LUVTruck.com

Last week, I got my Luv smogged (Sucks to live in Californai huH?).
Anyways I told the guy to pre-check before he ran the actually test.
So I go to pick it up. Here's what I had to pay.

Regular Smog: $74
Pre-Smog: $38
Gas Cap: $12

Look on my face Priceless!

I am thinking most shops in CA charge more like $55 for a regular smog.
Plus there was no Labor needed.
My neighbor said if it were him, he report the guy to the BAR.
I am not sure if I want to do that.

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1980 Luv 4x4 with a 5 speed tranny.



"When all else fails, follow the directions".

Did you get and sign a written estimate? I would almost guess(this comes from a licensed smog tech) that somewhere on the wall of the office you went to there was a price list.

I know around here it is about 30-60 bucks for a smog test. If your gas cap did not pass a leak down test, I understand them having to replace it to issue a pass on your smog test.

Bottom line:

1) You MUST have been given a estimate by the shop and they MUST have had you sign it or they are in violation of the BAR laws

2) The shop can not charge you more then 10% of the estimate without tax without contacting you and document on the invoice how and when they contacted you.

3) There is no law that requires a "pre test", so again did they have that on the estimate as stated in line 1?

4) If you did receive a estimate (not the invoice) you need to review it and see what you signed, that is the whole key here.

Bar will ask you these questions if you file a complaint, be ready with your answers, it is somewhat hard to get a smog test station from the state, but real easy to lose, most shops run clean.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

Which shop was it?
I'll want to avoid it...

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79 Black Mikado longbed with AT & AC...

Performance Service Center
Its off Lincoln Ave in Auburn.

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1980 Luv 4x4 with a 5 speed tranny.



"When all else fails, follow the directions".

I did not get a written estimate. I actually dropped it off before they opened (I had gone there before for a broken timing belt). I did write on the instrutions to pre-smog, call if repairs needed. It just seems like kinda crapy if I get charged for a pre-smog and a regular smog.

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1980 Luv 4x4 with a 5 speed tranny.



"When all else fails, follow the directions".

If you asked for a pre smog and they did it, then it is on you.

Let's turn the table, say you dropped it off, they tried to smog it, it failed, then they charge you the 74 dollars, then you would be pissed that the shop should have charged you only the 38 dollars for a pre test. Mechanics do not work for free, if I did a pre test I would expect to get my half hour pay for it.

I would venture to say that the BAR will do nothing to help you, I see no wrong (but please at least call the BAR to make sure). You should have known the costs before you authorized in writing to do a pre test and smog. Now lets get to the gas cap, they did you a big favor there. You see, they could have failed you and then made you go buy a cap and come back for another chargeable test. There is no cap on what a shop is abel to charge for a smog test.

I have been at shops where this scene has played out before. Next time get a cost in writing, most shops will fax it to you so you don't need to be there if you have to work. If this shop was in my area I would say they are alittle high in there smog price by about 20 bucks but I feel that the rest was a fair price and in line of what I have seen many shops and dealers charge. Please take in consideration of the cost of a smog dyno, all of the special tools and books that by law they have to have on hand and the smog tech's schooling and test fee's.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

In past at "other" shops I they hooked up the machine, and then if it passed then they sent it through. I only got charged for a smog. Still seems like a high price though for the regualr smog 74 bucks!

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1980 Luv 4x4 with a 5 speed tranny.



"When all else fails, follow the directions".

I think they bent you over.
There's 2 or 3 shops in Auburn that often run discount coupons in the local papers and ad mailers for tests... Used to be common to see them for $29 and change... lately I've seen $34 and change plus the $8.25 (or whatever it is) for the certificate...

I just found an ad from the Auburn Toyota dealership for $59 tests...

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79 Black Mikado longbed with AT & AC...

Thanks Tom,

I'll keep that in mind, when I go to get my Vehic's smogged. =P

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1980 Luv 4x4 with a 5 speed tranny.



