Motive Applies to Join California’s BAR Continuous Testing Program for Emissions Compliance
The telematics vendor aims to streamline smog compliance for fleets using OBD data.
Source: Motive, Newsroom ↗
Motive has submitted an application to join California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Continuous Testing Program (CTP), the company’s second emissions compliance move in California following its CARB Clean Truck Check (CTC) certification awarded in July 2026.
The BAR Continuous Testing Program uses telematics and on-board diagnostics (OBD) data to monitor emissions-related performance on an ongoing basis, replacing or supplementing periodic in-person smog inspections for eligible vehicles. For fleets, approval would mean less time pulling vehicles from service for annual smog testing.
The Motive Vehicle Gateway is designed to handle data collection and submission automatically once connected to a vehicle’s diagnostic port, capturing required data, formatting it to BAR specifications and transmitting it without manual intervention. The company said that foundation is the same one underlying its CARB Clean Truck Check certification.
BAR CTP targets smog compliance using OBD data within California, while CARB’s Clean Truck Check focuses on heavy-duty vehicles over 14,000 lbs GVWR and requires periodic OBD-based emissions testing and reporting at the national level. Motive has framed both programs as part of a single California compliance strategy running through its Integrated Operations Platform, an AI-powered system that brings emissions, safety, operations and finance workflows into a single platform rather than a patchwork of point solutions.
BAR CTP participation remains subject to BAR’s review and approval process, and Motive has not disclosed a timeline for a decision. The company said it will continue to share updates as efforts progress so fleets can plan their California compliance roadmaps.
