Quick summary: Californians can get $900 towards repairing your car to meet smog using the Bureau of Automotive Repair Consumer Assistance Program.

Just went through the process myself, and it worked. Thought it may help others struggling financially to get a car through smog by posting a summary of what's involved.

- There is a household income cut off. Total income of everyone in your house needs to be below the amounts shown in the chart below. The state may check, so base it on last year's tax return. It's simple income, not savings or assets.
- The car must be currently registered, not salvaged or being transferred, and in the same name as the person applying for assistance.
- The car must have failed it's bi-annual smog check.
- The car must be able to pass the smog requirement for all smog control items such as rats nest, air pump and original spec carb to be in place. (I removed some modifications for the duration of the smog work)
- Application is online at https://www.bar.ca.gov/caponline/
- Response to your application is fast, right around one week.
- Repair and smog testing need to be carried out at the same STAR certified service center. There is a searchable map of STAR service centers on the website linked below.
- Book an appointment with the service center, and they will provide an estimate for repair work, and send that estimate to your state for go ahead. Again this was fast, under a week.
- The state will pay the service center the $900 directly, you pay any additional costs above that amount. Even with the assistance, your cut can be large... I had to add $1200 of my own money as both cats needed to be replaced.
- I dont know what happens if your car does not pass smog after the repairs as mine passed.

More info here. https://www.bar.ca.gov/consumer/cons...stance-program

 

How can a couple survive on $44k in CA? Especially if you have an FD 🤣