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BOB
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GOLD SHIELD AND CAP REPAIR STATION
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AS A
GOLD SHIELD and CAP REPAIR STATION
In order to increase consumer protection, and help consumers identify shops providing the highest quality vehicle emissions repairs, the Department of Consumer Affairs/Bureau of Automotive Repair (DCA/BAR), at the direction of the state Legislature, created the Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station program. Gold Shield and CAP Repair Stations are licensed Smog Check test-and-repair stations that meet high performance standards, and are certified by the state to perform proper emission related repairs on vehicles that fail the smog check. This also includes test-only directed vehicles, and vehicles that fail the smog check as Gross Polluters. Gross Polluters are a small percentage of vehicles that pollute the most. Vehicles that failed the smog check, or failed the smog check as a Gross Polluter, may be tested and certified (after repairs are completed) at a Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station. CAP vehicles can be repaired, tested, and certified after repairs are completed, as well.
INFORMATION for CONSUMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CAP REPAIRS)
FORMS for CONSUMER ASSISTANCE (CAP) and VEHICLE RETIREMENT PROGRAM
LOW PRESSURE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM TESTING (NEW)
DIESEL SMOG CHECK TEST INFORMATION (NEW)
VISIBLE SMOKE TEST INFORMATION (NEW)
Inadequate Repairs Cost the Consumer. Many vehicles that either fail their Smog Check, or fail the Smog Check at Gross Polluter levels, are not adequately repaired, and soon may require further repairs. Any failed Smog Check vehicle may be repaired by the consumer, but, if the vehicle is repaired for hire, it must be repaired at either a test-and-repair facility, or, at a GOLD SHIELD and CAP REPAIR STATION. A Test-Only or Gross Polluter vehicle that has failed its' Smog Check may now be repaired, and Smog Checked at a STATE CERTIFIED GOLD SHIELD and CAP REPAIR STATION. This effectively eliminates the ping-pong effect that used to exist, when these vehicles could only be certified at a separate Test-Only Station after repairs were completed. Inadequate repairs were causing a number of these vehicles to go back and forth, or "ping-pong," between these different facilities, costing consumers a lot of wasted time and money. The Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station program eliminates this problem for most consumers.
Help for the Consumer. The Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station Program combats "ping-ponging" by helping consumers identify Smog Check stations that can perform expert diagnosis and repairs on any failed or gross polluting vehicle. The vehicle will be repaired right the first time, and then certified, with one-stop, in one-shop.
The Consumer's Responsibility. When a Failed or Gross Polluter vehicle is brought into a Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station, the technician examines the vehicle, performs diagnosis, and recommends emissions-related repairs necessary to certify the vehicle, and bring it into compliance with state vehicle emissions requirements. The vehicle may then be tested and certified at the same Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station facility .
GOLD SHIELD and CAP REPAIR STATION Criteria. A GOLD SHIELD and CAP REPAIR STATION must:
- have no violations against its Automotive Repair Dealer registration or its Smog Check Station license;
- submit to periodic performance inspections and monitoring; and
Monitoring: Gold Shield and CAP Repair Stations will be monitored through the use of data collected by the state Vehicle Information Database (VID), which gathers information from the Electronic Transmission (ET) system installed in each Smog Check machine. Quarterly reports from the VID will determine if a station's performance meets Gold Shield Repair Station criteria. Additionally, any violations against a station's Automotive Repair Dealer registration or Smog Check station license is cause for revoking its Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station certification.
Effectiveness: It has been determined that the Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station Program is effective in the repairing and certifying of Failed Smog Check and Gross Polluter Vehicles. The program currently allows at least 500 Gold Shield and CAP Repair Stations statewide to certify the repairs they make on Failed Smog Check and Gross Polluters without having to send the vehicle back to a Test-Only Station for this service.
Low Income Repair Consumer Assistance Program (CAP): If a low-income motorist cannot afford emissions-related repairs, he or she may be eligible to participate in the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP). CAP may pay up to $500 for emissions-related repairs to qualified motorists. Low-income motorists must make a $20.00 co-payment, and have the repairs performed at a participating Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station. TEST-ONLY directed vehicles that fail the Smog Check also qualify for the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP). CAP may pay up to $500.00 for emissions-related repairs to qualified motorists. Failed Smog Check TEST-ONLY qualified CAP motorists must make a $100.00 co-payment, and have the repairs performed at a participating Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station. Click here to search a list for participating stations.
Clean Air Benefits: Under the
Gold Shield and CAP Repair Station program, more effective repairs will not
only save consumers time and money, but will also produce cleaner, better
running vehicles. This helps