DMV regulations place a limit, or cap, on the number of official public emissions inspection stations in each county of New York State. Below are some common questions and answers about the cap on the number of stations and how it affects station license applicants.

If the number of stations affected by the regulation is at or above the cap for a county, new applicants are placed on a waiting list. If an existing official public emissions inspection station business is sold, an application from the buyer may be accepted for review and the cap may not apply. There is more information in the FAQs below.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did this change become effective?

On July 13, 2011.

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

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

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 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.

Does an applicant 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.

What must an applicant do to be placed on the waiting list?

This can be done in one of two ways:

• submit a VS-1 application form, or
• notify the DMV in writing of your desire to be placed on a waiting list for a particular county.
• To notify the DMV in writing, address the letter to:
  
  Facility Services
  Application Unit
  PO Box 2700
  Albany NY 12220-0700

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 five 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 amendment form (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.

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, and such facility had an official public emissions inspection station license "in good standing at the time of sale," the DMV will accept the application for review, regardless of the inspection station cap for that county. The Application Unit can assist with specific questions and requirements on selling a business. Contact the Application Unit at 518-474-0919.

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.

What is meant by "in good standing at the time of sale"?

"In good standing at the time of sale" means:

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

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 Web site.

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.

Is information about the inspection station cap posted on the DMV Web site?

Yes, the DMV Web site has information about the emissions inspection station cap.

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

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

Status of the Program

The New York Vehicle Inspection Program (NYVIP) officially began on December 1st, 2004. The program is managed under contract for DMV by SGS Testcom. The contract with SGS Testcom will terminate on November 30, 2013.

Preparations for a replacement program are already underway. On March 30, 2012, DMV released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit bids for a replacement of the New York Vehicle Inspection Program (NYVIP) safety and emissions inspection program. The next program will be called NYVIP2.

NYVIP2 will require that inspection stations purchase a new computerized vehicle inspection system (CVIS). The initial purchase price for a basic NYVIP2 CVIS unit will not exceed $1,700.

This information is being provided to ensure that the industry is fully informed when making business decisions about becoming an inspection station or adding additional equipment at an existing facility.

Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available.