Consumer Assistance Program: Repair Assistance
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The Consumer Assistance Program’s (CAP) repair assistance option offers eligible consumers whose vehicles fail a biennial Smog Check inspection financial assistance toward emissions-related repairs at a STAR test-and-repair station. Owners of model year 1996 or newer vehicles may receive up to $1,200 in emissions-related repairs. Owners of model year 1976 through 1995 vehicles may receive up to $900 in emissions-related repairs.
Steps to Apply
Step 1: Review Eligibility Requirements
Income Requirement
Your gross household income must be less than or equal to 225% of the Federal poverty level.
To determine if you meet this requirement, use the calculator below.
IMPORTANT: You may be required to provide documentation verifying your income before your application can be processed.
Applicant Requirements
- You must be the registered owner of the vehicle with the vehicle title issued in your name.
- You must not have previously participated in CAP with the same vehicle.
- You must pay a co-payment toward the total cost of diagnosis and emissions-related repairs. The co-payment is based on the model year of your vehicle and the total cost of diagnosis and emissions-related repairs.
Model Year 1976-1995 Vehicles
ㅤ | Total Cost of Diagnosis and Emissions-Related Repairs | Your Co-Payment | Example |
ㅤ | $1,125 or less | 20% of the total cost | If the total cost is $500, your co-payment will be $100. |
ㅤ | More than $1,125 | Subtract $900 from the total cost | If the total cost is $1,400, your co-payment will be $500. |
Model Year 1996 and Newer Vehicles
ㅤ | Total Cost of Diagnosis and Emissions-Related Repairs | Your Co-Payment | Example |
ㅤ | $1,500 or less | 20% of the total cost | If the total cost is $1,000, your co-payment will be $200. |
ㅤ | More than $1,500 | Subtract $1,200 from the total cost | If the total cost is $2,000, your co-payment will be $800. |
NOTE: You are responsible for paying any additional costs, including:
- The cost of repairs not authorized through CAP.
- The cost of repairs not related to the Smog Check inspection failure.
- The Smog Check certificate fee of $8.25.
Smog Check Requirements
1. The vehicle must have failed its biennial (every other year) Smog Check inspection.NOTE:Aborted, manual mode, and training mode inspections do not satisfy this requirement.
2. The vehicle must not have a tampered emissions control system.
Registration Requirements
1. The vehicle must be currently registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with a valid and unexpired registration sticker OR have all fees paid to DMV and not have a registration sticker that has been expired more than 365 days.
2. The vehicle must not be undergoing a transfer of ownership.
3. The vehicle must not be undergoing an initial registration or re-registration into California.
4. The vehicle must not be registered to a business, government, or non-profit organization.
5. The vehicle must not be junked.
6. The vehicle must not be total loss salvaged in the process of being re-registered (i.e., salvage retention) in California.
If you do not meet all of the eligibility requirements, you may consider
.
Step 2: Apply Online
Review the following before beginning the application process:
- Have the vehicle registration or title available to complete the application.
- Applying online may result in faster application processing. If you are unable to apply online, you may download a printable version of the application.
- Do not print and mail the online version of the application. This will delay the processing of your application.
- You will receive an electronic confirmation notice when you successfully submit your application to BAR. You are encouraged to retain this notice for your records by printing and/or sending the notice to your email account.
- Do not have emissions-related repairs performed on your vehicle until your application is approved. BAR will not reimburse consumers.
Step 3: Submit Income Documents
You may be required to provide documentation verifying your income before your application can be processed. A notice will be mailed to you if documentation is required.
To help avoid potential delays and expedite the processing of your application, you may submit this documentation after submitting your application. Submit a COPY of ONE of the income documentation options listed in the table below. Include your CAP ID number on ALL documents and upload or mail to:
Mail:
Income Documentation Options
Income/Benefits You Receive | ㅤ | Acceptable Documentation |
1. | Public Assistance | A letter from issuing agency or bank statement verifying public assistance (e.g., Cal Fresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, or SSI) funds issued to you within the past 60 days. |
2. | Unemployment, Disability, or Veteran’s Benefits | A letter, check stub, or bank statement verifying funds issued to you within the past 60 days. |
3. | Social Security | A letter, check, or bank statement verifying funds issued to you within the past 60 days. |
4. | Earned Wages - Tax Form AND Paycheck Stub | Your Federal Tax Form 1040 or State Tax Form 540 filed in the most recent tax year AND a copy of a paycheck stub issued to you within the past 60 days reflecting your year-to-date earnings, hours worked, and hourly wage. |
5. | None of the Above – Wage History Report | If you do not have documentation verifying your income eligibility, submit a Public Records Request to obtain a Wage History Report from the Employment Development Department (EDD). Within four weeks of receiving your request, EDD will mail you a Wage History Report verifying your reported wages, even if $0, for the last four available quarters. Upon receipt, you must submit this report to BAR/CAP for your application to be processed. |
BAR encourages applicants to protect their personal identifiable information by redacting or removing confidential information from any required documentation verifying household income prior to submittal. Confidential documents received shall be securely discarded without reuse or distribution after BAR completes a formal review and determination of income eligibility. Examples of confidential information include, but are not limited to: Social Security numbers; birth dates; taxpayer identification numbers; names of minor children; case numbers; medical records; and brokerage, bank, or other financial account numbers. | ㅤ | ㅤ |
Information
- For general program questions, call toll-free (800) 952-5210.
- For specific application questions, call toll-free (866) 272-9642.