Odds are, if you own a car in New Jersey, you’re required to have it tested to detect emissions problems every two years. This summer, however, certain vehicles will be exempt from this rule, including 1995 and older vehicles often known as “collectible cars.”
What’s the Purpose of Emissions Testing?
Simply put, emissions testing identifies cars that are releasing pollutants into the air. A car with a malfunctioning emissions system that is driven extensively may release more than 4,000 pounds of pollutants per day. Testing reduces smog and illnesses related to breathing polluted air.
Where Should You Go for a New Jersey Car Emissions Test?
Before you head to you nearest New Jersey repair shop for an emissions test, first make sure it is certified by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and has a Private Inspection Facility (PIF) license. This license is required before a repair shop can legally perform safety and emission inspections on New Jersey-registered vehicles. This requirement is designed to protect motorists and the integrity of the emissions testing requirement. To become a PIF-licensed shop, owners must pass a background check, have at least one licensed inspector on staff, carry liability insurance and have specific equipment on premises to ensure a thorough inspection is carried out.
Where Should You Go If Your Vehicle Fails Its Emissions Test?
Approximately 17 percent of vehicles that undergo emissions testing receive a red sticker indicating they have failed the test. If that happens to your car, you’ll need to have your emissions system repaired so it can be retested. You can be ticketed for driving a vehicle that has not passed an emissions test so you should have it repaired right away.
Ironically, not all PIF-licensed shops are emission repair facility-licensed shops. If your vehicle fails its emissions test, you must have repairs completed by a licensed emissions repair facility or complete repairs yourself and provide supporting receipts and documentation. Any dealership or repair shop that is not ERF-licensed will not have access to New Jersey’s vehicle-inspection portal.
Where Can You Find a Licensed ERF Facility?
If you’re looking for a licensed facility, the state of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission can provide a comprehensive list of vehicle emissions testing locations, as well as emissions repair locations, but why trust just any repair shop with this critical assessment when you can have your vehicle’s emissions tested right here at DeBoer’s Auto Service and Sales in Hamburg. If you are due for an emissions test or repair, contact us online or call (855) 781-0592.
