ONE VERY IMPORTANT CAUTION FOR THOSE OF YOU PLANNING TO USE THE CONSUMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR REPAIR ASSISTANCE.
The CAP program funding has been restored as of July 6, 2009. Funding had been TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED PENDING BUDGET APPROVAL, expected in early July. Once you have received your approval letter, take it and your smog paper work to the DMV or AAA and request a fee free operating permit. Without the approval letter, they will charge you $50 so don't forget to take it with you to get the temporary operating permit for no charge. Just a very important word of caution here to those of you who are using the CAP program "income qualification" to get emissions repairs to your failed vehicle, and you are either being guided by another shop, or attempting to figure it out on your own.
Please remember that you are under no obligation to spend even one cent more than your required co-payment ($20) to fix the vehicle if you qualified under the "low income provision" and the $450 minimum has been spent. That’s it, no more, unless you authorize it in person or verbally. If the repair facility calls you seeking your approval to spend more money, please think twice, you can refuse without penalty. Some shops might even try to bully you into further repair spending trying to confuse you. Remain firm, just say no if you can't afford to spend more! The state referee will still give you the certificate after you simply call to set an appointment and then go to the “smog referee” and show them the paperwork and refuse further repairs.
This is another case of knowing your “rights” under the program. The repair shop is allowed to ask, and you are allowed to refuse. Just say no, simple. Take them the co-payment, thank them for their attempts to fix the vehicle, and call to schedule an appointment with the state “referee”. The current phone number for scheduling is 1-800-622-7733.
The rules are a little more complicated if you only qualify under the "Test Only" provision so consult the CAP station for further info.
