VEIP Frequently Asked Questions
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If a vehicle is used it is required to emissions test every 2 years.
If a vehicle is a 2019 or newer, with original ownership and titled in Maryland, it will be scheduled for VEIP testing 72 months after titling and
registration in Maryland.
Vehicles registered in the following Maryland counties must
undergo VEIP inspections:
|
Anne Arundel County
Baltimore City
Baltimore County
Calvert County
Carroll County
|
Cecil
County
Charles County
Frederick County
Harford County
Howard County
|
Montgomery
County
Prince George’s County
Queen Anne’s County
Washington County
|
If your vehicle is powered exclusively by diesel fuel, check
the appropriate box on the reverse side of VEIP notification you received
in the mail via myMVA account or by mail:
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP)
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
All hybrid vehicles (part gasoline and part electric or propane) are required to be inspected.
Yes, motorhomes are required to have VEIP testing.
Yes, a vehicle must undergo VEIP testing, regardless of whether or not the vehicle is operated by hand controls.
The following are VEIP exempt vehicles:
- Vehicle models 1995 or older 8,500 lbs. gross vehicle weight and under (Suggested change by MDE)
- Manufactured diesel vehicles (if converted to diesel, must be verified at a VEIP station)
- Vehicles registeres as a Class L (Historic Vehicle)
- Vehicles registered as a Class N (Street rod vehicle)
- Vehicles registered as a Class H (School vehicle) or Class P (Passenger bus)
An exemption permanently eliminates the need for your vehicle to be tested because the vehicle meets certain criteria. If you are requesting an exemption, you must fill out a Certified Statement (EP-009) and send electronically with ContactMVA, by mail (see address below), or hand deliver it to any of the 18 VEIP stations located throughout Maryland.
VEIP
stations are open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.,
Tuesday and Wednesday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Saturdays 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Self-service
24/7 VEIP kiosk can be used with vehicles model year 2005 or newer
(under 8,500 lbs) and model year 2008 or newer (less than 14,000 lbs.).
Kiosks only accept credit cards. View a tutorial on how to
use the VEIP kiosk.
Vehicle emissions pollute our air and create ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. People drive 156 million miles in Maryland daily - an amount that increases every year. By making sure your vehicle is operating efficiently you can reduce our air pollution. All Marylanders need to help keep our air clean.
To prep your vehicle for its VEIP test, make sure the
vehicle’s oil and coolant levels are at the manufacturer’s recommended levels
and the tires are properly inflated.
If the vehicle requires an idle Tailpipe test, the vehicle
should be driven at normal highway speeds for at least 20 minutes before the
test to warm it up. Once you arrive for the test, leave the engine
running until instructed by the inspector.
Make sure you have a gas cap and that it properly fits.
You should bring your vehicle, the test notice, and/or your
registration card, to any one of the 18 VEIP stations or 10 self-service
24/7 kiosks, along with the test fee. You can pay your test fee by cash, MasterCard,
VISA, American Express, check (made payable to VEIP), money
order or traveler's check. Self-Service
kiosks only accepts credit cards. *Please do not bring pets, snow removal
equipment, towed trailers or an overloaded vehicle to your test.*
You can learn more about the vehicle tests including On-Board
Diagnostics (OBD) Test, Idle Tailpipe and Gas Cap Tests here.
- When you pull into the lane for the test, put the vehicle in "park," and keep the engine running.
- A certified emissions inspector will check for leaking fluids, excessive smoke, signs of tampering with the exhaust system, a gas cap, dashboard warning lights, and badly worn tires. Nothing is disconnected.
- The test fee of $14 is collected. We accept cash, VISA, Apple Pay, American Express, and MasterCard, traveler's check, money order, or a personal check (with 2 current ID's) made payable to VEIP.
- At the end of the test the inspector will present you with a vehicle emissions certificate that shows whether your vehicle passed or failed the test and the date of your next test.
- If you do not pass the test, you will be referred to the station representative. The station representative can discuss the results with you and point out the area(s) on your vehicle's engine or emission control system to be checked and repaired. A brochure listing Maryland Certified Emissions Repair Facilities is available from the station representative.
- IF your vehicle DOES NOT PASS, please speak to the station representative before leaving. Parking is available near the station office. Our station representatives are fully prepared to answer any questions you may have about your test results.
You should have your vehicle repaired and re-tested as soon
as possible. Be sure to show the person repairing your vehicle your Vehicle
Emissions Inspection Certificate (VEIC) and diagnostic report. If your
vehicle is under warranty, you may want to have the dealer perform the needed
repairs. Otherwise, you can use a mechanic of your choice, or you may do the repairs
yourself. Note that certain repair
facilities are certified to perform emissions work and offer approved
emissions analyzers, On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) scan tools and trained
personnel.
Note: OBD re-test - Drive vehicle in a normal
manner for one (1) week before re-test to allow enough time for monitors to
reset themselves.
After your vehicle is repaired you can have it re-tested at
any of the 18 VEIP stations located throughout Maryland. The
first re-test of your vehicle is free.
You must have your vehicle re-tested until it passes the required VEIP tests or until you receive a repair waiver. To be eligible for the waiver you must have made emissions-related repairs to your vehicle totaling at least $450.00. The cost of an emissions-related repair can be counted if it was made:
- during the 30 days before the initial VEIP test; or,
- on the day of the initial VEIP test; or,
- during the period following the initial VEIP test and prior to the last failed test.
