On Line Smog Check Available Free of Charge

    FAIRFAX, Va.--July 25, 2002--In response to recent California legislation aimed at reducing the impact of greenhouse gases from vehicle emissions, CARFAX, pioneer of the vehicle history report, is again making access to an online smog check available free of charge to consumers buying or selling California vehicles.
    CARFAX estimates that more than half a million California vehicles in their database fall in the gross polluter category. To help buyers and sellers to quickly identify these gross polluting vehicles, CARFAX is offering a free smog check at www.CARFAX.com/polluter. Utilizing the 17-character vehicle identification number (available on dashboards or title documents), the free check scans the records on the vehicle and issues an alert message if a "gross polluter" designation is found.
    According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Automotive Repair, gross polluting vehicles are responsible for over 50-percent of vehicle smog in California. A "gross polluter" is a vehicle that fails smog inspections and emits high levels of pollution. The emissions level at which a vehicle fails varies according the vehicle type and year. This category was created to identify the worst polluting vehicles, to encourage proper maintenance, and mandate needed repairs to reduce overall vehicle pollution.
    "While some gross polluting vehicles may be repaired to meet state requirements, many will have a high level of deterioration and major emissions system defects," says CARFAX Vice President Scott Fredericks. "Since all vehicles sold in California must first pass a state smog check, a detailed CARFAX Vehicle History Report is essential in determining that the vehicle has passed its emissions inspections."
    David Turk, from Los Angeles, used CARFAX to research several cars including an Infinity J30 being sold on consignment. "I ran a check when I got home -- I found out the car had flunked emissions testing three times," explained Turk. By eliminating questionable vehicles, he was able to find the perfect used car. "I found a nice car at a reasonable price due to CARFAX--I would not buy another used car without the service," he said.

    ABOUT CARFAX

    Founded in 1984, CARFAX pioneered the concept of the vehicle history report - the instant background check on any used car. CARFAX Vehicle History Reports can confirm a clean title history or identify serious problems with any used car, including salvage history, odometer fraud, flood damage and more. CARFAX helps millions of consumers and thousands of car dealers avoid buying used cars with costly hidden problems. Using the 17-character Vehicle ID Number (VIN), used car buyers can access nearly two billion vehicle history records from hundreds of different sources in the CARFAX nationwide database at www.carfax.com. Every CARFAX Report that confirms a clean title history is backed by the $5,000 Clean Title History Guarantee. CARFAX, Inc., based in Fairfax, Virginia, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the R.L. Polk & Co.

www.CARFAX.com www.CARFAXonline.com