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Gold Shield Program Fact Sheet

August 2008

The Gold Shield Program is designed to make the Smog Check Program more convenient for motorists. It allows a licensed smog check station, which meets higher performance standards, to provide a variety of inspection and repair services to California motorists. In addition to the regular Smog Check inspection and repair services, Gold Shield stations can inspect and certify "Directed Vehicles," issue certificates to "Gross Polluters," and perform state subsidized repairs.

Clean Air Benefits

Under the Gold Shield Program, more effective testing and repairs will not only save consumers time and money but will also produce cleaner, better running vehicles. This helps California in its clean air mission to improve the quality of the air that we breathe.

Inadequate Repairs Cost Consumers Time and Money

Some vehicles that fail their Smog Check at Gross Polluter levels are not adequately repaired and require further repairs. These "Gross Polluters" are the worst polluting vehicles on the road. These vehicles often have a high level of deterioration, major system defect, or a tampered emission control system that desperately needs repair. A Gross Polluter previously required an "after repair" retest at a separate Test Only station. Inadequate repairs in some instances could cause these vehicles to go back and forth, or "ping-pong," between these different facilities, costing consumers time and money. This new Gold Shield Program fixes that.

"One-Stop Shopping" for Consumers

The Gold Shield Program helps consumers locate higher performing Smog Check stations that can repair, retest, and certify Gross Polluters. Having a Gold Shield station repair and certify a vehicle means that the owner does not have to return to a Test-Only station for certification after it has been repaired. In addition to certifying Gross Polluters, Gold Shield stations can perfom the initial testing and certification of Directed Vehicles as indicated on teh DMV renewal notice.

Gold Shield Eligibility Criteria

A Gold Shield station must:

• Have no disciplinary actions against its Automotive Repair Dealer Registration (ARD), Smog Check station license or the licenses of its technicians or managers.
• Meet strict testing and repair performance standards each calendar quarter.
• Submit to periodic performance inspections and monitoring.
  
  Review the steps for Gold Shield eligibility or get a Gold Shield station application.

Gold Shield Certification Sign

Gold Shield station sign dimensions.

Gold Shield Regulations

Review the Gold Shield regulations here.

Look for the Gold Shield Sign

Click here to locate a Gold Shield station near you.

Smog Check Consumer Assistance Program

Gold Shield stations also provide assistance (up to $500) with repairs on vehicles that fail their biennial (every other year) Smog Check. Click here to learn more about the Consumer Assistance Program and to get an application.

Station Monitoring by the Bureau of Automotive Repair

Gold Shield stations will be monitored through the use of data collected by the state Vehicle Information Database (VID), which gathers information from the electronic communications system installed in each Smog Check analyzer. Quarterly reports from the VID will let DCA/BAR determine if a station's performance meets Gold Shield eligibility criteria. Stations failing to maintain required performance levels, or having any confirmed violations against its station or employees' licenses, are subject to termination from the Gold Shield Program.