Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
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 VEHICLE EMISSIONS: IF YOU FAIL THE TEST

If your vehicle fails the test you must have it repaired and reinspected. The reinspection is free if you return within 60 days of your original or subsequent paid test with the repair information completed on the back of the vehicle inspection report.

Voluntary Vehicle Repair and Retrofit (Financial Assistance)

Maricopa and Pima counties operate financial assistance programs to aid in repairing older vehicles that fail the emissions test. To qualify, vehicles must be 12 years old or older, titled in Arizona, registered for at least the past 12 months, functionally operable and have failed the emissions inspection. For more information about these programs contact:

Extended Warranty Coverage

Many vehicles have specific warranty provisions for emissions related repairs. Consult your Owner's Manual, Emissions Control Warranty Information pamphlet or your dealer for information on whether your vehicle has warranty coverage before making necessary repairs.

Waivers

A waiver is an official document that allows qualified owners of failing vehicles to register their vehicle without further expenditures for repair. Vehicles may receive only one repair waiver, which is valid for the current vehicle registration. Once a waiver has been granted, the vehicle is not eligible for another waiver in future years. Failing vehicles that have already received a waiver must be repaired and pass inspection before being registered in the Phoenix or Tucson metro areas. If your vehicle fails, it may be better for you to repair the vehicle than to seek a waiver. In order to request a waiver, the vehicle owner must meet the following qualifications:

  1. The vehicle must fail the state emissions test at least two times
  2. The malfunction must be diagnosed and a low emissions tune-up performed following the initial failure (low emissions tune-up is defined under "A" on the back of the vehicle inspection report)
  3. The vehicle must be presented to one of the waiver facilities listed below, along with the vehicle's last failing test report, detailed repair receipts or estimates
  4. A waiver will be issued if it is determined that additional repairs to reduce the vehicle's emissions level cannot be made within the appropriate maximum repair cost limits. Maximum repair requirements for emission failures depend on the age and location of your vehicle. Due to the severity of the air quality problem in metro Phoenix, repair cost limits in Phoenix are higher than in Tucson
  5. Waivers cannot be issued to vehicles emitting more than two times the applicable emission standard, or that have a faulty catalytic converter.
Maximum Repair Cost Limits
Age of VehiclePhoenix AreaTucson Area
1980 and newer$450$300
1975 - 1979$300$200
1974 and older$200$50
Heavy duty diesel$500$300

Waiver facilities are open 8:00 am to 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday, and are located at:

  • 600 N. 40th St., Phoenix, AZ 85008
  • 4040 E. 29th St., Tucson, AZ 85711
Disclaimer/Privacy Statement | Feedback Leaving ADEQ Web site | Web Site Services | Last Revision Mar. 27, 2007
Any ADEQ translation or communication is unofficial and not binding on the State of Arizona.
Cualquier traducción o comunicación de ADEQ no es oficial y no sujetará a ninguna responsabilidad legal al estado de Arizona.