California Smog Check Inspector Exam Prep (2024/2025 Edition)
100-Question
Section 1: Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Rules & Regulations
1. A Smog Check Inspector license is valid for how many years?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 5 years
D) Permanently
Elaboration: Under BAR regulations, the Inspector license must be renewed every two years,
usually requiring a specified amount of update training.
2. Which document must be provided to the customer before any work is performed for a
Smog Check?
A) Final Invoice
B) Written Estimate
C) Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR)
D) Repair Waiver
Elaboration: California law requires a signed written estimate before any testing or repair begins
to protect the consumer from unauthorized charges.
3. How many days does a licensed inspector have to notify the BAR of a change in home
address?
A) 5 days
B) 10 days
C) 14 days
D) 30 days
Elaboration: Per BAR Chapter 3, Article 1, you must notify the Bureau in writing within 14 days
of changing your address of record.
4. What is the maximum fine for a Smog Check Inspector who "clean pipes" a vehicle?
A) $500
B) $1,000
C) Up to $5,000 per violation and license revocation
, D) $250
Elaboration: Fraudulent testing (clean piping or clean plugging) is a serious offense carrying
heavy civil penalties and permanent loss of the license.
5. A vehicle fails the Smog Check. The inspector must provide the customer with:
A) A verbal explanation only
B) The Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR)
C) A refund for the test
D) A temporary operating permit
Elaboration: The VIR is the official legal record of the test results and must be provided
regardless of whether the vehicle passes or fails.
6. If a Smog Check station's license is revoked, what happens to the inspectors working
there?
A) Their licenses are also revoked automatically.
B) They are fined $1,000.
C) They may continue to work at other licensed stations.
D) They must retake the exam immediately.
Elaboration: License actions against a station owner do not automatically transfer to the
employees unless the employees were personally involved in the violation.
7. "Abated" vehicles are those that:
A) Have been crushed for scrap.
B) Have been retired through the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP).
C) Are exempt from smog testing.
D) Are powered by hydrogen.
Elaboration: Abatement refers to the removal of high-polluting vehicles from the road via state-
funded buyback programs.
8. Which of the following is considered a "Prohibited Act" for an inspector?
A) Testing a car with a modified intake that has a CARB EO.
B) Using another inspector's access code or biometric data.
C) Charging $60 for a test.
D) Calibrating the BAR-97 machine.
, Elaboration: Security integrity is paramount; sharing login credentials or biometric data is a
major violation of BAR security protocols.
9. A Smog Check Station must post which of the following signs?
A) The Official Smog Check Station sign and the Prices/Hourly Rate sign.
B) A picture of the Governor.
C) A map to the nearest referee.
D) A list of all failed cars.
Elaboration: To maintain transparency, BAR requires visible signage regarding the station’s
license status and the cost of services.
10. What must an inspector do if the DAD (Data Acquisition Device) fails to communicate
with the vehicle?
A) Pass the vehicle manually.
B) Follow the BAR OIS "Unable to Connect" procedure.
C) Refuse to test the car.
D) Bypass the OBD test and do a tailpipe test only.
Elaboration: Inspectors must follow specific protocols for communication failures, which may
include referring the customer to a Referee if the vehicle is not the cause of the failure.
Section 2: Visual & Functional Inspection (Visual/OBD II)
11. A vehicle has a cold air intake with no CARB Executive Order (EO) number. How
should this be entered?
A) Pass
B) Fail (Modified)
C) Not Applicable
D) Tampered
Elaboration: Aftermarket parts affecting emissions must have a visible CARB EO number to be
legal for use in California. Without it, the system is considered "Modified."
12. A "Tampered" emission control system refers to:
A) A system that failed due to age.
B) A system where a required part has been removed, disconnected, or replaced
with an incorrect part.
100-Question
Section 1: Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Rules & Regulations
1. A Smog Check Inspector license is valid for how many years?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 5 years
D) Permanently
Elaboration: Under BAR regulations, the Inspector license must be renewed every two years,
usually requiring a specified amount of update training.
2. Which document must be provided to the customer before any work is performed for a
Smog Check?
A) Final Invoice
B) Written Estimate
C) Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR)
D) Repair Waiver
Elaboration: California law requires a signed written estimate before any testing or repair begins
to protect the consumer from unauthorized charges.
3. How many days does a licensed inspector have to notify the BAR of a change in home
address?
A) 5 days
B) 10 days
C) 14 days
D) 30 days
Elaboration: Per BAR Chapter 3, Article 1, you must notify the Bureau in writing within 14 days
of changing your address of record.
4. What is the maximum fine for a Smog Check Inspector who "clean pipes" a vehicle?
A) $500
B) $1,000
C) Up to $5,000 per violation and license revocation
, D) $250
Elaboration: Fraudulent testing (clean piping or clean plugging) is a serious offense carrying
heavy civil penalties and permanent loss of the license.
5. A vehicle fails the Smog Check. The inspector must provide the customer with:
A) A verbal explanation only
B) The Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR)
C) A refund for the test
D) A temporary operating permit
Elaboration: The VIR is the official legal record of the test results and must be provided
regardless of whether the vehicle passes or fails.
6. If a Smog Check station's license is revoked, what happens to the inspectors working
there?
A) Their licenses are also revoked automatically.
B) They are fined $1,000.
C) They may continue to work at other licensed stations.
D) They must retake the exam immediately.
Elaboration: License actions against a station owner do not automatically transfer to the
employees unless the employees were personally involved in the violation.
7. "Abated" vehicles are those that:
A) Have been crushed for scrap.
B) Have been retired through the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP).
C) Are exempt from smog testing.
D) Are powered by hydrogen.
Elaboration: Abatement refers to the removal of high-polluting vehicles from the road via state-
funded buyback programs.
8. Which of the following is considered a "Prohibited Act" for an inspector?
A) Testing a car with a modified intake that has a CARB EO.
B) Using another inspector's access code or biometric data.
C) Charging $60 for a test.
D) Calibrating the BAR-97 machine.
, Elaboration: Security integrity is paramount; sharing login credentials or biometric data is a
major violation of BAR security protocols.
9. A Smog Check Station must post which of the following signs?
A) The Official Smog Check Station sign and the Prices/Hourly Rate sign.
B) A picture of the Governor.
C) A map to the nearest referee.
D) A list of all failed cars.
Elaboration: To maintain transparency, BAR requires visible signage regarding the station’s
license status and the cost of services.
10. What must an inspector do if the DAD (Data Acquisition Device) fails to communicate
with the vehicle?
A) Pass the vehicle manually.
B) Follow the BAR OIS "Unable to Connect" procedure.
C) Refuse to test the car.
D) Bypass the OBD test and do a tailpipe test only.
Elaboration: Inspectors must follow specific protocols for communication failures, which may
include referring the customer to a Referee if the vehicle is not the cause of the failure.
Section 2: Visual & Functional Inspection (Visual/OBD II)
11. A vehicle has a cold air intake with no CARB Executive Order (EO) number. How
should this be entered?
A) Pass
B) Fail (Modified)
C) Not Applicable
D) Tampered
Elaboration: Aftermarket parts affecting emissions must have a visible CARB EO number to be
legal for use in California. Without it, the system is considered "Modified."
12. A "Tampered" emission control system refers to:
A) A system that failed due to age.
B) A system where a required part has been removed, disconnected, or replaced
with an incorrect part.
