Weber-Morgan Health Department offers free help with cars failing emissions

OGDEN, Utah — On Friday, the Weber-Morgan Health Department gave people free help with their vehicles that are failing emission tests.

Their Clean Car Clinic is aimed at helping mid- to lower-income drivers. 

We all have those stories.

“For my quote, $5,000.”

The expensive repair, the timing’s never good.

“I bought this vehicle, and two days after I got emissions done, the light came on and they told me it would not have passed two days prior, after I just purchased it,” said Jenna Kap.

For Kap, the whole situation is, well…

“I paid $5,000 for the truck, so yeah, it’s a little frustrating,” she said.

But on Friday, the Clean Car Clinic was there to offer some help. 

“The Weber-Morgan Health Department received $1.2 million to help low and moderate income people repair and replace their vehicles,” said Scott Braden, environmental health director with Weber-Morgan Health.

Braden explained that low- to mid-income people can get help repairing or replacing their higher-polluting vehicles.

“It’s obviously mandated through the EPA, and right now, we know with high inflation that money is tight. So anything we can do to help fix their cars and help clean the air is a win-win situation for our department,” Braden said.

For 2004 and newer model cars, people who qualify can get up to $1,000 toward a repair.

Cars 2003 and older, get up to nearly $7,000 toward a replacement. The only catch is they’d have to buy a 2016 or newer.

To get the diagnostic, you just need a failed emissions, or a check engine light on.

“And I am a single woman on low-income, and so this program is absolutely exciting that they would be able to help me,” Kap said.

And by helping people like Kap, the hope is to help all of us get a little bit cleaner air.

While this clinic wrapped up at 7 p.m. Friday, you can still get the help after.

The Vehicle Repair and Replacement Assistant Program is currently running in six counties around Utah.