Emissions Inspection for Gas-powered Vehicles
NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
In January 1998, the emissions inspection and maintenance program used in the New York City Metropolitan Area (NYCMA) was improved to comply with new federal standards. The NYCMA includes the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Rockland County, and Westchester County.
All gas-powered vehicles that are registered in the NYCMA must receive a high-enhanced emissions inspection. Inspection facilities that are located outside the NYCMA cannot do this inspection. Some vehicles are exempt from this requirement.
What does the high-enhanced emissions inspection include?
The high-enhanced emissions inspection tests the air pollution control system and exhaust emissions of a vehicle. All vehicles receive a gas cap check and a visual inspection to find evidence of tampering and to prevent malfunctions in the air pollution control devices. The test is done annually at the same time as the safety inspection.
NOTE: The NYVIP inspection that includes the ODBII test will replace the high-enhanced emissions inspection no later than April 1, 2005. This web page has
the information about the NYVIP inspection.
What vehicles must receive a high-enhanced emissions inspection?
The model year, the weight, and the type of vehicle determine the test methods and the standards that are used. Instead of
- Vehicles that have a model year of 1981 or newer and a weight of 8,500 lbs. or less must receive a dynamometer test.
- Vehicles that have a model year of 1996 or newer will not receive the dynamometer test, but will receive an inspection of the on-board diagnostic computer.
- Vehicles that have a model year earlier than 1981 and a weight of more than 8,500 pounds, or that have full-time traction control or all-wheel drive equipment, receive an idle speed tailpipe test only.
These vehicles are
exempt from the high-enhanced emissions inspection:
- vehicles that are less than two model years old, or more than 25 model years old (for example, a 1975 model in 2001), and
- diesel-powered vehicles, and
- electric-powered vehicles, and
- motorcycles, and
- vehicles that are registered as farm equipment or that have historical plates.
Annual safety inspections are required for all vehicles that the law does not exempt. To learn more about safety inspections, read the DMV brochure,
New York State Vehicle Inspection Program for Cars and Light Trucks.
What is the fee for the high-enhanced emissions inspection?
There are fees of $27 for the high-enhanced emissions inspection and $10 for the safety inspection.
What can I do if my inspection certificate expires while my vehicle is outside the NYCMA?
If the inspection certificate for a vehicle registered in the NYCMA expires while the vehicle is located outside of the NYCMA, the vehicle operator can get a temporary waiver. Get form VS-1078 (Temporary Certificate of Emissions Waiver) from any DMV office and take the form to a NYSDMV-licensed inspection station. The inspection station will do a low-enhanced emissions inspection, which is valid outside of the NYCMA. The operator must get a high-enhanced emissions inspection and a safety inspection no more than 10 days after the vehicle returns to the NYCMA.
What can occur if my vehicle fails the high-enhanced emissions inspection?
A vehicle must pass the emissions inspection to receive an inspection sticker. The failure of the vehicle to pass the test can prevent the registration of the vehicle. You must have the vehicle repaired to meet the standards and pass a reinspection. If the vehicle does not pass a reinspection after major repairs are made, the DMV can issue a one-year waiver. To qualify for a waiver, the cost of the repairs cannot be less than $450. The maximum amount of the repair cost that qualifies for a waiver is adjusted annually with the Consumer Price Index.
If your vehicle failed the emissions inspection during the year before the date of the registration renewal, you
cannot renew the vehicle registration. Inspection stations electronically send a record of all emissions inspections to the DMV. The DMV must have a record that your vehicle passed an emissions inspection during the previous year. Keep the receipt of your emissions inspection sticker to prove that the vehicle was inspected.
How can I find the locations of stations that conduct the high-enhanced emissions inspection?
Inspection stations that conduct emissions inspections in the NYCMA are licensed by DMV and must use approved and certified equipment. DMV has prepared a list of certified emissions inspection stations, sorted by county. The list is updated when more inspection stations become certified.
DMV-Certified Emissions Inspection Stations Brooklyn
(
Kings County) Manhattan
(
New York County) Staten Island
(
Richmond County)
Bronx County Queens County Suffolk County Nassau County Rockland County Westchester County THE UPSTATE AREA - THE NEW NYS VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAM (NYVIP)
The
Upstate Area has a new program for annual vehicle inspection (NYVIP). The Upstate Area includes the
53 counties located north of the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Rockland County, and Westchester County.
What is the new NYS vehicle inspection program (NYVIP)?
The NYVIP is a program that will include a
new inspection of the emissions control systems on vehicles that have a model year of 1996 and newer. The NYVIP inspection also includes:
- the current safety inspection,
- the current gas cap check, and
- the current visual inspection of the emission control devices.
For the new inspection, the NYS-licensed inspection station uses new equipment to monitor the on-board diagnostic system (OBDII) of your vehicle. The station uses the new equipment, a modem, and a dedicated telephone line to report the inspection results to the DMV.
The inspection station also uses the NYVIP equipment to conduct the inspections for motorcycles, trailers, and vehicles that have a model year of 1995 and older, but the station
does not conduct the ODBII inspection for these vehicles.
The NYVIP will help NYS to comply with the Federal Clean Air Act, decrease the emissions from motor vehicles, and reduce air pollution.
Annual safety inspections are required for all vehicles that the law does not exempt. To learn more about safety inspections, read the DMV brochure, "
New York State Vehicle Inspection Program for Cars and Light Trucks".
