Totally my fault but here it goes. I lost my job last year and of course when registration became due I had to
get it smogged at a STAR station. I have a 2015 Civic so no idea why a STAR station specifically. This is where it gets mucked up. Earlier last year I had to have the motor mounts replaced and it started running horribly. After running the diagnostics and not getting any errors the mechanic surmised I had a small hole in the the exhaust. After that, lost my job and had to wait months before I could get the car checked. In that time my registration came due so I couldn’t afford that let alone getting the car checked. I ASSUMED based on my mechanic that I would not pass the smog so I paid the registration and haven’t had it smogged. A shop was kind enough to check for the hole in the exhaust for free. As soon as he started the car, before lifting the car, he said it’s definitely NOT the exhaust it’s an issue with one or more of the mounts. He confirmed it, and showed me I have no exhaust issues. My registration was due on 12/31 and from what I’ve read online, I have 60 days from the due date to get the car repaired. I couldn’t even get it looked at until April so I’m way past that and since it theoretically will pass the smog, I don’t qualify for the BAR assistance program for any repairs. I was pulled over the other day and she was cool and just gave me a warning. Due to circumstances way beyond my control I can’t even afford the smog test let alone getting the motor mounts fixed which is obviously not the priority right now. I’m not supposed to be driving but if I need to get somewhere, public transportation is nowhere near me or where I need to go.
So am I SOL and just cross my fingers that if I get pulled over again before I have the money for smog test, the cop will be cool about it? Or is there something else I can do that I didn’t think of?
Thanks!
PS I’m dealing with the mechanic separately