California CAP: Get Help Paying for Smog Repairs or Retire Your Car
California's Consumer Assistance Program (CAP), run by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), helps owners whose car failed a smog check. It offers two options: repair assistance, where the state pays part of emissions repairs at a CAP station, and vehicle retirement, where the state pays you to take the car off the road. Eligibility depends on income for some options, and funds are limited each fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). Apply on bar.ca.gov/cap before any repair work starts.
Repair or retire?
| Option | What you get | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Repair assistance | The state pays part of emissions-related repairs at a CAP station; you pay a co-payment | The car is otherwise in good shape and worth keeping |
| Vehicle retirement | A one-time payment when a licensed dismantler takes the car | Repairs would cost more than the car is worth |
How to apply
- Keep your failed Vehicle Inspection Report.
- Apply online at bar.ca.gov/cap. Have proof of household income ready if you apply as income-eligible.
- Wait for the approval letter. Do not start repairs before you have it.
- Take the car and the letter to a CAP-contracted station within the time limit on the letter.
Find a smog station
- Smog check in San Jose — 2 listings
- Smog check in Anaheim — 1 listing
- Smog check in Los Angeles — 1 listing
- Smog check in Sacramento — 1 listing
- Smog check in San Diego — 1 listing
- Smog check in San Francisco — 1 listing
- Smog check in Santa Clara — 1 listing
- Smog check in Sunnyvale — 1 listing
Frequently asked questions
How much does CAP pay?
Amounts are set by BAR and can change each year. In its February 2026 report to the Legislature, BAR described repair assistance of roughly $1,200 to $1,450 for income-eligible owners, and retirement payments of up to $2,000 for income-eligible owners or $1,350 for others. Check bar.ca.gov/cap for current amounts.
Can I get CAP money after I already paid for repairs?
No. You must apply and be approved first, and the repairs must be done at a CAP-contracted station.
Does my car have to fail a smog check to qualify?
Yes. Repair assistance is for vehicles that failed their biennial smog check. Retirement also has registration and operating requirements; read the conditions on the BAR site.
How often can I retire a car through CAP?
BAR limits retirement to one vehicle per person every 12 months.
Related guides
- Failed a Smog Check in California? What to Do Next — Why cars fail the California smog check, how to read the Vehicle Inspection Report, where to get repairs, how retests work and where to get help paying.
- How to Pass a California Smog Check: 10 Checks Before You Go — A practical pre-test checklist: check engine light, readiness monitors, gas cap, oil change, warm engine and the mistakes that make good cars fail.
- Your Auto Repair Rights in California: Estimates, Invoices and Old Parts — California shops must be BAR-registered, give a written estimate, get your OK before exceeding it and return replaced parts on request.