Department of Motor Vehicles

Important Notice for Inspection Station License Applicants

The number of official public emission inspection stations allowed in each county of New York State is regulated. If the maximum number of such inspection stations is reached in any county, the DMV will place an application for an inspection station license on a waiting list. If the number of stations falls below the designated maximum in a given county, the applicant who has been on the list the longest may be considered for an inspection station license.

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 excepted
• the number of applications on the waitlist for review

What must I do to be placed on the waiting list?

You may either submit:

• a Public Emissions Inspection Waitlist Application (pdf) (VS-94)

OR

• an Original Facility Application (pdf) (VS-1) 

Does the inspection station cap have an impact on all inspection station types?

No. The inspection station cap only applies to official public emissions inspection stations.

What if there is an application for an emissions inspection station license in a county where the maximum number of stations has been reached?

The applicant will be placed on a waiting list in chronological order, according to the date the application was received. You can view the current list of the maximum number of facilities per county.

Do I have to be registered as a repair shop in order to be placed on the waiting list?

No, a current repair shop registration is not required to be placed on the waiting list.

If the DMV refuses to accept an application for an emissions inspection station license, are any of the fees returned to the applicant?

Yes. If an application is not accepted, the appropriate license and application fees will be returned to the applicant.

If I have an emissions inspection station license, can the person who buys my business apply to become an emissions inspection station?

Yes, but any change in ownership that results in a change of facility number requires the applicant to file an original facility application (VS-1) with the DMV. If an original facility application is received from a person who purchased a facility from another person, it must be accompanied by a Public Emissions Inspection Station Buy/Sell Agreement (pdf) (VS-95). The selling facility must have an official public emissions inspection station license "in good standing at the time of sale,"1 for DMV to accept the application for review in counties that have reached their inspection cap. 

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

Can I buy a business that includes an emissions inspection station?

Yes. See the answer above. The Application Unit can assist with specific questions and requirements on buying a business.

How often are the emissions inspection station caps re-assessed?

The determination of the maximum number of official public emissions inspection stations that may be located in any given county of the state is re-assessed annually. The list of the maximum number of facilities per county is published on the DMV website.

What happens when the number of emissions inspection stations falls below the maximum in a county?

The DMV will contact the applicant who has been on the waiting list for the longest period of time in writing. A letter will inform the applicant of his/her right to apply and how to do so.

If I have an existing station, can I move it?

Yes. The cap does not apply if you are moving within the same county or within 5 miles of the current location, regardless of the inspection station cap for that county.

What if I want to relocate a licensed emissions inspection station to a different county, the new location is not within 5 miles of the current location and the maximum number of stations has been reached for that county?

DMV may refuse to accept the Request for Business Amendment / Duplicate Certificate (pdf) (MV-253G) for the change of address. In that case, the applicant will be placed on a waiting list in chronological order, according to the date the amendment form was received.

How does the inspection station cap affect new motor vehicle dealers?

If a new motor vehicle dealer submits an application to be licensed as an official public emissions inspection station, and the dealership is not already so licensed, the DMV will accept for review the application for one official public emissions inspection station license per new dealer registration.

What if I have more questions about the cap, waiting lists or procedures?

Call the DMV Vehicle Safety Application Unit at 518-474-0919.