---
title: "Clean Truck Check Fines and Penalties (What Happens If You Don't Comply)"
description: "Missing a Clean Truck Check deadline can bring a DMV registration hold, citations and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day per vehicle. How enforcement…"
url: "https://ctcfinder.com/guide/fines-and-penalties/"
updated: "2026-10-30"
publisher: "CTC Finder (independent directory, not affiliated with CARB)"
---

# Clean Truck Check fines and penalties

Updated 2026-10-30. Source: CTC Finder (https://ctcfinder.com/guide/fines-and-penalties/). Independent; not affiliated with CARB.

**Short answer:** If a truck misses a Clean Truck Check deadline, CARB can **block its DMV registration**, issue **notices of violation and citations**, and seek **civil penalties of $1,000 to $10,000 per day per vehicle** under Health and Safety Code § 42402 (as cited in CARB's FAQ). Tampering with emissions equipment can cost up to **$37,500 per violation**. The fastest fix is to get a passing test, pay the annual fee and clear any notices in CTC-VIS.

> The often-quoted "$10,000 a day" is a maximum, not an automatic fine. CARB's FAQ gives a range of $1,000 to $10,000 per day per vehicle.

## How enforcement works

| Step | What it means |
|---|---|
| Notice of Non-Compliance | CARB tells you a vehicle is out of compliance |
| Notice of Violation | Formal violation, which can include penalties |
| Compliance certificate denial | No certificate, which leads to a DMV registration hold (SB 210 / Q212) |
| Citation | CARB can cite directly; you have 45 calendar days to respond (75 for agricultural vehicles) |
| Removal from service | A vehicle can be ordered out of service under Vehicle Code § 27159 |

CARB also publishes [enforcement data](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/es/node/43821); its enforcement page has reported thousands of notices of non-compliance and notices of violation.

## Roadside screening (REMD)

Since January 2023 CARB has used remote emissions monitoring devices (REMD) and license-plate readers to spot high-emitting trucks. A flagged truck gets a **Notice to Submit to Testing** and has **30 calendar days** to submit a passing test. Refusing an inspection counts as failing it.

## Ports and railyards

Seaports and intermodal railyards in California must ensure that only compliant trucks enter, or keep records of non-compliant trucks and give them to CARB within 72 hours of a request. Port and railyard operators may turn away non-compliant trucks.

## How to fix non-compliance

1. Log in to CTC-VIS and check which item is missing: vehicle report, fee or test.
2. Pay the annual fee ($32.13 per vehicle in 2026).
3. Book a credentialed tester. If you are short on time, a [mobile tester](https://ctcfinder.com/mobile-testers/) can come to your yard.
4. Respond to any notice or citation within the deadline on it.
5. Contact CARB at HDIM@arb.ca.gov or (866) 634-3735 for DMV holds.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the fine for not doing Clean Truck Check?

CARB's FAQ cites potential civil penalties of $1,000 to $10,000 per day per vehicle (HSC § 42402). The actual amount depends on the case; non-compliance also blocks DMV registration.

### Can DMV refuse to renew my registration because of Clean Truck Check?

Yes. Without a compliance certificate CARB can place a hold (SB 210 / Q212), and DMV will not renew registration until it is cleared.

### What happens if my truck is flagged by a roadside monitor?

You receive a Notice to Submit to Testing and have 30 calendar days to submit a passing test.

### What is the penalty for tampering with emissions equipment?

Up to $37,500 per violation under HSC §§ 43016 and 43154, according to CARB's FAQ.

## Sources

- CARB, [Clean Truck Check FAQ](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/fact-sheets/clean-truck-check-faq-0)
- 13 CCR § 2198.2, [enforcement](https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/13-CCR-2198.2)
- CARB, [Requirements for seaports and railyards](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/clean-truck-check-requirements-requirements-operations-seaports-and-railyards)
- CARB, [Clean Truck Check overview fact sheet](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/clean-truck-check-overview-fact-sheet)