Safety. A vehicle that fails its safety inspection must be repaired immediately. When you drive a car, truck, SUV or bus with safety defects, you are putting yourself and others at risk. You may also be issued a citation by police, which could lead to insurance surcharges.
If your vehicle passed its emissions test, Skip to Step 3
Emissions. A vehicle that fails its emissions test must be repaired and pass a re-test within 60 days of its initial inspection. Give the Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) you received from the inspector to your repair technician, who can use the information it provides to diagnose your vehicle’s emissions control problem(s). Need a copy of your Vehicle Inspection Report? Get a reprint here. If the inspector also gave you an Emissions Repair Form, be sure to have the repairer complete it and then return the form to the inspector when you take your vehicle back for its re-test. Check with your repairer to see if he or she has filled this form out on-line for you. If so, you will not need to return the form to the inspector.
There are two important reasons for completing repairs immediately:
* It is technically illegal to operate your vehicle before fixing safety defects identified during an inspection.
* Emissions control problems can significantly reduce gas mileage, and may cause long-term damage to your vehicle that will make repairs more expensive.
Keep your repair receipts inside your vehicle as proof that repairs have been made until your vehicle passes its re-test. This is especially important if your vehicle failed its initial safety inspection.
Sometimes, repairs don’t fix the problem(s) that caused your vehicle to fail its emissions test or estimated repair costs are extremely high because a major component needs to be rebuilt or replaced. In these cases, you may still be eligible for a passing sticker. If your private passenger vehicle or OBD-equipped motor home:
* Failed its emissions test and was fixed by a Registered Emissions Repair Technician but fails its retest, you may be eligible for a Waiver of Emissions Standards [link] and a passing sticker that will be valid until your vehicle’s next annual inspection.
* Needs a major and costly repair to pass its emissions test (e.g., transmission replacement or engine overhaul), you may be eligible for an Economic Hardship Repair Extension and a one-time, one-year sticker to continue operating the vehicle while you save for repairs or look for a replacement.
To get either a waiver or an extension, you will need to bring your vehicle and its inspection and repair records to a Motorist Assistance Center (MAC) for evaluation. The MAC will provide you with an authorization so the inspection station that failed your vehicle can then issue you a passing sticker, or will explain how your vehicle does not meet waiver or extension requirements. Your Vehicle Inspection Report will contain instructions on how to schedule an appointment at a MAC.
There are no waivers or extensions for any safety defects or for emissions problems with commercial vehicles.
Step 3. Get Your Vehicle Re-Tested
Your vehicle must be re-tested and receive a passing sticker within 60 days of its initial inspection. If not, the Registry of Motor Vehicles may suspend your registration.
If your vehicle failed both its safety and emissions tests during its initial inspection, it will be re-tested for both at the same time. The first re-test is free if you bring your vehicle back to the station where it was originally inspected. If you go to a different station, you will need to pay another $29 inspection fee for the first re-test and each subsequent re-test. If your vehicle fails its free re-test, you will also need to pay the $29 inspection fee for each subsequent re-test.
If your private passenger vehicle fails its emissions re-test but was repaired by a Registered Emissions Repair Technician, you may still be eligible for a waiver of emissions standards and a passing sticker. See Emissions Waivers for additional information.
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Originally Posted by BMFR6
