FAQs

Events Frequently Asked Questions

When should I arrive at the event?

Testing starts officially at 8:00 a.m. and we usually open the gates around 6:30 a.m.
We recommend getting in line early.

Will I receive a smog certificate if my car passes?

No,  we’re not able to issue official smog certificates for cars that pass our emissions test. However, if your car fails the emissions test,  you will get a voucher for up to $500 in free repairs.

I have a check engine light on, if my car fails smog check will I automatically qualify for a voucher?

No, it needs to fail emissions. There are many reasons why a car may fail smog. Unfortunately, the $500 vouchers can only go toward emissions-related repairs. That’s why we do a tailpipe emissions test, but a smog shop has many other things they’re looking at. The only way to know for sure if you qualify is to bring your failed inspection slip (VIR) or to have it tested at the event.

If I can’t make it to the event, can I have someone else bring my car for me?

Sure! If a family member or friend needs to drive the car to the event, that’s no problem. Our staff will use the registration to gather information about the vehicle (including the VIN), then if it fails the emissions test, the voucher you get is tied to the VIN when it goes in for repairs.

What information do I need to bring?

Although we won’t collect any documents for our repair vouchers, we ask that you bring your Vehicle Inspection Report from a smog shop if you have it.
For our vehicle replacement program, please bring:
1. Voucher from the event or recent failed emissions test (within last 3 months)
2. 2 years registration (2016 – present)
3. 2 years proof of insurance (2016 – present)
4. Vehicle title
5. First 2 pages of 2017 1040 tax return (You can mask the SSN – we don’t need it!)
6. First page of current PG&E bill
7. Driver’s License

When is Tune In & Tune Up coming to my town?

We have events nearly every other week in different locations across the Central Valley. You can check our event schedule here or follow us on Facebook.com/valleycleanairnow or Twitter.com/ValleyCAN to stay up to date.

Can I attend Tune In & Tune Up if I live in a different city?

The Tune In & Tune Up program is open to all San Joaquin Valley residents. We cover all of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Tulare, Fresno, and Kings Counties, as well as the valley portion of Kern County. If you live in one of those counties and you’ve owned your car at least six months, you can attend any one of our events to see if your car needs emissions repairs and receive a $500 voucher to get it fixed.

Where is the voucher good for? What smog shops?

The smog shops we work with will be listed on your voucher, and many of them set up booths at the event to schedule your appointment before you leave the event. We only work with STAR-Certified smog shops and you will have several options so you can choose the one closest to you.

Can I tow my car to the event?

Sure you can, and we’ve seen people do this. Keep in mind, the car has to be able to run in order to test it and the voucher can only cover emissions-related repairs. If your car can’t perform the test, the only way to still get a voucher is if you bring a Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) from a smog shop that shows an emissions failure.

Are there any vehicles you can’t test? What about my bus?

Only gasoline powered light or medium duty vehicles (weighs less than 14,000 pounds) qualify for this program.

What if my vehicle is not insured?

While it isn’t legal to drive an uninsured vehicle on public roads, if you get your car to the event, we will test it. We also recommend visiting www.mylowcostauto.com for information about low-cost insurance programs sponsored by California’s Department of Insurance. You can also learn more by speaking with a representative from the Department of Insurance at the Tune In & Tune Up community booths while you’re at the event.

If my car was fixed through Tune In & Tune Up before, can I bring it again if it needs more repairs?

If you have redeemed a voucher for repairs within the last 12 months, unfortunately you cannot qualify for another voucher for the same car. If it’s been more than a year or if you have a different car that needs repairs, bring it to a Tune In & Tune Up event. We love helping repeat participants!

Am I allowed to bring multiple vehicles to the same event?

Sure! Bring a family member or friend and come to Tune In & Tune Up together!

What time does the event end?

Our event is scheduled from 8 a.m. until noon, but it is first-come-first-served. It’s hard to say what time we reach capacity, but our staff will continue testing all the cars in the staging area before noon. We typically start the event with over a hundred vehicles already lined up outside the gate.