(a) A licensed smog check station shall not issue a certificate of compliance, except as authorized by this chapter, to any vehicle that meets the following criteria:

(1) A vehicle that has been tampered with.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(2) A vehicle identified pursuant to subparagraph (K) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 44036. A vehicle identified pursuant to subparagraph (K) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 44036 shall be directed to the department to determine whether an inadvertent error can explain the irregularity, or whether the vehicle otherwise meets smog check requirements, allowing the certificate for compliance to be issued, or the vehicle shall be reinspected by a referee or another smog check station.

(3) A vehicle that, prior to repairs, has been initially identified by the smog check station as a gross polluter. Certification of a gross polluting vehicle shall be conducted by a designated test-only facility, or a test-and-repair station that is both licensed and certified pursuant to Sections 44014 and 44014.2.

(4) A vehicle described in subdivision (c).

(b) If a vehicle meets the requirements of Section 44012, a smog check station licensed to issue certificates shall issue a certificate of compliance or a certificate of noncompliance.

(c) (1) A repair cost waiver shall be issued, upon request of the vehicle owner, by an entity authorized to perform referee functions for a vehicle that has been properly tested but does not meet the applicable emission standards when it is determined that no adjustment or repair can be made that will reduce emissions from the inspected motor vehicle without exceeding the applicable repair cost limit established under Section 44017 and that every defect specified by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 43204, and by paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 43205, has been corrected. A repair cost waiver issued pursuant to this paragraph shall be accepted in lieu of a certificate of compliance for the purposes of compliance with § 4000.3 of the Vehicle Code. No repair cost waiver shall exceed two years’ duration. No repair cost waiver shall be issued until the vehicle owner has expended an amount equal to the applicable repair cost limit specified in Section 44017.

(2) An economic hardship extension shall be issued, upon request of a qualified low-income motor vehicle owner, by an entity authorized to perform referee functions, for a motor vehicle that has been properly tested but does not meet the applicable emission standards when it is determined that no adjustment or repair can be made that will reduce emissions from the inspected motor vehicle without exceeding the applicable repair cost limit, as established pursuant to Section 44017.1, that every defect specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 43204, and in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 43205, has been corrected, that the low-income vehicle owner would suffer an economic hardship if the extension is not issued, and that all appropriate emissions-related repairs up to the amount of the applicable repair cost limit in Section 44017.1 have been performed.

(d) No repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension shall be issued under any of the following circumstances:

(1) If a motor vehicle was issued a repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension in the previous biennial inspection of that vehicle. A repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension may be issued to a motor vehicle owner only once for a particular motor vehicle belonging to that owner. However, a repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension may be issued for a motor vehicle that participated in a previous waiver or extension program prior to January 1, 1998, as determined by the department. For waivers or extensions issued in the program operative on or after January 1, 1998, a waiver or extension may be issued for a motor vehicle only once per owner.

(2) Upon initial registration of all of the following:

(A) A direct import motor vehicle.

(B) A motor vehicle previously registered outside this state.

(C) A dismantled motor vehicle pursuant to § 11519 of the Vehicle Code.

(D) A motor vehicle that has had an engine change.

(E) An alternate fuel vehicle.

(F) A specially constructed vehicle.

(e) Except as provided in subdivision (f), a certificate of compliance or noncompliance shall be valid for 90 days.

(f) Excluding any vehicle whose transfer of ownership and registration is described in subdivision (d) of § 4000.1 of the Vehicle Code, and except as otherwise provided in Sections 4000.1, 24007, 24007.5, and 24007.6 of the Vehicle Code, a licensed motor vehicle dealer shall be responsible for having a smog check inspection performed on, and a certificate of compliance or noncompliance issued for, every motor vehicle offered for retail sale. A certificate issued to a licensed motor vehicle dealer shall be valid for a two-year period, or until the vehicle is sold and registered to a retail buyer, whichever occurs first.

(g) A test may be made at any time within 90 days prior to the date otherwise required.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 258, Sec. 8. (AB 2289) Effective January 1, 2011.)