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You already know what happens when a truck sits. Lost contracts. Missed deliveries. Revenue that never comes back.
CARB’s Clean Truck Check program started enforcing in 2025, and the consequences for non-compliance are immediate. The DMV will hold your registration. You can face fines up to $10,000 per vehicle. Your truck gets flagged at weigh stations, and if you’re a shipper hiring non-compliant carriers, you’re liable too.
This isn’t a warning letter situation. If your 2013 or newer diesel truck with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds hasn’t passed a CARB certified smog test, you’re already at risk. Testing has to be done by a CARB credentialed tester using certified OBD equipment, and the results go straight into the state database. You can’t fake it, and you can’t wait it out.
Right now, testing is required twice a year. Starting in October 2027, it goes to four times a year for OBD-equipped vehicles. The window is tightening, and so is enforcement.
We’re a CARB credentialed testing facility in Westmont, CA, and we specialize in one thing: Clean Truck Check emissions testing for heavy-duty diesel trucks that are model year 2013 or newer and have a GVWR over 14,000 pounds.
That’s it. We don’t test passenger cars. We don’t test older trucks. We focus on the exact vehicles that California is now requiring to comply with CARB diesel compliance regulations, and we use the certified OBD testing devices the state mandates.
Westmont sits in the heart of Los Angeles County, where commercial trucking is dense and enforcement is active. You’re not just dealing with state regulations here—you’re operating in one of the most scrutinized air quality zones in California. That means more roadside checks, more audits, and less room for error.
You bring in your 2013 or newer truck. We verify the year, weight class, and engine type to confirm it qualifies under the Clean Truck Check program.
Then we connect to your truck’s onboard diagnostics system using CARB certified OBD equipment. The test pulls data directly from your engine’s computer—emissions levels, fault codes, system readiness. It’s not a visual inspection. It’s a data-driven compliance check that California requires to confirm your truck meets current emissions standards.
If your truck passes, we submit the results directly to CARB’s database that same day. You’ll get documentation for your records, and your vehicle stays clear with the DMV. If it doesn’t pass, we’ll tell you what failed and what needs to be addressed before you can retest.
You can submit a passing test up to 90 days before your compliance deadline, so if you’re planning ahead, you’ve got time to handle repairs without pulling a truck off the road last minute. Most tests take under an hour if the truck is ready and there are no underlying issues.
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This isn’t a standard smog check. CARB compliance testing for heavy-duty trucks is a specialized service that requires state certification, specific equipment, and direct reporting access to California’s emissions database.
When you come in, you’re getting a test performed by a CARB credentialed tester who’s trained and certified to handle 2013 and newer diesel engines. We’re using the exact OBD testing devices that CARB mandates—not generic scan tools. And we’re submitting your results in real time to the state system, so there’s no delay between your test and your compliance status.
In Westmont and across LA County, the trucking industry is under more scrutiny than ever. California is targeting heavy-duty diesel emissions as a major source of NOx and particulate pollution, and the Clean Truck Check program is projected to cut 82 tons per day of harmful emissions by 2037. That means more inspections, stricter standards, and higher costs for non-compliance.
You’re also paying the state’s annual compliance fee, which goes up every year. It was $31.18 in 2025, and it’s $32.13 in 2026. That’s on top of testing costs, and it’s non-negotiable if you want to keep your registration active.
If your truck is model year 2013 or newer, runs on diesel or alternative fuel, and has a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds, yes. California’s Clean Truck Check program requires these vehicles to complete CARB emissions testing twice a year as of 2025.
This applies to commercial trucks, buses, RVs over 14,000 pounds, and even out-of-state trucks that operate in California. If your truck is registered in California or you’re running loads here regularly, you’re required to comply.
Older trucks and lighter vehicles aren’t part of this program. But if you’re operating a 2013+ semi truck in Westmont, CA or anywhere else in the state, this isn’t optional. The DMV will block your registration if you don’t have a passing test on file, and you can be cited during roadside inspections.
The DMV puts a hold on your registration. That means you can’t renew, and if you’re caught operating the vehicle, you’re looking at fines and potential impoundment.
California can also issue penalties up to $10,000 per vehicle per day for continued non-compliance. If you’re a shipper or broker hiring non-compliant carriers, you’re liable for up to $10,000 per year for each non-compliant truck you contract.
Enforcement started in 2025, and it’s only getting stricter. Roadside inspections are increasing, and weigh stations are checking compliance status in real time. A parked truck costs you money every day—lost loads, missed deadlines, and customers who move on. The cost of staying compliant is a fraction of what you’ll pay if you ignore it.
Right now, it’s twice a year. Starting in October 2027, trucks with OBD-equipped engines—basically all 2013 and newer diesel trucks—will need to test four times a year.
That’s quarterly testing, which means tighter scheduling and more frequent compliance checks. The state is phasing this in to increase oversight and push emissions reductions faster.
You can submit a passing test up to 90 days before your deadline, so if you’re managing a fleet, you’ve got some flexibility to stagger your schedule. But once 2027 hits, you’re looking at a test every three months. Plan for it now, because the testing infrastructure is already stretched thin and appointment availability is going to get tighter.
It has to be done by a CARB credentialed tester using CARB certified OBD testing equipment. Not every smog shop can do this. Most smog check stations only handle passenger vehicles, and even the ones that work on trucks aren’t always certified for Clean Truck Check testing.
The tester has to have current CARB credentials, and they’re required to submit results directly to the state database. You can’t just get a printout and mail it in. It’s a live system, and compliance is tracked in real time.
We’re a CARB credentialed facility in Westmont, CA that specializes in testing 2013 and newer heavy-duty diesel trucks over 14,000 pounds. We’ve got the equipment, the certification, and the direct reporting access you need to stay legal.
You’ll need to get it repaired and retested. The test results will show what failed—usually it’s related to emissions system faults, sensor issues, or OBD readiness monitors that aren’t set.
You’ve got a 90-day window to submit a passing test before your compliance deadline, so if you test early and fail, you’ve got time to fix it without losing your registration. But if you wait until the last minute and fail, you’re stuck.
Repairs can range from simple sensor replacements to more involved emissions system work, depending on what’s flagged. The good news is that once it’s fixed and you pass, you’re clear for the next testing period. The bad news is that ignoring a failed test doesn’t make it go away—it just makes your situation worse when the DMV catches up.
Testing costs vary depending on the facility, but you’re also paying California’s annual compliance fee, which is over $30 and goes up every year. That fee is separate from the actual test cost.
The real cost isn’t the test itself—it’s what happens if you skip it. A $10,000 fine, a registration hold, or a truck sitting in impound will cost you more in one day than a year’s worth of compliance testing.
If you’re running a fleet, factor in testing as a recurring operational expense. Twice a year now, four times a year starting in 2027. It’s not going away, and it’s not getting cheaper. But it’s a lot less expensive than the alternative.
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