiting for warm-up cycles. It’s a plug-in, scan, and review process.
That said, we do recommend scheduling an appointment, especially if you’re managing a fleet or coming in during peak hours. Walk-ins are welcome if we’ve got availability, but booking ahead means you’re not sitting around waiting. You can plan your route, get in, get tested, and get back on the road without losing half your day.
And if you’re testing multiple trucks, let us know when you schedule. We can block out time and move through your fleet more efficiently than if you’re showing up one truck at a time without notice. The goal is to make this as low-friction as possible. You’ve got freight to move. We’re just here to keep you compliant while you do it.
Clean Truck Check is a separate test from a standard smog check, and it’s only for heavy-duty trucks that meet the specific criteria—2013 or newer, over 14,000 pounds GVWR. If your vehicle is a light-duty truck or passenger vehicle, you’d be getting a traditional smog test, not a Clean Truck Check.
That said, if you’ve got a qualifying heavy-duty truck and it’s also due for other inspections or services, you can coordinate timing. But the Clean Truck Check itself is its own compliance requirement under CARB’s heavy-duty inspection and maintenance program. It’s not bundled into your regular smog check process.
The confusion usually comes from the fact that both tests deal with emissions, and both are required by the state. But they’re administered under different programs, for different vehicle classes, with different testing procedures. If you’re not sure which test your vehicle needs, bring in your registration. We’ll confirm what applies to your truck and make sure you’re getting the right test for your compliance deadline.
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