Until January 1, 2005, private passenger vehicles registered in urbanized areas of California are required to submit a smog certificate every other year at the time of vehicle registration; vehicles four model years old or newer are exempt, and their owners pay a $6 annual smog-abatement fee instead.

Beginning January 1, 2005, vehicles six model years old or newer will be exempt from the smog-check requirement and will be assessed a $12 annual smog-abatement fee. The additional revenue will fund the Moyer Program, which subsidizes emission-reduction programs for high-polluting diesel engines such as locomotives, ships, large trucks, and agricultural equipment. The goal of the program is laudable, but the Auto Club opposed the proposal because charging motorists who drive newer vehicles to clean up highly polluting industrial diesel engines violates the state's constitution.

Also effective January 1, 2005, vehicles four years old or newer will be exempt from the change-of-ownership smog-check requirement and its attendant fee. Instead, their owners will be assessed an additional $8 transfer fee. This change will increase state revenues without increasing overall costs for motorists. Revenues will help the Bureau of Automotive Repair pay for the costs of administering the Smog Check program. The Auto Club did not oppose this change.