Test Only Station Smog Check -- AGAIN!

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You get charged different rates for inspections depending on where you go? Are shops allowed to set their own fees or what?

In NC, it is a flat fee for each test, but not all tests are required in every county for every vehicle. We have a basic safety inspection, emissions for OBDII vehicles in certain counties, and a tint test. Safety + emissions is $30. Tint is another $10 and only applies to aftermarket tint. Shops can't charge anything over the state's fees. We don't have any test only places either, but just about every shop can do inspections.
 
A Test Only station is not allowed to do repairs -- that's why they charge more for the smog check!

Yes, smog check fees vary from place to place. There are no mandatory safety checks in CA.

I think I mentioned that last year they swiped my friend's gas cap at a Test Only station. Had he not bought their el cheapo gas cap,* he would have failed the test!

* apparently a convenient loophole not constituting a "repair"
 
Locking gas caps are racing off store shelves. Only time somebody can steal the cap is when it's off the car.

Glad we don't have that smog check in upstate NY. Yearly visual inspection and OBDII test. That's in addition to the yearly safety check. Those crooked repair shops will purposely drop brake parts to try to warp/damage them so they can sell you new ones. Saw a tech take a sledge to the rear drums on my car, then let the drum fall the 5 feet to the floor. Thankfully the drum proved tougher than the floor.
 
I have tethered my car's gas cap.
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There is one great feature that appears in most Japanese cars. It is a fuel filler door that must be opened by pushing a button on the inside of the car. If you lock your doors you have effectively locked your fuel filler.

What a shame this doesn't appear on many American cars.
 
You've been selected to go there every year for now on ,since your car is 12 years and older. statistically speaking, your in Junker territory..Audi be [censored].
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I am sooooo glad they got rid of smog checks here in Florida about 10 years ago.

I as surprised because smog checks are a CA$H COW for the state.
 
I think they did it, because most of the time, failing cars belong to poor people who need to drive to work, but can't afford the repairs.

What is the point of testing smog if the bad polluters can't get kicked off the road?
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
There is one great feature that appears in most Japanese cars. It is a fuel filler door that must be opened by pushing a button on the inside of the car. If you lock your doors you have effectively locked your fuel filler.

What a shame this doesn't appear on many American cars.


the problem is that little sheet metal latch is no match for even a small screwdriver used as a pry bar.
 
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Originally Posted By: artificialist
I think they did it, because most of the time, failing cars belong to poor people who need to drive to work, but can't afford the repairs.

What is the point of testing smog if the bad polluters can't get kicked off the road?


Here in PA there's a legal limit that you can be charged to meet emissions standards. It's often abused ..sorta. If you catalytic converter is bad, it's going to take you over the (at one time, anyway) $250 limit. The limit was lower for certain years (like 73-whatever - where sniffer spec's were there ..but no electronic diagnostic) to $175.

Beyond that, or if you're under 5000 miles, you get an EXEMPT sticker for the emissions badge.

The Firestone tech probably could have choked me when I butted in on his giving the young couple the bad news about failing emissions. I was just waiting while getting 4 studded snows on my monther's car and couldn't keep my mouth shut.
 
With the exception of the first couple smog checks since 1995, my GN has been Test Only. Probably becuase it's classified as a Regal and 99.99% of them are on their last leg.

I've never heard of Test only charging more to smog the car.

What I really have a problem with is my TL's "smog abatement fee". It doesn't require smog for the first 6 years so the state still nails me with an abatement fee for about half the normal smog fee. Unbelievable.
 
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
You get charged different rates for inspections depending on where you go? Are shops allowed to set their own fees or what?


I believe so. The actual paper and email to the dmv is like $8.95 but they can charge anything they wish for the actual test be it $10 or $100.

My 02 jeep just got it's 1st smog ck and had to go to a test only place. It had like 1 ppm of HC. I got out of there for $49.xx
 
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It doesn't require smog for the first 6 years so the state still nails me with an abatement fee for about half the normal smog fee.


If they didn't, others that aren't exempt would feel that you were free loading on the system ...and that would be unfair.
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Originally Posted By: Chris142
My 02 jeep just got it's 1st smog ck and had to go to a test only place. It had like 1 ppm of HC. I got out of there for $49.xx


So you ended up paying the same amount that I paid.

Oh, and I didn't have to have a smog check for the first six years either. First smog check was in 2002. Then one in 2004. The third one was Test Only Station in 2006.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I think they did it, because most of the time, failing cars belong to poor people who need to drive to work, but can't afford the repairs.

What is the point of testing smog if the bad polluters can't get kicked off the road?


In California you can get up to $500 for repairing the emissions system from the state: http://www.drivehealthy.com/
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
There is one great feature that appears in most Japanese cars. It is a fuel filler door that must be opened by pushing a button on the inside of the car. If you lock your doors you have effectively locked your fuel filler.

What a shame this doesn't appear on many American cars.


Dude, my 1987 Mustang had this.
 
Originally Posted By: moribundman
My car never failed a smog test, yet for the second time in a row I had to go to a "test only" station, because, per the DMV, my car fits a "high emitter profile." I don't know based on whose A4 my A4 fits that profile. Supposedly I've been picked randomly. I bet I'll get picked randomly again in two years!


You've been "profiled" dude; now you know how them gangster rappers feel.
48.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
You've been "profiled" dude; now you know how them gangster rappers feel.
48.gif



They know about my bean consumption?
 
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