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California’s Clean Truck Check program isn’t optional anymore. If you’re running a 2013 or newer diesel truck over 14,000 pounds in this state, you need a passing test on file with CARB—or you’re looking at registration holds, roadside violations, and fines that can hit $10,000 per vehicle per day.
The first compliance deadline hit January 1, 2025. If you missed it, you’re already behind. If you haven’t, you’ve got a 90-day window before your next deadline to get tested and submit results. That window closes fast, especially if your truck fails and needs repairs before retesting.
We handle CARB certified emissions testing right here in East Hemet. You bring the truck, we run the OBD test using CARB approved equipment, and we submit your results directly to the CTC-VIS system. You get documentation, peace of mind, and one less reason for the DMV or CARB to come after your registration or your business.
This isn’t about passing inspection for the sake of it. It’s about keeping your trucks legal, your drivers working, and your revenue flowing without interruption.
We operate right here in East Hemet, serving fleet owners and owner-operators across Riverside County. We’re CARB credentialed to perform Clean Truck Check testing, which means we’re authorized to test your heavy-duty diesel trucks and submit results directly to the state.
East Hemet sits in the heart of Riverside County’s commercial corridor. With construction, logistics, and ag transport moving through this area daily, we see the trucks that keep this region running. We also see the confusion around CARB’s new regulations—and we’re here to clear that up.
We focus specifically on 2013 and newer diesel trucks over 14,000 pounds GVWR. That’s the scope of the Clean Truck Check program, and that’s where our expertise sits. If your truck falls outside that range, this program doesn’t apply to you—and we’re not going to waste your time pretending it does.
You schedule an appointment and bring your truck to our East Hemet location. We’ll verify the year, make, model, and GVWR to confirm it falls under the Clean Truck Check requirements—2013 or newer, over 14,000 pounds.
Once confirmed, we connect to your truck’s OBD system using CARB certified diagnostic equipment. The test pulls data directly from your engine’s onboard computer to check emissions performance. It’s not a visual inspection or a tailpipe test—it’s a digital scan of how your emissions controls are functioning in real time.
If your truck passes, we submit the results to CARB’s CTC-VIS system on your behalf. You’ll receive documentation showing compliance, and that data gets linked to your VIN and registration. If your truck doesn’t pass, we’ll walk you through what failed and what needs repair before you can retest.
The whole process typically takes 30 to 45 minutes for a passing truck. If repairs are needed, you’ve got time within that 90-day window to get the work done and come back. But the earlier you test, the more buffer you have if something goes wrong.
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You’re paying for CARB certified testing by a credentialed technician using state-approved OBD equipment. That’s the baseline. But you’re also paying for clarity—because most fleet owners we talk to in Riverside County are still trying to figure out what this program even is.
Clean Truck Check applies to diesel trucks with a GVWR over 14,000 pounds, model year 2013 or newer. It’s part of CARB’s Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance program, which launched in October 2024 and affects thousands of trucks operating in California—whether they’re registered here or not.
East Hemet and the broader Riverside County area see heavy commercial truck traffic daily. Construction, freight, agriculture—it all moves through here. That means a lot of trucks on the road that now fall under this regulation, and a lot of operators who didn’t see this coming.
You also get direct submission to the CTC-VIS system. CARB tracks compliance through this database, and your test results have to be in there to count. We handle that upload for you, so there’s no gap between getting tested and getting credit for it. You walk out with proof of compliance and a truck that’s clear to operate.
Yes. If your truck operates on California public roads, it has to comply with CARB’s Clean Truck Check program—regardless of where it’s registered.
That means if you’re an out-of-state carrier running routes through California, or if you’re based elsewhere but do regular work in the state, your 2013 or newer diesel truck over 14,000 pounds needs a passing test on file. CARB enforces this through roadside inspections, registration holds, and their CTC-VIS compliance database.
Even if your truck has CA DMV-exempt plates, you’re not exempt from this program. CARB has made that clear in their enforcement guidance. The only way to avoid compliance is to not operate in California at all.
If your truck fails, you’ll get a report showing which emissions system or monitor triggered the failure. Common issues include malfunctioning diesel particulate filters, faulty NOx sensors, or incomplete readiness monitors.
You’ll need to get the issue repaired by a qualified diesel mechanic, then bring the truck back for a retest. The good news is you can submit a passing test up to 90 days before your compliance deadline, so if you test early and fail, you’ve got time to fix it and retest without missing your deadline.
If you wait until the last minute and fail, you’re in a tougher spot. Repairs can take days or weeks depending on parts availability and shop schedules. That’s why we recommend testing at least 60 days out—it gives you a cushion if something goes wrong.
Starting in 2025, compliance deadlines occur every six months for each vehicle. Your specific deadline is based on your truck’s VIN and the schedule CARB assigns.
You can check your truck’s compliance deadline by entering your VIN into CARB’s CTC-VIS system online. Once you know your deadline, you can schedule testing anytime within the 90 days leading up to it. If you test and pass 89 days before your deadline, you’re covered. If you test 91 days out, it won’t count—you’ll have to retest closer to the deadline.
The semi-annual schedule means this becomes a regular part of your operating costs and calendar. Plan for it the same way you plan for fuel, maintenance, and insurance. It’s not going away.
A regular smog check applies to light-duty vehicles under 14,000 pounds and uses tailpipe emissions testing or OBD scans depending on the vehicle age. Clean Truck Check is specifically for heavy-duty diesel trucks—2013 or newer, over 14,000 pounds GVWR—and uses only OBD testing to evaluate emissions system performance.
The equipment is different, the testing protocol is different, and the reporting system is different. Clean Truck Check results get submitted to CARB’s CTC-VIS database, not the regular smog check system. That means you need a shop that’s credentialed and equipped to perform this specific type of test.
Most smog shops in California can’t do Clean Truck Check testing. They’re set up for passenger cars and light trucks, not heavy-duty commercial vehicles. If you show up at a regular smog shop with a semi, they’ll likely turn you away. You need a facility that’s certified for CARB HD I/M testing—and that’s what we do here in East Hemet.
Testing fees vary by provider, but you’re also responsible for CARB’s annual compliance fee, which is $31.18 per vehicle for 2025. That fee goes directly to CARB and covers the cost of administering the program.
The testing fee you pay us covers the actual OBD scan, technician time, equipment use, and submission of results to the CTC-VIS system. If your truck fails and needs a retest after repairs, you’ll pay the testing fee again—there’s no free retest under this program.
If you’re running a fleet, these costs add up quickly. A 10-truck fleet is looking at over $300 in compliance fees alone, plus testing fees twice a year per truck. That’s why some operators are budgeting this as a line item now—it’s a recurring operational expense, not a one-time thing. The alternative is fines that start at $10,000 per vehicle per day, so the math is pretty straightforward.
You can test anytime within 90 days of your compliance deadline. Testing early is actually smarter because it gives you time to handle repairs if your truck fails.
If you test 85 days before your deadline and your truck passes, you’re done—results are submitted and you’re compliant. If you test and fail, you’ve got 85 days to get repairs done and schedule a retest. That’s a much better position than testing three days before your deadline and discovering you need a new DPF that’s on backorder.
CARB designed the 90-day window specifically to give operators flexibility and time to address issues. Use it. The closer you cut it to the deadline, the more risk you’re taking with your registration, your ability to operate, and your exposure to fines.
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