What is the role of a Smog Check Inspector?

The role of a Smog Check Inspector is primarily focused on conducting inspections, evaluating emissions systems, and ensuring compliance with state regulations. This involves using specialized equipment to measure the levels of pollutants emitted by vehicles and determining whether those emissions meet the standards set forth by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA).

Inspectors must be knowledgeable about various vehicle emissions systems, including catalytic converters and onboard diagnostics (OBD) systems, to accurately assess whether they are functioning properly. They play a critical part in the overarching goal of reducing air pollution and protecting public health by ensuring that vehicles on the road are compliant with emissions laws.

In contrast, while repairing vehicles and upgrading emissions systems is an important task related to the overall emissions control process, it falls outside the responsibility of a Smog Check Inspector, who typically does not engage in repair work. Providing customer service and managing inspection reports are ancillary tasks but are not the primary functions of an inspector, who is focused on evaluating compliance rather than customer service. Similarly, selling emission reduction products is unrelated to the inspector's role, which centers on compliance validation rather than product sales.