When Test-Only smog check facilities debuted in the Bay Area in October 2003, the idea was to remove the perceived conflict of interest between facilities that tested cars, then charged money for the sometimes unnecessary repairs.

However, removing that conflict of interest the new facilities charge consumers more and are taking business away from traditional test and repair shops, who are organizing an effort to force the state to make changes to its Test-Only policies.

David Griffith, owner of College Plaza Shell in San Mateo, teamed up with the California Service Station and Automobile Repair Association, and many other shop owners in signing petitions to lobby the state for change. In Griffith’s eyes, the state is directing a larger percentage of cars to Test-Only stations than originally planned.

“We’re petitioning to stop the ping-ponging, meaning telling the legislatures ‘look you guys promised us [that] 15 percent, or 17 percent’ [of vehicles would be directed to Test-Only stations] ... now it’s like 80 or 90 percent,” Griffith said.

In the past year and a half, Griffith’s business significantly declined.

“I can tell you for a fact that I was doing about five smogs a day. I am doing maybe one, to one-and-a-half smogs average a day ... and that’s just lost revenue,” Griffith said.

The only difference between the traditional test and repair shops and the new Test-Only stations is that the latter is not allowed, by law, to perform any adjustments or repairs. In January 2003, all 8,600 smog stations in California, including test and repair shops were mandated by law to install new equipment that test for more pollutants and help better identify vehicles that need repair.

Although Test-Only shops are booming quickly around the Bay Area, the number of test and repair shops is still significantly greater.

Some traditional smog check facility owners claim consumers are paying more by being forced away from mechanics they trust. The price for a regular smog check can be as low as $19.95. Test-Only facilities charge as much as $79.95. The Bureau of Automotive Repair directs a portion of vehicles in high-smog areas like the Bay Area to Test-Only facilities. Consumers who have been going to their local smog shops for the past 10 years are being told these shops can no longer certify their cars.

“Unfortunately, the state did not educate the consumer in advance so people are very confused. If the public were informed and educated about the benefits of the Test-Only, they would not come in and scream and yell and curse the manager or the state,” said Val Bandary, manager of A-1 Test-Only Smog Center in San Bruno.

San Bruno resident Jennifer Uniacke recently received the Department of Motor Vehicle’s registration renewal form and tried taking it to a dealership. The dealership sent her away and said she had to go to a Test-Only facility.

“I wasn’t informed. I didn’t know what it was. And I still don’t know really know a lot about it. I just know that I can’t get my car registered unless I get it smogged,” she said.

While some complain of poor communication, the Bureau of Automotive Repair said it had extensive outreach to both station owners and consumers through town hall meetings, brochures and postcards, said Patti Roberts, of the Department of Consumer Affairs. “Getting information out to the public about Smog Check can be a challenge, since the public usually only pays attention to information that is useful to them at the time they receive it.

So the public usually takes note of smog check information during the two months after they get their biennial registrations renewal notices. And only if their car is more than six years old,” Roberts said.

Shop owners are still frustrated since they invested in new equipment, only to have their business drop. “The state doesn’t recognize we got this program [Test and Repair] started for them. They didn’t get it started for us. We purchased equipment; we’ve taken all the risks,” Griffith said. “There’s no risk factor for the state. They govern us.”