Hear from Our Customers
If you’re running heavy-duty diesel trucks in California, you already know the stakes. CARB’s Clean Truck Check program isn’t optional, and the penalties for non-compliance hit hard—up to $10,000 per vehicle per day. The DMV will block your registration if you miss your deadline, which means your truck sits instead of earning.
This isn’t about paperwork. It’s about keeping your operation moving without interruption.
You need testing done right, on time, by someone who knows what CARB actually requires. That’s where we come in. We handle CARB emissions testing for semi trucks and heavy-duty vehicles that meet the program requirements—model year 2013 or newer with OBD systems and a GVWR over 14,000 pounds. Our testers are CARB certified, which means your results get reported correctly and your compliance deadline gets met.
You’re dealing with enough already. Freight schedules, fuel costs, maintenance windows. The last thing you need is a compliance issue shutting down your fleet because someone didn’t know how to run the test properly.
We serve the Perris area with CARB diesel compliance testing that’s built around the realities of running trucks in Riverside County. Perris sits right in the heart of Southern California’s logistics corridor, with over 1,500 trucking companies operating in the area. You’re moving freight through the Inland Empire, and downtime costs you money.
We’re not a corporate chain. We’re a local smog check shop that invested in becoming CARB credentialed testers because we saw what truck operators in this area actually need—fast, accurate testing that keeps your vehicles compliant without dragging out the process.
You can submit your passing test up to 90 days before your compliance deadline, which gives you flexibility to plan around your schedule instead of scrambling at the last minute. And if there’s an issue, you’ll know exactly what needs fixing before CARB or CHP flags your truck on the road.
When you bring your truck in for a Clean Truck Check, we’re running an OBD-based emissions test using CARB-approved equipment. This applies only to diesel trucks from 2013 or newer with a GVWR over 14,000 pounds—older trucks or lighter vehicles don’t qualify for this program.
We plug into your truck’s onboard diagnostics system and pull the emissions data CARB requires. The test checks whether your diesel emissions control systems are working correctly. If everything passes, we submit your results directly to CARB’s CTC-VIS system, and you’re compliant for the next six months. Right now, testing happens twice a year, but starting in October 2027, it increases to four times annually.
If something fails, we’ll tell you what triggered it. Could be a sensor issue, a DPF problem, or something else in your emissions system. You’ll need to get it repaired and come back for a retest, but at least you’ll know before CARB catches it during a roadside inspection.
The whole process takes about 30 minutes if your truck passes. You walk out with documentation, and your compliance status gets updated in the state system. No guessing, no waiting weeks to find out if you’re clear.
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You’re not just getting a smog test. You’re getting CARB HD I/M testing from a credentialed tester who’s gone through the state’s training program and maintains current certification. That matters because CARB only accepts results from certified testers, and if your test isn’t done right, it doesn’t count.
Here’s what’s included: the full OBD emissions inspection, submission of your results to the CTC-VIS database, and a certificate showing your compliance status. If your truck passes, you’re legally clear to operate in California until your next deadline. If it doesn’t, you’ll get a detailed report of what failed so you can address it.
Perris has a massive trucking presence because of its location along I-215 and proximity to major distribution centers. That means enforcement is active here. CARB has roadside monitoring devices, and CHP coordinates with them to pull non-compliant trucks off the road. Getting tested before they catch you is a lot cheaper than dealing with fines and towing.
One more thing—compliance costs add up. Between testing fees, potential repairs, and the time your truck isn’t working, you’re looking at $2,500 to $4,500 per vehicle annually. But that’s still better than a $10,000-per-day penalty or losing your registration entirely.
No. The Clean Truck Check program only applies to heavy-duty diesel trucks that are model year 2013 or newer and have a GVWR over 14,000 pounds. CARB designed the program specifically for trucks with OBD systems, which became standard in 2013.
If your truck is older than 2013, you’re not required to get this test. But you may still have other CARB compliance requirements depending on your truck’s weight class and how it’s registered. Older trucks fall under different regulations, like the Truck and Bus rule, which has its own set of engine upgrade and retrofit requirements.
If you’re not sure whether your truck qualifies, check your registration or call us. We can tell you in about two minutes whether you need a Clean Truck Check or if you’re dealing with a different compliance issue altogether.