To apply for the repair waiver, you also must complete and submit to the VEIP station the repair waiver request (on the reverse side of the vehicle emissions inspection certificate) and the original invoices, receipts and/or repair orders for the emissions-related repairs. A Station Representative will visually inspect your vehicle to verify that all emissions equipment is present and that the repairs you paid for were completed.
Federal and state laws may not allow the costs of repairs to the exhaust system, beyond the catalytic converter, to count toward the expenditure requirement for a repair waiver. Repair waivers are not issued if any emission control devices are disconnected or removed.
If you have not spent at least $450.00 on repairs at the time of re-testing, your vehicle will need to be repaired again and undergo another test. You will be charged for each additional re-test, after the first re-test which is free.
There are many reasons why your vehicle may have not passed the test(s). The most common are:
- Hydrocarbon (HC) failure
- Carbon monoxide (CO) failure
- Sample dilution failure
- On-board diagnostic (OBD) failure
- Emission control equipment was removed or altered
- Gas cap failure
APPENDIX A
Reasons Why Vehicle Did Not Pass
And Possible Causes
| Reason |
Possible Causes |
Hydrocarbon (HC) failure- exceeds established standards for hydrocarbon
|
| |
Air to fuel mixture may be too lean or too rich. |
| |
Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve may not be functioning properly (if equipped). |
| |
Vacuum leak in the system. |
| |
Exhaust Gas Re-Circulation (EGR) system may not be functioning properly (if equipped). |
| |
Ignition timing may not be properly set. |
| |
One or more spark plugs may not be performing as they should. |
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Catalytic converter may be partially clogged or not properly functioning. |
| |
Ignition system parts are not working properly. |
| |
Internal engine parts or equipment may not be functioning. |
| |
Various engine sensors may not be functioning. |
|
Carbon monoxide(CO) failure- exceeds established standards for carbon monoxide
|
| |
Air to fuel mixture may be too rich. |
| |
Idle speed is not correct. |
| |
Air filter may be partially clogged. |
| |
Choke may not be operating properly. |
| |
Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve may not be functioning properly. |
| |
Air or fuel problems, other equipment or engine malfunctions. |
| |
Catalytic converter may be partially clogged or not properly functioning. |
| |
Engine oil may be dirty and needs changing. |
| |
Various engine sensors may not be functioning. |
|
Sample dilution failure
|
| |
The CO + CO2 measurement was less than 6%, indicating that a valid exhaust sample could not be taken from the vehicle. |
| |
The vehicle has leaks in the exhaust system or improper engine adjustments. |
|
On-board diagnostic (OBD) failure- OBD system identified Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) or a Faulty Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) |
| |
The vehicle’s on-board diagnostic system has identified one or more emissions control components that are malfunctioning. |
| |
The vehicle’s Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on the dashboard is not functioning properly. |
|
Emissions control equipment |
| |
If the emissions control equipment is not present or has been disconnected the vehicle will not pass the inspection. |
|
Gas capfailure |
| |
The gas cap does not fit properly and could be leaking vapors. |
| |
Gas cap is not sealing tightly. |
|
- Newly purchased vehicles in Maryland ONLY, with ORIGINAL ownership, are required to test ever 72 months from time of titling/registration. After the first test, the vehicle is required to test every two years.
- Used vehicles are required to emissions test every two years.
- The Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) will notify you by email 8 weeks prior to your vehicles due date with a 2-week reminder email, providing your correct email address is on file with MDOT MVA. Otherwise, you will be notified via U.S. mail approximately 6-8 weeks prior to your emissions due date.
You may take your vehicle to be inspected at any time,
without an inspection notice. If you choose to have your vehicle inspected
outside of your normal testing cycle, the test is considered to be either a
voluntary or unscheduled test, depending upon the circumstances.
A VEIP test is considered to be voluntary when the
vehicle is not registered to you (e.g., you are purchasing a used car and want
to make sure that it is compliant with emissions standards). In this instance,
the vehicle's test results will not be recorded in MDOT MVA's
database.
Your vehicle can also undergo
an unscheduled VEIP test. This can occur when you know that you will
be unable to complete your VEIP test during your normal testing period. In this
instance, you can submit your test results to MDOT MVA and the vehicle's test
results will be recorded in MDOT MVA's database. If you are going to be in another state, MDOT MVA may accept test results from other states. Also, vehicles registered to active military members deployed outside of the United States or to a jurisdiction that is not subject to a vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program MAY be eligible for a waiver. Learn
more about extensions, waivers and exemptions.
You should contact us immediately
for specific information.
No, your vehicle did not undergo the VEIP test at the time of the Maryland Safety Inspection. Anyone who purchases a used vehicle will receive a VEIP test notice three months after the date of the vehicle's registration. If you have the VEIP certificate from the previous owner you can submit a copy to VEIP to update your record.
There is a $14 fee for the VEIP test. If
a customer uses a self-service kiosk, the fee is reduced to $10.
A $15 late fee is assessed after the testing due
date has passed. An additional $15 will be assessed every four weeks thereafter
if the vehicle continues to be late for testing.
The first re-test of a vehicle, after repairs are made, is free; however, there is a fee for each additional re-test of the vehicle should it fail to test again.
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Contact Information:
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
VEIP
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
For telephone questions:
Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program: 1-410-768-7000
MVA Customer Service Center: 1-410-768-7000
TTY/Hearing Impaired: 1-301-729-4563
