Overview of the Drive Clean Emissions Testing Process

Many people may wonder why do we need a program like Drive Clean? The answer however, is quite simple: Smog is bad for our lungs and cars, trucks and buses emit pollutants that contribute to smog. Drive Clean will help ensure that the emission control systems of our vehicles are maintained to the standards for which they were designed, with some allowance for wear
and tear. Just as they have to be fit for the road, motor vehicles also have to be fit for the air we breathe.

Currently, vehicles require an emissions test at the time of license plate renewal if it is:

  • Located within the Drive Clean program area.
  • More than three but less than 20 model years old.
  • An odd model year in calendar year 2000, an even model year in 2001, and so forth
    Light duty vehicles (cars, small vans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks) must pass an emissions test every two years in order to renew license plate stickers. An emissions pass is also required in most cases to transfer ownership, license plates or validation between plates within the program area if the vehicle is less than 20 model years old. Heavy duty trucks and buses must have an emissions test every year. You need this emissions test to get a validation sticker to put on your license plate.

    A Drive Clean pass certificate is valid for six months from its date of issue. During that time the registration can be renewed and ownership can be transferred many times. This regulation protects used car buyers from unexpected or costly repairs to the emissions system shortly after buying a vehicle; assuring them that a test has been passed and the vehicle has been fully repaired within the previous six months. This allows you to have the test done up to six months before the registration renewal date or before selling the vehicle.


   Now, you may be wondering how is the Drive Clean test done? At an accredited Light Duty Vehicle Drive Clean test facility, a certified inspector will drive your car or light-duty truck onto a dynamometer. This machine is like a treadmill that allows
the vehicle to be driven at a constant speed while stationary.  A probe is placed in the tailpipe of your vehicle. The probe is connected to a gas analyzer and computer, which can measure the concentration of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons
(including unburned gasoline) and carbon monoxide. When the inspector operates your vehicle at a steady speed of 40 km per hour, emissions readings are recorded. Several of these readings are taken and then averaged by the computer.
 

 

Circumstances taken into consideration during the test include:

  • The test results will be compared by the computer to emission standards for the vehicle and its model year. For example, if you drive a 1986 model car, it will be tested against 1986 emission standards with an allowance for vehicle deterioration and age.
  • If your vehicle has certain safety problems or emits visible smoke from the tailpipe it will not be tested until it has been repaired. Such problems could lead to injury during testing and/or malfunctioning of the test equipment

Now, you may also be wondering, "What is the likelihood that my vehicle will pass?  Vehicle emission standards are set so that only excessively polluting vehicles will fail. Experience with Ontario's Drive Clean program and information from 38 other North American jurisdictions with programs similar to Ontario's Drive Clean indicates that more than 80% of cars and trucks will pass. Regular maintenance of your vehicle will keep pollution control equipment and pollution levels close to what the vehicle was designed to achieve (i.e.; with allowance for wear and tear) and will greatly improve your chances of passing.

Another question you may be wondering is, "How much will the test cost me?"  A typical Drive Clean test should cost you no more than $30 plus GST (PST may apply if repairs were done at the same time). If your vehicle fails, a retest at the same facility will cost nor more than $15 plus taxes, with a limit of two retests at this price maximum.


Once the test is completed and it is determined that your vehicle does not meet the emissions standards, you should receive three documents:
  • Vehicle Inspection Report showing why the vehicle failed
  • Information sheet entitled What If My Vehicle Fails the Inspection; and
  • Common Causes of Excessive Exhaust Emissions.
These documents explain what steps should be taken to get your vehicle repaired, the  circumstances under which up to $200 spent on repairs may qualify for a conditional pass and some of the possible causes that can lead to failure of the inspection test. The vehicle owner is advised not to leave the Drive Clean facility without these items. Evidence will have to be presented showing that your vehicle has undergone repairs to correct the emission failure before it will be accepted for re-testing.

If your vehicle does not meet the emissions standards be careful of where you go to have emissions repairs done.  You can use any repair shop you wish to repair your car, or you can do repairs yourself, as long as the car passes the retest. However, to take advantage of the program's $200 repair cost limit you must have repair estimates and any emission-related repairs performed at an accredited Drive Clean facility. This will allow you to obtain a conditional pass which is valid until your next emissions test. At that time, the vehicle will have to be repaired and pass the test in order for its registration to be  renewed.
Here at Buehler Automotive, we are an accredited emissions repair facility.


Drive Clean | Overview | Nine Steps | Emission Tips | Why?


*The preceding information has been taken from Ontario's Drive Clean Web Page