Hear from Our Customers
If you’re running 2013 or newer diesel trucks with a GVWR over 14,000 pounds in California, you’re required to complete Clean Truck Check emissions testing. Miss your deadline, and you’re looking at fines up to $75,000 per day, DMV registration blocks, and trucks that can’t legally operate.
That’s not a scare tactic. That’s what CARB enforcement actually does.
We bring CARB certified OBD testing directly to your location in Rancho Mirage. You schedule it, we show up with the equipment, and your truck gets tested without burning half a day driving somewhere and waiting in line. You get your compliance certificate, submit it to CARB, and you’re done until the next cycle.
No registration holds. No surprise notices. No scrambling when enforcement flags your plates. Just clean records and trucks that stay on the road doing what they’re supposed to do.
All SMOG Motors is a CARB credentialed testing provider serving the Coachella Valley. We’re licensed, insured, and we actually understand how California’s heavy-duty emissions regulations work—which matters when you’re dealing with compliance deadlines, OBD scan requirements, and enforcement notices.
We’re based in Rancho Mirage, so we know the trucking operations running through the desert. Whether you’re hauling freight on I-10, running local deliveries, or managing a small fleet out of the valley, we’ve seen what keeps trucks compliant here.
We’re not the cheapest option you’ll find. We’re insured, which most mobile testers aren’t. We show up on time with calibrated equipment. And we don’t cut corners on documentation, because that’s what gets you flagged later.
You call or message us with your truck details—year, make, VIN, and compliance deadline. We confirm your truck qualifies (2013+ diesel engine, over 14,000 lbs GVWR), then schedule a time that works for you.
We come to your location in Rancho Mirage or anywhere in the Coachella Valley with our CARB certified OBD testing equipment. The test itself takes about 20 to 30 minutes. We plug into your truck’s onboard diagnostic system, pull the emissions data, and check it against CARB standards.
If your truck passes, we submit the results directly to CARB and you get your compliance certificate. You can submit passing tests up to 90 days before your deadline, so if repairs are needed, there’s time to handle them without missing your window.
If something flags during the test, we’ll tell you what needs attention. You get it fixed, we retest, and then you’re compliant. No guessing. No surprises after the fact.
Ready to get started?
California’s Clean Truck Check program went into full enforcement in October 2024. If your truck has a 2013 or newer diesel engine and weighs over 14,000 pounds, you’re required to complete emissions testing twice a year right now. That frequency will eventually increase to four times a year.
This applies whether your truck is registered in California or not. If you operate on California roads, you’re subject to the rule. CARB uses roadside emissions monitoring devices and automated license plate readers to flag high emitters. If your plates get flagged, you’ll receive a Notice to Submit to Testing, and you’ve got 30 days to get compliant.
Here in Rancho Mirage and across the Coachella Valley, we’re seeing more enforcement activity on I-10 and at commercial inspection points. Trucks that aren’t compliant are being pulled, cited, and in some cases, denied entry to ports and railyards.
You also have to pay an annual compliance fee to CARB—around $31 for 2025—and that’s separate from the testing itself. The fee doesn’t go away even if your truck passes. It’s just part of operating in California now.
Yes. If your truck operates on California roads, it’s subject to CARB’s Clean Truck Check requirements regardless of where it’s registered.
That includes trucks with CA DMV-exempt plates. CARB doesn’t care if you’re based in Nevada, Arizona, or anywhere else. If you’re driving in California with a 2013 or newer diesel engine and a GVWR over 14,000 pounds, you’re required to test and comply.
Out-of-state operators get flagged by CARB’s automated license plate readers just like in-state trucks. If you’re not compliant, you can be cited, fined, and potentially barred from operating until you submit a passing test. We work with out-of-state fleets regularly, and the process is the same—we test your truck, submit results to CARB, and you get your compliance certificate.
Right now, most heavy-duty diesel trucks with 2013 or newer engines are required to test twice a year. CARB is phasing in more frequent testing, and that will eventually move to four times per year.
Your specific compliance deadline is tied to your truck’s VIN and registration. You can check your deadline through CARB’s online system, or we can look it up for you when you schedule.
The good news is you can submit a passing test up to 90 days before your deadline. So if your next deadline is in February, you can test as early as November. That gives you a buffer if repairs are needed or if something comes up that delays the process. Most operators we work with in Rancho Mirage schedule their tests a month or two early just to avoid last-minute stress.
If your truck doesn’t pass, we’ll tell you exactly what flagged during the OBD scan. Usually it’s a sensor issue, a DPF problem, or something related to your emissions control system.
You’ll need to get the issue repaired by a qualified mechanic. Once the repairs are done, we come back and retest. If it passes the second time, we submit the results to CARB and you’re compliant.
The key is not to wait until your deadline to test. If you test early and something fails, you have time to fix it and retest without missing your compliance window. If you wait until the last minute and fail, you’re racing the clock to avoid penalties. CARB doesn’t extend deadlines because your truck needed repairs. You either meet the deadline or you’re non-compliant, and that’s when fines and registration holds start piling up.
No. Clean Truck Check testing through the OBD system only applies to trucks with 2013 or newer diesel engines and a GVWR over 14,000 pounds.
If your truck is older than 2013, it’s not subject to this specific testing requirement. If it weighs less than 14,000 pounds, same thing—it doesn’t qualify for Clean Truck Check.
CARB’s regulations are very specific about which vehicles fall under this program, and we only test trucks that meet both criteria. If you’re not sure whether your truck qualifies, give us the year, make, and GVWR, and we’ll tell you right away. We’re not going to waste your time scheduling a test for a truck that doesn’t need it.
CARB can fine you up to $75,000 per day for non-compliance. That’s not a typo. Depending on how long you’re out of compliance and whether you’ve been flagged before, fines can range from $1,000 to $75,000 daily.
On top of that, the DMV can place a registration hold on your truck. That means you can’t renew your registration until you’re compliant. If you try to operate with a registration hold, you’re adding more violations on top of the emissions issue.
CARB enforcement also uses roadside monitoring devices to flag high emitters. If your truck gets flagged, you’ll receive a Notice to Submit to Testing. You have 30 days from that notice to complete a passing test. If you ignore it, the penalties accelerate. We’ve worked with operators who got hit with notices and didn’t realize how serious CARB was until they were facing five-figure fines. Don’t wait for enforcement to find you. Just stay ahead of your deadlines.
Yes. We bring the testing equipment to your location anywhere in Rancho Mirage and the surrounding Coachella Valley.
You don’t need to drive your truck to a shop, wait in line, or lose half a day on compliance. We schedule a time that works for you, show up with our CARB certified OBD scanner, and complete the test on-site.
Mobile testing makes sense for fleets, owner-operators, or anyone running a tight schedule. You keep your truck working, we handle the compliance piece, and you get your results without the downtime. We’re insured, we’re credentialed, and we’ve been doing this long enough to know what CARB looks for during audits. If you’re in the desert and you need Clean Truck Check testing done right, that’s what we’re here for.
Local Resources
Useful Links
Other Services we provide in Rancho Mirage
