The number of official public emission inspection stations allowed in each county of New York State is regulated.

For each county, the Public Emissions Inspection State Cap document shows:

• number of inspection stations
• number of inspection stations allowed
• indication whether applications for new inspection stations are being accepted
• the number of applications on the waitlist for review

The inspection station cap only applies to official public emissions inspection stations.

See the Public Emissions Station Cap List

If the maximum number of inspection stations is reached in any county, the DMV will place an application for an inspection station license on a waitlist. To be placed on the Public Emissions Inspection Waitlist, you may submit either a Public Emissions Inspection Waitlist Application (PDF) (VS-94) or an Original Facility Application. You do not need a current repair shop registration to be placed on the waitlist.

The maximum number of official public emissions inspection stations that can be in each county is assessed annually. If the number of stations falls below the designated maximum for a county, the applicant that has been on the list the longest may be considered for an inspection station license.

If you have an existing inspection station, you may move it within the same county or within 5 miles of the current location (including across county lines), regardless of the inspection station cap for that county.

If you want to move your existing inspection station to a county whose inspection station cap has been reached or to a location in a different county that is more than 5 miles away, DMV may reject your Request for Business Amendment/Duplicate Certificate (PDF) (MV-253G) for the change of address. If that occurs, DMV will place your application on the waitlist, according to the date the application was received.

If you want to sell your facility and your county has reached its inspection cap, you must have an official public emissions inspection station license that is "in good standing at the time of sale." This means that

• the facility license is not suspended or revoked 
• the facility does not owe any outstanding civil penalties 
• the facility has no hearings or appeals pending before the DMV 
• the facility has no litigation pending in which the DMV is named as a party

If you purchase a facility from someone else and the facility number changes, you must file an Original Facility Application with DMV. The application must be accompanied by a Public Emissions Inspection Station Buy/Sell Agreement (PDF) (VS-95).

Contact the Application Unit for assistance with specific questions and requirements on buy/sell agreements at 518-474-0919.

If you are a new motor vehicle dealer and want to be licensed as an official public emissions inspection station, you can submit an application. DMV will accept and review the application for one inspection station license per new dealer registration.