Gainesville FL Emission Service
READ THIS PAGE FIRST. PLEASE DO NOT CALL REGARDING EMISSIONS TESTING. INSTEAD, PLEASE SCHEDULE ONLINE at https://www.carrsmith.com/appointment/ While we do have the equipment and ability to provide emissions testing, we are NOT an "Emissions Test Center." It WILL NOT be as cheap and convenient as it may have been at an Emission Test Center in your home state. While our reports may be used by you to obtain your registration renewal in your home state that is completely between YOU and YOUR STATE. We provide the vehicle test results only. We have nothing to do with your state. Laws change frequently. Learn your state's requirements. We do not, and will not report to your home state. That is your responsibility. You will have to leave it all day, and it will cost you $199. NO EXCEPTIONS. Our service includes scanning for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC's) related to vehicle emissions, a complete vehicle inspection, and a test of the actual vehicle emissions at the tailpipe. An emissions test is an emissions test. Either your test results will be within an acceptable range for your state, or they are not. However, do not bring your car if the Check Engine Light (Malfunction Indicator Light, or MiL) is illuminated. This is an automatic fail. Do not try to 'clear' the MiL before testing without having the root cause of the MiL repaired. This will also be an automatic fail. Aside from California, we have been doing these tests for years and have never a state reject our test results. You will receive your test results in digital form providing easy format for your state agency. You may also choose to print your digital results to submit to your state. If the vehicle is left with us between 8:00 am and 9:00 am, we will have it ready for you at 5:00 the same day. If it arrives later in the day we will do our best to have it done the same day but, depending on workload, there is a possibility it may be done the end of the following day. PLEASE NOTE: CALIFORNIA WILL *NOT* ACCEPT A SMOG TEST FROM ANY OTHER STATE.
To provide a full understanding of this service: On June 29, 2000 Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed Senate Bill 772, ending emissions testing in the State of Florida. Governor Bush estimated this would save Florida motorists $52 million a year. During the time emissions testing was in effect, testing was only required in 6 Florida counties: Broward, Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, and Pinellas. Alachua county never had emissions testing.
Carrsmith also offers emission testing and repair services, as related to Service Engine Soon lights, Check Engine Lights, Malfunction Indicator Lights (MIL), and/or poor running conditions, in addition as needed with regular maintenance on classic cars. If your MIL is on, you are wise to have it repaired as-soon-as-possible. Driving with an MIL will often lead to expensive, needless additional repair costs.
In the interest of full transparency, if you have a vehicle that is away from your home state when tags are due for renewal, it is often possible to apply to your state for a vehicle exemption from the emissions testing requirement.
Some states require regular vehicle vehicle condition inspections (checking brakes, steering, exterior lighting, etc). Some states require regular emissions testing. Some states require both. The State of Florida requires neither. Yet, being in a college town with people and vehicles from all over the country we have received numerous requests for this service.
Here's why you may not need one: Since there is no federal law requiring vehicle inspection and/or emissions testing. Vehicle inspection and testing requirements exist under state laws, only. These laws vary from state to state. An emissions test from one state might be valid under another state's regulations. When states do allow for what's called "reciprocal testing" i.e. testing done by another state that also requires emissions testing, the reciprocal state may be farther away from you now than your home state.
That being said testing in another state often may either be, at best, inconvenient or, at worst, impossible. Consequently, most state's department of motor vehicles websites provide forms for owners who are away from home for business, educational, or professional purposes, etc. These forms are called "waivers," "exemptions," "extensions," etc. They are typically in .pdf format, and can be completed simply by the vehicle owner without involving a repair shop. Most states do not even require the vehicle owner's signature be notarized. Some states do not even require a form, and instead simply request a letter from the vehicle owner stating they presently have their vehicle away from their state of residence, e.g. New Hampshire.
Below are links to various waivers, exemptions, extensions, and provisions for dozens of states that allow waivers to vehicle emissions testing. If you do not see a link to a form for your state, below, it does not mean there isn't one. Try a quick Google search. Use search terms like: "[my home state] out of state vehicle inspection waiver form," or "out of area emissions extension application [my home state]", etc.
If your state does not provide a waiver, exemption, extension, or some other provision to accommodate your being out-of-state we recommend you reach out directly to your state department of motor vehicles for your state's particular solution. Do not be timid. They may assume you are trying to game the system. That is, you are not really out-of-state and simply have a car for which you are trying to renew registration and don't want to spend the money for repairs needed to pass an emissions test. If your state does not have a solution, you may want to reach out to your state senator, or representative.
Below are examples of links to waivers for emission test for some states requiring emissions testing for vehicle registration renewals: Arizona: https://my.azdeq.gov/oos-exemption/landing California: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/uploads/2020/05/reg5103.pdf Colorado: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/DR2376.pdf Connecticut: http://ctemissions.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Out-of-State-Time-Extension-Reciprocity-Testing-1.10.2018.pdf Georgia: http://www.cleanairforce.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/GAE_VehicleVer_FINAL.pdf Idaho: http://www.idahovip.org/pdf/Form_Extension_Instructions.pdf Illinois: https://illinoisairteam.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Combined-Out-of-Area-Out-of-State-Application-10.24.2019.pdf Indiana: https://cleanaircarcheck.com/extensions-exemptions-waivers/ Maryland: http://www.mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/info/58000VEI/58000-08T.htm#contactinfo Massachusetts: http://www.massrmv.com/Portals/30/docs/21307.pdf Missouri: https://dnr.mo.gov/forms/780-2202-f.pdf New Hampshire: https://www.dmv.org/nh-new-hampshire/smog-check.php New Jersey: http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/license/GU-11.pdf Nevada: https://dmv.nv.gov/pdfforms/ec008.pdf Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/apc-air-pollution-control-home/apc/vehicle-inspection-program/how-to-apply-for-a-vehicle-exemption.html Utah: https://tax.utah.gov/forms/current/tc-810.pdf Virginia* (please see footnote, below): https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/pdf/isd01.pdf*For Northern Virginia residents where emissions testing is required, there is a slightly different wrinkle. One can fill out a form with Virginia DMV to show the vehicle is temporarily out-of-state and therefore not under the jurisdiction of Virginia, and therefore not requiring the emissions test. At that point, Virginia will no longer require an emissions test to renew the registration of that particular vehicle. Additionally, one can maintain their Virginia residential address along with a separate "Garage Jurisdiction" for that particular temporarily out-of-state vehicle. Since, often students and military personnel will change out-of-state residences multiple times during deployment, this works well for most students and military personnel who have someone at the Virginia address on their registration willing to forward their mail. Vehicle registration renewal will be sent to the Virginia address but, there will be no emission testing requirement since the vehicle has been registered with the Virginia DMV as being out-of-state. Be sure to reverse this when you move back to Virginia so you do not receive a citation on a roadside check. To change the vehicle location and keep your Virginia address, simply leave the "NEW RESIDENCE/HOME ADDRESS" blank on the form. Under "VEHICLE REGISTRATION MAILING ADDRESS" enter the out-of-state location of the vehicle under "GARAGE JURISDICTION." Sign the form and mail it to the address for Virginia DMV at the top of the form. To avoid delays, it is wise to include some proof of your temporary out-of-state residence like a copy of a lease, or UF registration, etc.
Wisconsin: https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/formdocs/mv2472.pdf