Failed smog for not having emissions label on hood

Hello!


Wanted to check from the community here about some bs that happened to me this morning. I took in my 2001 Taco to a local smog shop and after 20 minutes the worker comes back and says that the truck failed the smog check due to not having an emissions label. I told him okay, I can get the label in 10 minutes in my office but he said he will charge an additional 30 on top of charging for the smog check. This fella was on the phone chatting while performing the smog check and I just feel that the moment he popped the hood and didn't see a label, he could have just said, "can't do this without the emissions label."

For Cali folks, can would you do in this situation? I feel like I filing a complaint or something to DMV but hoping for some input for the rest here.

 

That sucks but I'm not surprised, CA emissions is a strict business and they are sticklers for things meeting criteria. The supercharger and headers on my truck are smog legal in CA but only if I have the CARB stickers for them under the hood...if those stickers come off or get ruined I'm screwed.

So you do have the sticker but it's at your office, and they want to charge an additional $30 for you to bring it back and show them? That's BS, most smog shops usually have a free re-test if you fail the initial one. At least from what I've seen advertised.

You can try filing a complaint with the DMV but honestly that just might end up frustrating you even more, dealing with the DMV is never an easy process. If the shop won't budge on the 30 bucks I'd just pay it and be done with them, and go somewhere else next time around

 

That's BS, you're supposed to have a free re-test.
https://www.smoggonly.com/90-day-free-retest/

 

That's exactly what I feel should happen.

 

Aren't those independant smog shops contracted to the state, meaning they can be 'fired' by losing their contract?

Wonder how they lose it? Possibly customer complaints on topics like this, where they are abusing the system for pocket money. That $30 retest is not gonna go to the state, because there's no way to enter those funds in the 'free' system.

Maybe the tech is working freelance, and the owner of the shop (contract holder) is clueless what is happening.

 

Yep,

Take this website, or even better DMV paperwork that says the same thing (might be worth a quick google on that).

If they still won't budge, just pull out the phone and call the DMV right in front of them to confirm (I know, you'll probably be on hold for like 6 hours). This will be most effective if there's a line of people behind you wanting to get tested, too.

However, for me personally, I would NOT give them the satisfaction of paying up the $30 if they still refuse. I'd rather go to another shop and pay the full price for a re-test than let them scam me out of even more money.

 

File a complaint.

https://www.dca.ca.gov/webapps/bar/complaints.php

BAR doesn’t mess around in Cali.

 

I remember seeing a knockdown fight over a non-stock steering wheel in a Ford F-100. (that'll give you a span of years there). Mechanic doing the safety inspection said it couldn't pass as it was smaller and harder to turn. Owner was a big dude who proved he was strong enough to turn it. I think he had to get his sticker elsewhere though.

Report it as a scam.

 

The emissions decal MUST be on the vehicle when being smogged. Period.
Missing/removed equipment results in immediate test failure. You can source your own decal, perhaps for less money.
I won't speak to the retest fee, that is between you and the shop.

 

So much this. A shop like that, or at least the tech, doesn't deserve to be in business any longer.

 

And people make fun of Cali for the emissions testing. Cali at least doesn't give a crap if you have a different steering wheel, lol

The primary issue the OP has is not the sticker, he said he already has one. His main issue he has is the shop is trying to charge him a $30 retest, which is clearly a scam by the shop.

 

California

 

update: I won. Got a refund and took my business elsewhere. I’ll drink to that.

 

name of the shop and name the city... when/ if the owner googles his shop and sees his shop is getting bad reviews / flamed he will either operate it with more integrity or not at all.

 

This was golden advice.

 

Did you hear a response from them? I’m curious if they got into trouble.

 

Label?

 

My cousin does smog. He’s not gonna dick with the obvious labels. Like Dinan did BMW. Dealership issued, or obvious stuff.

Glad you got it done OP

 

Not directly from smog shop just from the State rep doing the investigation. He (investigator) said it was obvious the shop did not want to work because he (shop owner)could have easily gotten the information on the cat itself and could have ran that in his computer.

 

Yep, emissions label.