Right now, you need to test twice a year—every six months. Your specific deadlines are based on your truck’s VIN and when it was first registered in the CTC-VIS system. CARB assigns your compliance dates, and you’ll need a passing test before each one.
Starting in October 2027, the frequency increases to four times per year, which means quarterly testing. That’s a significant jump, and it’s going to add more cost and scheduling pressure for fleet operators. The good news is you can submit a passing test up to 90 days early, so if you know your deadline is coming up in March, you can get tested in December and be covered.
Missing a deadline triggers a registration hold with the DMV. Once that happens, you can’t renew your registration until you submit a passing test. And if you’re caught operating a non-compliant truck, you’re looking at fines that start at $10,000 per vehicle per day. CARB doesn’t mess around with enforcement on this.
If your truck fails, you’ll get a report that shows exactly what triggered the failure. Most failures come from issues with the diesel particulate filter, NOx sensors, or other emissions control components. You’ll need to get those repaired before you can retest.
Once the repairs are done, bring your truck back and we’ll run the test again. If it passes, we submit the results to CARB and you’re compliant. If it fails again, you’ll need to dig deeper into what’s causing the problem—sometimes it’s a part that wasn’t replaced correctly, or there’s an underlying issue with the emissions system.
You can’t operate a truck in California that’s failed a Clean Truck Check and hasn’t been retested. CARB tracks this in their system, and if you’re pulled over during a roadside inspection, they’ll know your status immediately. The penalties for operating a non-compliant truck are steep, so it’s worth getting the repairs handled quickly and coming back for a retest before you put the truck back on the road.
You can get your Clean Truck Check done at any CARB-certified testing location in California. It doesn’t have to be in Perris. CARB maintains a list of credentialed testers across the state, and as long as the tester is certified, your results will be accepted no matter where you get tested.
That said, if you’re based in Perris or running routes through Riverside County regularly, it makes sense to test locally. You’re not adding extra miles or downtime to your schedule, and you’re working with someone who understands the logistics challenges in this area. Plus, if you need a retest or have questions about your compliance status, it’s easier to deal with a shop that’s five minutes away instead of an hour down the freeway.
One thing to watch out for—make sure whoever you go to is actually CARB certified for Clean Truck Check testing. Not every smog shop can do this. It requires specific training and certification, and if the tester isn’t credentialed, your test won’t count. You’ll be out the time and money, and you’ll still need to get tested again somewhere else.
Testing fees vary depending on the shop, but you’re generally looking at somewhere between $150 and $300 per test. That’s just for the inspection itself. If your truck fails and needs repairs, those costs are separate and depend entirely on what’s wrong with your emissions system.
Some repairs are minor—a sensor replacement might run a few hundred dollars. Other issues, like a failing DPF or problems with your SCR system, can cost thousands. That’s why it’s worth staying on top of your testing schedule and catching problems early. The longer you wait, the more likely a small issue turns into a bigger, more expensive one.
Keep in mind that compliance costs add up over the year. With two tests annually right now, and four starting in 2027, you’re looking at $600 to $1,200 just in testing fees per truck. Add in potential repairs and the time your truck is off the road, and the total cost of compliance can hit $2,500 to $4,500 per vehicle. It’s not cheap, but it’s a lot better than a $10,000-per-day fine or losing your registration.
Bring your truck, your registration, and any documentation related to recent emissions repairs if you’ve had work done. We’ll need your VIN to pull up your compliance status in the CTC-VIS system and make sure we’re submitting your results correctly.
If this is your first time getting a Clean Truck Check, we’ll enter your truck into the system and establish your testing schedule. If you’ve been tested before, we’ll verify your last test date and make sure you’re within the window to submit a new one. Remember, you can test up to 90 days before your deadline, so if you’re planning ahead, that’s fine—we can still run the test and submit it.
Make sure your truck is in operating condition when you bring it in. We can’t test a truck that won’t start or has major mechanical issues preventing it from running properly. If your check engine light is on, that’s going to trigger a failure, so it’s worth getting that looked at before you come in for testing. The cleaner your truck’s systems are running, the better your chances of passing on the first try.
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