What If I Lost My Emission Test Notice? Ways to Get It and Possible Problems

Cars are one of the greatest human inventions. They have eased and sped up the movement of people, property, and so much more. Yet, this wonderful invention also comes with caveats. One of the drawbacks of cars is greenhouse gas emissions. As knowledge of the climate impact of vehicle exhaust increased, there was a need to limit car emissions.

In 31 states in the USA and the District of Columbia, the vehicle emission test is a method to check if car emissions are within safety limits. To complete this test, the vehicle's owner will receive a notice from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), state or municipal authority in charge of emissions testing in their area.

Here, we will explain an emissions test, why you need it, and how you receive a notice. Then, we will consider the problems associated with losing an emissions test notice and what you can do about it. Finally, we will discuss what an emissions test entails.

What Is an Emissions Test, And Why Do We Need Them?

The emission test is also known as a smog test or an emission inspection in some areas. An emissions test measures the level of pollutants a car emits against the federal emission standards set for the vehicle. 

As populations expanded and the cost of owning cars decreased, there was a surge in the number of vehicles on the road increasing the amount of automobile emissions. The need to change things came with an improved understanding of our climate and how exhaust from many cars can impact it.

It is crucial to note that only internal combustion engine cars get tested for emissions. Battery electric vehicles are not tested for emissions as they do not create exhaust.

Internal combustion engines are heat engines that generate the energy required for locomotion by burning fuel and air. As a result, fuel and air burning creates exhaust, passed out of the car via the tailpipe. The problem is that car exhaust is a mixture of dangerous greenhouse gases that can harm the environment and public health.

These gases include hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, non-methane organic gases, and Formaldehyde.

Left unchecked, a significant expulsion of these harmful gases will further entrench the adverse effects of climate change and global warming. Hence, the redevelopment of the exhaust system in cars to limit the number of harmful greenhouse gases they emit.

The development of the emission test was to figure out how well exhaust systems in cars handle the aforementioned harmful gas emissions. In summary, an emissions test inspects cars to ensure they are not emitting toxic gases or exhaust at a significantly unsafe level to humans and the environment.

How Do You Receive a Notice for An Emissions Test?

The emissions test is not one you can choose when to do. In most cases, state or municipal authorities request it. Despite the similarities in emission tests across the USA, there are some differences in how some states and districts carry them out. Some states do not demand emissions tests at all.

Typically, car owners receive emissions test notices by mail or email. Barring administrative lapses, you will receive the notice well ahead of the due date, possibly with further reminders.

For example, the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program in Maryland notifies car owners 11 weeks prior by email and 6 to 8 weeks prior via U.S. mail. Using another example, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality sends an initial notice with a 30-day testing period and a final notice with a due date of an extra 35 days for testing.

So, watch for a mail or email from your DMV or the relevant agency in charge of emission testing where you live.

Possible Problems with Losing an Emissions Test Notice

If coming along with the emissions notice is necessary for testing in your area, you must find it or request another one. In such a case, without the emissions test notice, you might face problems getting your car examined at the testing center. Failure to test your vehicle could cause some issues, such as:

• Inability To Complete Vehicle Registration

You cannot complete your vehicle registration in most places without a successful emissions test. Without emissions testing, you might experience difficulty renewing your vehicle registration. Even more, failure to test for emissions before the due date could lead to a cancellation or suspension of valid vehicle registration.

• Fines

Failure to test your car for emissions for whatever reasons may attract some penalties. As stated, your vehicle registration could become invalid without emissions testing. Subsequently, driving a vehicle without a valid registration may attract tickets and fines.

• Environmental Pollution

Getting your vehicle tested for emissions is a great way to determine how safe or unsafe your commutes are to the environment. Without the emissions test, it might be challenging to find and remedy issues with your car that may make it emit greenhouse gases at dangerous levels.

Lost Emissions Test Notice: What to Do

A lost notice is unlikely to cause significant problems, as most states have a solution around such cases.

You don't have to recover or receive another emission notice document in some places, like Illinois. If you received the notice and lost it, go to the test center. The test center will search for the details of your emissions test using your car's plate number and conduct the test after confirming the details.

Furthermore, some emission agencies send the testing notice by mail and email, making the loss of a hard copy of the document a non-issue. Similarly, some states only send emissions notices by email. Emails rarely get lost. But, if you deleted the email, you can check the trash/recycle bin folder in your email client to recover it.

Also, some places send the emission testing notice mail more than once. So, if the notice you lost was not the final notice, you will likely get another one.

If you are unsure if the lost emissions test notice is the final one and there is no email confirmation, contact the relevant authority in your location on what to do. Alternatively, you can find more information on their website.

How Are Emissions Tests Carried Out?

The procedure for the emissions test depends on your vehicle model. Cars manufactured from 1996 come with an Onboard Diagnostic II (OBD2) port used for the test. While Cars manufactured before 1996 make use of a dynamometer test.

1) Emission Testing for Cars Manufactured Since 1996

Car models released since 1996 or later undergo a computerized emissions test. The testing center will connect an external diagnostic tool or a scan tool to the OBD2 port of the vehicle. Then, the scan tool will read the car's information and use it to report whether the vehicle meets or exceeds its emission standards.

The test will succeed if the car meets or complies with the emission standards. Otherwise, the test has failed, and such vehicles must be repaired and retested. The emissions test report should reveal why your vehicle failed the test.

2) Emission Testing for Cars Manufactured Before 1996

Models older than 1996 do not have an OBD2 port for performing the computerized test. Instead, testing for models from 1995 or earlier involves a dynamometer test. A dynamometer emissions test is akin to putting the car on a treadmill with a probe attached to the tailpipe. This probe checks exhaust emissions to ensure they do not exceed safety standards.

It is essential to know that some states exclude cars older than 1996 from this test due to their limited use today. As such, they have a minimal impact on the environment. States like Connecticut, Missouri, and North Carolina exempt car models from 1995 and earlier from emissions tests. Other states like Oregon, New Mexico, and Maryland only exempt cars made before 1976.

An exemption for older cars depends on the counties in a few other states. So, contact your local DMV to confirm whether your older cars need emissions testing. In any case, you will receive a notification if and when the vehicle is due for an emission test.

What if your Car Fails the Test?

If your car fails the test, you must fix the issues causing the failure and have the vehicle retested. For one, the emissions test report should say why the test has failed. Also, the testing center may recommend places to fix those issues. Still, you can recheck using a diagnostic tool for the problems and try to fix them yourself.

But we recommend getting an expert to fix the problem, as several things can cause an emissions test failure. These issues range from cheap and easy-fix problems like contaminated engine oil or a clogged air filter to complex and costly ones like faulty catalytic converters.

Conclusion

So far, we have looked at an emissions test, why it is necessary, and what it entails. You should also understand that losing the notice is not as big an issue as it might seem. On the other hand, failing to comply with the notice could be problematic for your car registration and the environment.

As shown, losing the emission test notice can be pesky, but armed with the correct information; it is a problem you can overcome. Though the emissions test itself may seem like too much work, we all need it for the safety of people and our environment. So, do your part to protect the planet. Contact local authorities or search online for information about a lost emissions notice for your state or county and get the test done.