19.090 Vehicle Safety System Inspection Program

(Business and Professions Code, Sec. 9, Article 6.5 Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection, 9888.6, Vehicle Code §11519)

Changes to DMV Virtual Clerk System (utilized by Business Partner Automation [BPA] Program participants) were implemented to allow an inquiry to the Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Vehicle Safety System Inspection (VSSI) database. A link between Virtual Clerk System and BAR was established to verify VSSI certificate status when processing specified transactions.

Continue to follow existing procedures in this chapter when reregistering vehicles that have been declared junk, salvage, or transactions requiring a VSSI.

If the below error messages are displayed in Virtual Clerk, BPA program participants should contact their First Line Service Provider (FLSP) for guidance.

• D447 BAR SAFETY SYSTEMS CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE REQUIRED
  Note Transactions may proceed if the D447 error message displays and RDF is selected.
• Q023 CNA – SHORT TERM (BAR SAFETY SYSTEMS CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE)

Transactions impacted by the changes are limited to the following.

• C10/C11 – Revived Junk/Revived Salvage (Original/Clearing)
• F00/F01 – Transfer of Registered Owner/Revived Salvage with CA Title/Clearing

Transactions completed with a valid VSSI will need to include a “BAR Inspection History” screen print in the clearing transaction (see Figure 1 below).  One “PASS” VSSI must display a “Certificate number” on the BAR Inspection History screen print and replaces both the brake/light certificates. VSSI test results can be found on the BAR website: bar.ca.gov/inspection

Figure 1 – BAR Inspection History

Important:

• Paper certificates issued on and after September 28, 2024, will not be accepted.
• If the originating transaction is dated on or before December 26, 2024, and a paper brake/light certificate is presented, BPA participants must contact their FLSP for guidance.
• The VSSI Certificate exemption, due to distance from an inspection facility, is being discontinued. A Statement of Facts (REG 256) from an automotive repair shop attesting to the vehicle safety systems requirements, are no longer accepted.
• Trailers with a manufacturer’s GVWR under 3,000 lbs. are exempt from VSSI requirements. BPA participants must contact their FLSP for guidance.
• VSSI history can be found on the BAR website: www.bar.ca.gov/inspection. Key in the vehicle identification number (VIN) for the most accurate results; query using the vehicle license plate number is discouraged given that it can change. A “PASS” VSSI result must display a “Certificate number” on the BAR Inspection History screen print.
• VSSI and Smog Inspection history can be found on the same weibste, however, each program and registration clearing requirements will vary.
• VSSI test results are not available (on the BAR website) for inspections completed the same day. However, VSSI inspection results can be verified electronically with the BAR query and are available immediately (upon inspection completion).
• One “Pass” electronic VSSI certificate, issued by BAR, replaces both the brake and light certificates.