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You’re not testing because you want to. You’re testing because California says you have to, and the penalties for skipping it are brutal.
Starting January 2025, every heavy-duty diesel and hybrid truck over 14,000 pounds needs to pass emissions testing twice a year. By 2027, that jumps to four times a year. Miss a test or fail one, and you’re looking at DMV registration holds and fines up to $10,000 per day.
That’s not a scare tactic. That’s the actual regulation.
When you test with us, you’re getting a CARB-certified scan of your truck’s OBD system using state-approved equipment. We check for emission control issues, document your compliance, and make sure you’re covered if CARB enforcement flags your truck during a roadside check. You walk away with proof that your truck passed, your registration stays clean, and your business keeps running without interruption.
This isn’t about passing inspection for the sake of it. It’s about protecting your livelihood from regulatory penalties that can shut you down fast.
All SMOG Motors focuses exclusively on CARB compliance testing for 2013 and newer heavy-duty trucks. We’re not a general smog shop trying to do everything. We’re a CARB-credentialed testing facility serving fleet operators, independent drivers, and logistics companies in Rancho Palos Verdes and across the South Bay.
Our location puts us right in the path of Port of LA and Long Beach freight traffic, which means we understand the pressure you’re under to keep trucks moving. We use CARB-approved OBD diagnostic equipment, our technicians hold current state credentials, and we stay on top of every regulatory change that affects your compliance deadlines.
You’re not getting a sales pitch here. You’re getting a straightforward service from people who know the rules and know how to keep you on the right side of them.
You bring your truck in, and we start with a quick verification that it qualifies for CARB testing. That means confirming it’s model year 2013 or newer and has a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds. If it doesn’t meet both criteria, this service doesn’t apply.
Once verified, we connect CARB-certified OBD testing equipment to your truck’s diagnostic system. The scan pulls data directly from your engine’s emission control systems and checks for any faults, malfunctions, or tampering. This isn’t a visual inspection. It’s a digital read of what your truck’s computer is reporting.
The test takes about 30 minutes in most cases. If your truck passes, you get documentation proving compliance that satisfies CARB requirements and keeps your DMV registration clear. If something flags, we’ll tell you exactly what the issue is so you can get it repaired and retest.
There’s no runaround. You either pass and you’re done, or you don’t and you know what needs fixing. Either way, you’re not guessing about where you stand with California’s clean truck check program.
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Every CARB compliance test we run includes a full OBD system scan using state-certified diagnostic equipment. We’re checking your diesel particulate filter, your NOx sensors, your exhaust gas recirculation system, and every other emission control component that California monitors.
You’ll also get documentation that proves your truck passed testing, which you’ll need if CARB enforcement pulls you over during a roadside emissions check. Starting in 2023, California began using roadside monitoring devices to flag trucks with high emissions. If your truck gets flagged, you receive a Notice to Submit to Testing and you’ve got 30 days to pass a compliance test or face penalties.
In Rancho Palos Verdes and the surrounding South Bay area, the stakes are even higher because of the concentration of freight traffic moving through local ports. CARB enforcement is active here, and trucks operating near the ports are more likely to encounter roadside checks.
The annual compliance fee for 2025 is $31.18 per vehicle, and that’s separate from testing costs. But compared to the $10,000-per-day fines for non-compliance, it’s not even a question. Testing twice a year now, and four times a year starting in 2027, is just the cost of doing business in California if you’re running heavy-duty trucks.
Your truck qualifies if it’s model year 2013 or newer and has a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds. Both conditions have to be true.
If your truck is older than 2013, it doesn’t fall under the current clean truck check requirements. If it’s under 14,000 pounds, same thing. This regulation specifically targets heavy-duty diesel and alternative fuel trucks that meet those two criteria.
It doesn’t matter if your truck is registered in California or out of state. If you operate in California, you have to comply. That includes trucks just passing through or making deliveries from out of state. CARB enforcement doesn’t care where your plates are from.
Right now, you need to pass emissions testing twice a year. Starting in 2027, that requirement increases to four times a year for diesel and hybrid trucks.
The testing schedule is based on your vehicle’s compliance deadlines, which CARB tracks. If you miss a deadline, you’ll get a notice from CARB, and your registration could be held up until you pass a test.
Roadside enforcement is also random. If your truck gets flagged during a roadside emissions check, you’ll receive a Notice to Submit to Testing and you’ve got 30 days to pass. Missing that deadline triggers fines and potential registration holds, so it’s not something you can put off.
If your truck fails, you’ll get a detailed report showing exactly what triggered the failure. Usually it’s a fault code in the OBD system indicating a problem with your emission controls.
You’ll need to get the issue repaired, then bring the truck back for a retest. You can’t legally operate in California until the truck passes, and if you’re under a 30-day notice from CARB enforcement, that deadline still applies.
Most failures are related to malfunctioning sensors, clogged diesel particulate filters, or issues with exhaust gas recirculation systems. Sometimes it’s tampering or deleted emission controls, which is an automatic fail and can lead to much steeper penalties. Once repairs are done, the retest process is the same as the original test.
If you’re flagged by CARB enforcement and don’t pass a compliance test within 30 days, you’re looking at fines up to $10,000 per vehicle per day. That’s not a maximum in extreme cases. That’s the standard penalty structure.
On top of fines, the DMV can place a hold on your registration, which means you can’t legally renew or operate that truck in California until you’re compliant. For fleet operators, that’s lost revenue every day a truck sits idle.
CARB also uses roadside emissions monitoring devices to screen for high-emitting trucks. If your truck gets flagged, you’ll receive a Notice to Submit to Testing in the mail. Ignoring that notice doesn’t make it go away. It makes your situation worse, because the penalties stack up fast once you’re out of compliance.
Yes. If your truck operates in California, you have to comply with CARB regulations regardless of where it’s registered.
That includes trucks making deliveries into California, passing through the state, or operating temporarily in California for any reason. CARB enforcement doesn’t distinguish between in-state and out-of-state trucks when it comes to emissions compliance.
You’ll follow the same testing process as California-registered trucks. You’ll need to pass the OBD emissions scan, and if you’re flagged during a roadside check, you’ll receive the same 30-day Notice to Submit to Testing. The only difference is where your truck is registered. The compliance requirements are identical.
Most tests take about 30 minutes from start to finish. That includes verifying your truck qualifies, running the OBD scan, and generating your compliance documentation.
If there’s a problem with the OBD connection or if your truck’s system isn’t communicating properly, it might take a bit longer to troubleshoot. But in most cases, you’re in and out in under an hour.
We’re located in Rancho Palos Verdes, which makes us accessible for fleet operators and independent drivers working in the South Bay and port areas. You don’t need an appointment for most tests, but calling ahead helps if you’re bringing in multiple trucks or need to work around a tight schedule.
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