What is "OBDII"?
"OBDII" is the acronym that indicates "on-board diagnostics - version two". The OBDII is a computer system that monitors the correct operation of the engine and the emissions control systems of the vehicle. Vehicles that have a model year of 1996 or newer and that weigh 8,500 lbs. or less have the OBDII. If the OBDII detects a problem that can result in excessive emissions, a malfunction indicator light (MIL) illuminates to inform the driver or automotive technician.
Which vehicles must get the new OBDII test?
The new OBDII test is required for any non-exempt vehicle that:
- has a model year of 1996 or newer, and
- is more than two model years old, and
- displays a weight that is less than 8,501 lbs. on the vehicle registration.
What vehicles are exempt from the NYVIP emissions inspection?
These vehicles are exempt from the NYVIP emissions inspection.
- vehicles that are less than two model years old, or more than 25 model years old (for example, a 1975 model in 2001), and
- diesel-powered vehicles, and
- electric-powered vehicles, and
- motorcycles, and
- vehicles that are registered as farm equipment or that have historical plates, and
- homemade vehicles or custom vehicles that are registered in the Upstate Area.
Does the program include both the Upstate Area and the New York City Metropolitan Area (NYCMA)?
Yes. In
the New York City Metropolitan Area (NYCMA), the new test
will replace the current high-enhanced emissions inspection for some vehicles. In
the Upstate Area, the new test is
an addition to the current low-enhanced emissions inspection.
The inspection procedure for vehicles that have a model year of 1995 or older will not change.
The new test
does not affect the safety inspection for
any vehicle.
When will the NYVIP begin?
NYCMA: The NYCMA includes nine counties: the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, and Rockland County. All NYS-licensed inspection stations must begin the new program
no later than April 1, 2005.
Upstate Area: The Upstate Area includes the 53 counties in New York State that are located
north of the NYCMA. The installation of the new equipment began in August 2004. All NYS-licensed inspection stations must begin the new program
by December 1, 2004.
Will I pay an increased vehicle inspection fee when the NYVIP begins?
When the NYVIP begins in the
Upstate Area, an increase in the total fee occurs. The total fee of $16 increases to $21. The new fee will affect
all vehicles that must receive a safety inspection and an emissions inspection. The new fee will affect the vehicles that must receive an OBDII emission inspection
and will affect the vehicles that must receive a low-enhanced emissions inspection.
NYS will determine the total amount of the two inspection fees for the
NYCMA before the NYVIP begins in the NYCMA (no later than April 1, 2005).
How much additional time will the OBDII test require?
The OBDII test will require less than five minutes. The inspector will conduct the safety inspection, the low-enhanced emissions inspection, and then the OBDII test to complete the inspection.
How will I know if my vehicle passed or failed the OBDII test?
The NYVIP equipment at the inspection station prints a document that is a report of the test results and a receipt. If your vehicle fails the test, the report indicates the reason for the failure. The report can provide helpful information to an automotive technician who repairs the vehicle.
If my vehicle requires repairs, will the warranty on my vehicle cover the repairs?
Read the owner manual and other documents for your vehicle to get information about the warranty on the emissions control equipment. The vehicle manufacturer is required to warranty emissions failures for the first 2 years or 24,000 miles and specified major emission components for 8 years or 80,000 miles. If you have questions, contact the automobile dealer or the vehicle manufacturer.
What can occur if my vehicle fails the OBDII test?
If the NYVIP requires a vehicle to receive
an OBDII emissions inspection, and the vehicle does not qualify for a waiver (see below), the vehicle must pass that inspection in order to receive an inspection sticker. The failure of the vehicle to pass the inspection can prevent the renewal of the vehicle registration. You must have the vehicle repaired to meet the standards and pass a reinspection.
Inspection Waiver. A vehicle that is required to have the OBDII inspection can qualify for a waiver if:
- the vehicle fails the OBDII inspection, but passes the safety inspection, the gas cap check, and the visual inspection of the emission control devices, and
- the vehicle receives repairs that are related to the failure of the OBDII inspection and the cost of the repairs is at least $450, and
- the vehicle does not pass the OBDII inspection during a reinspection.
The waiver is valid for one year.
After the reinspection, the inspector enters the repair information that you provide into the NYVIP equipment. The NYVIP equipment then notifies the inspector if the vehicle qualifies for a waiver. If the vehicle qualifies, the inspector can use the NYVIP equipment to print a waiver form. You must sign the waiver form, and the inspector must sign the waiver form. The inspection station keeps the waiver form and other documents related to the waiver. The inspector then issues your inspection sticker, and the sticker is valid for one year.
To qualify for a waiver:
- You must have the inspection report from the original NYVIP inspection station.
- The inspection report must show that your vehicle failed the original OBDII test, but that your vehicle passed the safety inspection, the gas cap check, and the visual inspection of the emission control devices.
- The emissions control system of your vehicle must be intact. The system must not show any evidence of tampering.
- You must have work orders and receipts that prove that repairs related to the vehicle emissions system were completed at a NYS-licensed repair shop. The work orders and the receipts must prove that the cost of the repairs, parts and labor, was at least $450. If you complete the repairs yourself, the calculation of the cost of the repairs includes only the cost of the parts that were used and does not include any amount for your labor.
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