Your Clean Truck Check result
Got your result? Let's walk through it.
A test comes back one of four ways, and only one of them means a trip to the shop. Tap yours and we'll tell you exactly where you stand and what happens next.
"Not Ready" and "Fail" are not the same thing
These two get mixed up constantly, and the fix is completely different for each.
Not Ready means the engine computer hasn't finished its self-checks. The truck is fine. It needs miles, not a mechanic.
Fail means the check engine light is on, and that light is your emissions light. There's a stored trouble code and a real fault. It needs a shop.
If someone tells you a Not Ready result means your truck failed, they're wrong — and it could cost you a repair bill you don't owe.
Worth knowing
Things that trip people up
Don't clear codes before a test
Disconnecting the battery or clearing codes right before testing resets the monitors, which produces a Not Ready result. Fix the problem, then drive it, then test.
A missed test can freeze your registration
When CARB doesn't have a passing test on file, the DMV can place a hold on your registration — often the first anyone hears about it.
Check your own status any time
Your deadlines and compliance status live in your CTC-VIS account. Check yours at CARB.
Out-of-state trucks still comply
If the truck operates in California, Clean Truck Check can apply no matter where it's registered — including vehicles based outside the country.
Not sure what your result means?
Send us the test result or your VIN and we'll read it with you. We'll tell you plainly what it says, what it'll take to fix, and whether you actually need to spend money on it.
Danny Barbosa, owner · 20+ years in emissions · English & Spanish