If the engine in the vehicle was not offered by the manufacturer for that model year, what should a technician tell the customer?

• A. The vehicle cannot be tested.
• B. The vehicle must be inspected at a state referee station.
• C. The vehicle must be tested at the nearest DMV facility.
• D. The vehicle must be tested at any licensed Smog Check station.

Answer: (B)

If the engine in the vehicle isn’t the one offered by the manufacturer for that model year, it enters the state’s Referee testing process. In California, regular Smog Check stations verify emissions for factory-installed engines, but when a non-original or non-listed engine is installed, a BAR Referee must determine whether the vehicle still meets emissions standards. That’s why the technician should tell the customer to take the vehicle to a state referee station for testing and certification. Regular Smog Check stations or DMV facilities aren’t equipped to perform this referee evaluation, and the vehicle isn’t simply excluded from testing—the correct path is the referee inspection to confirm compliance.