"When all else fails, follow the directions".

here in the central valley, my smog was $58 with cert.. my cap failed but he let me purchase my own instead of forcing me to purchase through him or re-do smog. that was in an enhanced smog area with the sniff and dyno.. $74 is high for here... we average around $50.

$50 for mine and it failed
so then he said another $50 and I will adjust it
so then it passed and he asked if I wanted to pay the extra 50
I said no, he said ok????

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78' LUV Mikado, Old

I don't need any hate thrown my way, but anything over 25 years old is exempt from emission testing here in Washington. I feel sorry you all gotta pay more.

I will be paying the state over $100 to get my ride going legal though, so don't feel too bad. It's for an inspection, title application, and license tabs. Next time it should be $25 a year.

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'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

Eventually I'll probably move out of California. I wonder how the other states treat a CA vehicle. Would they hold you to CA smog standards, or just to their own

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1980 Luv 4x4 with a 5 speed tranny.



"When all else fails, follow the directions".

I've never heard of a state holding a car owned by a new resident to the smog requirements of a prior state of residence. It would be pretty costly to be able to do other state's testing.
Most states require new residents to register their car/s within a month or so of becoming a resident. Some will accept the smog test results of other states. In some states your truck will not need a smog test but might require a "safety inspection" or the like. Some include VIN checks as part of the safety and or smog checks.
My wife and I registered a car in Rhode Island a couple of years back. We bought it in Massachusetts while living in RI for half a year. We originally got CA registration and a temporary operating permit (we couldn't get CA plates because the car would have to be tested in CA). But then we had to register it in RI because the CA temp permit was no good in RI. My wife got pulled over and they made her get towed... I had to pay for a VIN check at a police department inspection garage where all they did was VIN checks, and then have the smog check and safety inspection done at a shop licenced by the state. The car didn't pass but Massachusetts has a law that car dealerships are responsible for their cars passing smog and I got them to do the work to get the car passed. It took several trips to the dealer to get it right, and all the time I was risking tickets... CA refunded the reg fees we paid.
We then moved to Texas for 7 months or so. I got pulled over for a rolling stop. The TX cop asked why I had a CA drivers license and a RI registered car. I explained the whole story of travelling for my wife's job and the CA/RI/MA registration mess... He told me that since we had been residing in TX for more than a month I was supposed to get the car registered in TX and should get a TX drivers license... I explained we were there on business staying in a corporate apartment that my wife's employer paid for and that we were flying home every month... He laughed and said our situation was so much a mess he was going to let me go. He cautioned me to avoid getting pulled over again...

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79 Black Mikado longbed with AT & AC...

Well that was a nice officer. They should all be so kind and intelligent. I repeat, anything over 25 years old is not required to go through emission testing. It wouldn't matter where you come from. I have to take my vehicle through inspection since it was abandoned, and I aquired it as a gift. I have to pay $50 for inspection, then more for the legal stuff. Once it's all squared away it should be about $25 a year for license tabs.

Nothing has been free except a weld on the exhaust manifold. A shop did it, and I got through without being charged. It seemed to show a leak when brake cleaner was sprayed on it though; it went through. I put it on anyway to see if the engine was going to run, and it seems to be good. I dunno if I'm going to take it off too soon. POR-15 has a crack sealer for $15 I might add.

Having said all that, I want you to know I plan to be very frugal with the Luv, and I'm looking forward to having a dependable vehicle that doesn't cost me an emission test every two years. If you moved up here from California, you might even want to convert over to a Weber carb or other arrangement and remove some of the things that were required. I am not able to say anymore about this as my '78 is all stock, and I like it that way.

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'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

Well a smog test costs a bit more in Placer County than I thought, but not as bad as the thread starter had to pay. I'm selling one of our cars and got it smogged today. The test cost $49.00 including the certificate. I had it done at Sierra Smog which is located in Auburn on the corner of Hi-Way 49 and Elm across 49 from the Fosters Freeze. I went in yesterday and asked if they still did coupons and they said it is $20 off just for asking about the coupons...

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79 Black Mikado longbed with AT & AC...

Yea, $50 or $60 is about right in Ca.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?