How to Find the Best Smog Check

I was born and raised in California. I have seen it go through many changes. But one thing that has actually been ever present in California is smog. As a result California has the most aggressive laws restricting air pollution of any state in the union.

Why the Smog Test Program Exists

There are lots of reasons why California has pursued a course of regulation to lower air pollution such as:

Reducing the health impacts of smog on residents;
Improving the quality of life in California;
Protecting the environment for current and future generations;
Reducing our consumption of oil by ensuring combustion engines work efficiently;
Reducing the carbon output of motor vehicles that is linked to climate change.
The California Environmental Protection Agency has information on the health impacts of air borne pollution and the bureau of automotive repair (BAR) has additional information on the smog check program overall.

What is a Smog Test?

The primary way in which California limitations air pollution is through the smog check program. Based on your world view this is an advantage, bad thing, or something in-between. California is or at least was an automobile culture. Believe it or not there are more cars than people in Los Angeles. So unlike other states which can limit emissions by regulating particles from smoke stacks and other stationary point sources, California has a completely different problem. The solution is the smog check program which requires vehicle owners to check their cars and trucks emissions and ensure they do not exceed established requirements. This program is administered by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR).



How Often Do You Need a Smog Check?

If you register a vehicle in California you should get your vehicle tested. How often you have to get it tested depends mainly on where you live and what type of car you drive. You can find detailed information about how often a smog check is need at the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website, or the smog check program website run by the BAR.

The bottom line is that if you reside in a city and have a car that is more than a couple of years old more than likely you will need to have your automobile smog tested every 2 years. So, where can you discover a "great" smog test? That depends, because one persons' "excellent" can be another person's not so "excellent". Nevertheless research studies have actually been conducted on this question and most people value "convenience", "speed", and finally "price".

How Can I Find a Smog Check Station?

There are a couple of ways to find a smog check station. First you need to identify if you have been directed to a STAR smog check location. Each year a random selection of vehicles are required to go to a STAR station. You may also be directed to a STAR station based on your type of vehicle or your vehicle's test history.

The BAR has a website that you can find a smog check location by searching a number of different ways, like the station name or a city. A list of smog check locations is displayed based on your search criteria. This list works, but it does not provide a good display for mobile phones or tablets, and it does not provide a map of the stations in the list.

What is the STAR Program?

The STAR program is a new licensing program administered by the BAR. Its' purpose is to improve the general quality of emissions testing in California. The BAR gathers statistics about vehicles, smog check stations and technicians. In short it uses these statistics to grade the quality of a technician or a smog check location by comparing technician's and smog check locations test results for similar vehicles against each other. If a vehicles' smog test result fall outside the average test results of similar vehicles then the smog check locations' STAR rating can over time be affected. If issues continue, the location can lose its' STAR certification. The BAR also evaluates technicians by looking for behavior during testing that matches patterns used to improve the chances of a vehicle passing a test. If a technician is found to be improperly testing vehicles the technician's STAR rating can be affected. Only those stations that test vehicles as expected can maintain their STAR certification. Only STAR locations get vehicles directed to them by the DMV. So maintaining a good STAR rating by testing vehicles correctly is very important for smog test locations.

How Cheap Driving Schools Develop Your Driving Competency

Do you want to be skilled in driving? Most people do and they have to learn the proper ways of driving and they can obtain this from getting driving lessons from certified schools. Why certified? Not all people who claim to be drivers know the real lessons to be taught to newbie drivers.

Each person has different experiences when it comes to driving. To become a responsible driver, driving should be improved and the right attitudes must be imparted to the student. Due to this variety of exposure, we cannot be sure where we are when we are finally getting a license for driving. This is the reason why there has to be a certified coach for a person learning to drive so that they can be issued a learner's permit. Despite the varied levels of proficiency, the coach can determine which skills would the student need and which skills have already been learned by the person from other training. On top of that, the bad practices of the student driver can also manifest and therefore, corrected in time. It would be easier to get ahead with life in the future when the person has an arsenal of good attitude and exceptional driving skills.



There may be online cheap driving lessons that one can take but the actual instruction and practice would be better. Every beginner must take time to learn their lessons in basic driving from certified driving instructors. It is necessary to find a good school that will train people how to properly drive certain types of vehicles like motorcycles, cars, heavy equipment and others. Regardless of the skill level of the one who wants to be taught, driving schools must be able to l offer the appropriate training to these people. Having a good knowledge of the rules of the road can prepare a person well so that he won't become a cause for traffic and road issues in the future when they are already driving their own vehicles.

Accidents are prone to happen and more so, with those who did not have the right training from a certified driving school. There are also damages that cannot be recovered such as a totally wrecked car just because some driver does not know how to make their priorities while on the road with other motorists. This faulty attitude which can involve not focusing on the road or the driver may be busy fidgeting at gadgets inside the car while he is at the wheel. This situation is not rare and is scorned upon by people. Being irresponsible on the road not only hurts the person but also can put the lives of others in grave danger.



Also, driving schools teach people how to determine if their car is not functioning well. They are taught to troubleshoot light issues on their vehicles, for their own benefit. In addition, drivers can get their driving lessons from companies that have a track record of providing the cheapest deals for starters. In order to find it, you may do an online search for driving schools in your area.

Find the Perfect Ride With Used Car Dealers

Is your current automobile making funny noises? Or do you just hate driving around that old junker? You've got some cash set aside to buy a new (or new to you, anyway) ride, and now you just need to hit the lot to see what's available to you. Here is where the fun really begins. Find out why it's a great idea to let used car dealers pick your vehicle out for you.

Access to Great Cars

What you see on the lot at the dealership isn't all that used car dealers have access to. Many pre-owned autos come from auctions, and if you let an associate pick out your ride for you, you can get a unique vehicle that you will truly love. They want to make sure you're happy, so they will do whatever they have to in order to get you into the right vehicle, even if they don't have it on their lot at the moment. With your budget in mind, simply write down the make, mileage, and even color of vehicle you want, and let these helpful folks do the shopping for you. Before long, you can be behind the wheel of an auto you'll love.

Financial Assistance

Not only can you have the perfect automobile hand-selected for you, if you are worried about how you are going to afford your pre-owned vehicle, you can get assistance here, too. Used car dealers have access to many financial institutions that can give you great financing at a wonderful interest rate. This keeps you from having to go to your own local bank and risk getting turned down, or deal with the stress of trying to get a loan on your own. These associates have one goal in mind: to help you get into a great vehicle that you can afford. They will do everything they can to get you financed. Look for dealerships that have in-house financing as this makes the process much easier.

Awesome Customer Service

If you want attention and care while you are shopping for an auto, then you want to turn to used car dealers. From the moment you walk through the door, skilled and personable associates are there to help you with all your concerns, wants, and needs. They can walk with you side-by-side as you browse through current inventory, or they can go on the hunt for you so you can drive off the lot in a great vehicle. If you are doing a trade-in, they can help you get the most return on that old rust bucket you no longer want.

Used car dealers love their customers, and they are all about helping you get just what you want. Don't try to purchase your pre-owned ride on your own, trust these great people to give you the attention and care you deserve. You will have a much better experience when you do, and you'll end up in a great vehicle you will love to drive for years.