Arizona Emission Standards

Air pollution is a serious issue that no U.S. state is immune to. Motor vehicle CO2 emissions are one of the main causes of air pollution, which is why there are laws in the United States that impose vehicle emissions testing and set emissions standards. Arizona is one of the states where air quality is pretty poor. That has become particularly noticeable in the last couple of years, as the number of vehicles has significantly increased, especially in major cities such as Phoenix and Tucson. Since air pollution is a serious threat to peoples' health, the state has decided to impose stricter emission standards in order to improve air quality.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is the agency that manages vehicle emissions, and does everything it can to preserve peoples' health and the environment. ADEQ has created the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP), which is a program for mandatory vehicle emission testing and repairs. With the VEIP program, Arizona is hoping to reduce vehicle CO2 emissions, which should result in better air quality. In Arizona, all vehicles in the Phoenix or Tucson metro areas that were made after 1967, have to undergo an emissions inspection 90 days before their registration expires. There are vehicles that are exempt from these inspections, such as 2009 and 2010 model year vehicles, model year 1966 and older vehicles, collector vehicles, vehicles that are powered by electricity, vehicles that have an engine displacement of under 90cc, golf carts, as well as wholesale dealer vehicles. New vehicles that are powered by alternative fuels don't have to be tested when they are registered for the first time, but an emissions inspection is required prior to registration in following years.

Vehicles that don't pass an emissions inspection can be tested again after they are repaired, which is free of charge, if they are retested within 60 days of the original test. Emission inspections in Arizona are not very expensive. In the Phoenix metro area, an inspection for 1981 model year cars or newer costs $27.75, heavy-duty diesel vehicles testing costs $28, and testing for most other vehicles costs $19. In the Tucson metro area, testing costs for all vehicles are $12.25. Allowed payment methods include credit or debit cards, cash and personal checks. When you take your vehicle to an emission testing, you have to bring the car registration, title, bill of sale, the registration renewal application and pay the appropriate test fee.