Under New York State law and DMV regulations, all motor vehicles more than two model years old, but less than 25 years old, are required to have emissions inspections each year.

Registration-Based Enforcement helps to ensure that motorists comply with the regulations of the

• New York State emissions inspection program
• Federal Clean Air Act
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

A registrant cannot renew a vehicle registration unless the DMV has a computer record that the vehicle passed the required emissions inspection within the last 12 months, or the registrant can provide proof of the inspection. Safety and emissions inspections are also required whenever the ownership of the vehicle changes.

No penalties result from the Registration-Based Enforcement Program. The program can provide a reminder of an expired emissions inspection. The reminder can help a motorist avoid the penalties from a traffic ticket issued for failure to have a valid inspection sticker.

Motorists who do not have an emissions inspection on file are notified in their registration renewal notices. The notices are normally mailed several weeks before the current registration expires.

If the report of your inspection is not on the DMV computer records, write the inspection sticker number on your registration renewal form. Enclose with your renewal form a copy of one of the following documents, which are available from the station that completed the inspection:

• ‘Vehicle Inspection Receipt’
• ‘Inspection Facility Daily Report’ that lists your vehicle
• ‘Inspection Detail Report’ that lists your vehicle