Cost, Location, Frequency, and Vehicles

The State of Rhode Island requires safety and emissions checks on registered vehicles. Please read this page for an overview of the program. For a direct link to the Rhode Island DMV's inspection information site, please go to http://www.dmv.ri.gov/inspections.

Cars and light trucks weighing 8500 lbs. or less (gross vehicle weight) registered in Rhode Island require a biennial emissions and safety inspection. (Vehicles registered as antiques are exempt.)

Each vehicle's biennial testing cycle is established as follows:

• All used vehicles under 8,500 lbs. purchased from a licensed dealer must have a New sticker at the time of sale.
• All used vehicles under 8,500 lbs. - private sales - owner transfer - coming from out of state - have five (5) business days to get the vehicle inspected.
• All vehicles purchased new from a dealer, less than two years old or with less than 24,000 miles on the odometer, have two (2) years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first, to obtain an inspection sticker. Be aware however that you may bring them in for inspection early - manufacturer's warranties may pay for emissions repairs of these vehicles when failing an emissions inspection (refer to your warranty paperwork).

The fee for the emissions and safety inspection is $39.00.

Vehicles passing inspection each receive a 2-year sticker and a vehicle inspection report.

Don't forget your registration! When taking your vehicle for inspection, you must present your vehicle's registration to the inspector or the inspection cannot be performed.

Both gasoline and diesel powered vehicles are eligible for inspection in Rhode Island . All inspection stations are equipped to inspect gasoline vehicles. 25 stations located throughout Rhode Island are equipped to inspect diesel vehicles.

For a list of Emission Inspection Stations and Certified Inspector Repair Technicians refer to Certified Inspection Repair Technician (CIRT).

Station Directory

To have your vehicle officially inspected, take it to one of the certified inspection stations listed here.

Special note about diesel-powered vehicles: Not all inspection stations are equipped with diesel inspection equipment. For your diesel-powered vehicle, please select one of the certified stations listed here.

Vehicle Exemptions

The following vehicles are exempt from emissions inspection in Rhode Island :

• Electric vehicles
• Vehicles registered with antique plates - Vehicles over 25 years old with regular passenger plates must pass safety, but not emissions
• Vehicles less than 2 years old having less than 24,000 miles on the odometer

Special Cases - DMV Inspection Office

For list of Inspection Stations for all other vehicles, please contact the DMV Inspection Office:

Motor Vehicle Safety and Emission Control Division

To inquire about registration suspensions for failure to obtain inspection and for failure to comply with notice and demand tags, contact the DMV office at 222-2983.

Challenge inspections and complaint investigations are performed at this site.

Kit Cars

Kit cars and their place in the inspection program is explained at: www.dmv.ri.gov/inspections/kit%20vehicles.php. Some of the information is included below for your convenience.

Definition: A kit vehicle is a motor vehicle (car, truck or motorcycle) that is built by an individual instead of a manufacturer.

Registration

To register a kit car or motorcycle, the DMV requires certain paperwork be submitted in order to schedule your vehicle for a mandatory pre-registration inspection, which includes:

1. Inspection of the vehicle for roadworthiness
2. Rhode Island Assigned Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.)

Your vehicle must complete both phases of this inspection in order to be registered in Rhode Island .  

INSPECTION APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR KIT VEHICLES (MOTORCYCLES ONLY)

In order to apply for an inspection for your kit motorcycle you must provide the DMV's Enforcement section with the following documentation:

1. A photocopy of the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin for the frame you purchased from an authorized dealer for that frame properly assigned to you.
2. A photocopy of the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin for the motor you purchased from an authorized dealer for that motor properly assigned to you.
3. A photocopy of the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin for the transmission you purchased from an authorized dealer for that transmission properly assigned to you.
4. You must also provide four color photographs of your completed vehicle and a photocopy of your motorcycle operators license and a telephone number where you can be reached during normal DMV hours of operation (8:30 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday).

After you have compiled the paperwork detailed above, and you comply with the requests, you may forward the paperwork to the Enforcement Section of the DMV located in Pawtucket .

Your packet will be processed and you will be called to arrange an appointment for your kit vehicle to be inspected.

If you have any questions concerning this procedure, please call the DMV's Enforcement Section at (401) 721-2688.  

THE LEGAL END

• The kit vehicle you build must conform to all State motor vehicle safety requirements before it can be issued a Rhode Island Vehicle Identification Number.
• Before registration but after your inspection you must have your receipts audited by a Rhode Island Sales Tax Revenue Agent.
• In order to process a registration for your kit vehicle, your insurance company must issue and you must have proof of insurance bearing the Rhode Island Assigned Vehicle Identification Number assigned to your kit vehicle.
• The issuance of a Rhode Island Vehicle Identification Number to your kit vehicle is authorized under the State's Reconstructed or Specially Constructed Vehicle Law (RIGL 31-1-6). This law provides that you as the builder can apply for the issuance of a registration for a vehicle not constructed by a generally recognized manufacturer.

For more information, please email Mr. Cliff Soares at csoares@dmv.state.ri.us.

Eligible vehicles in Rhode Island are subject to inspection every two years and undergo a dynamometer emissions inspection, a gas cap inspection, and a safety inspection. Model year 1996 and newer vehicles undergo an OBD inspection, a gas cap inspection, and a safety inspection.

Vehicles subject to dynamometer inspection, but with a drive configuration that prevents dynamometer inspection, undergo a two-speed idle test, a gas cap test, and a safety inspection.

For more information about the Rhode Island inspections, please refer to the State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's regulations, posted at:

• www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/air/r_dmv1a.pdf
• www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/air/r_dem34a.pdf

Safety Inspection

All vehicles subject to this inspection program receive a safety inspection.
Note: Though exempt, some antique registered vehicles may be presented for safety inspection under state law that allows the unlimited use of such a vehicle if it passes inspection.

The Safety Inspection Procedure:
The safety inspection procedure ensures the vehicle meets safety standards according to a uniform checklist.

Gas Cap Integrity Test
All vehicles subject to this inspection program receive a gas cap integrity test.

The Gas Cap Integrity Test Procedure:
Gas caps are inspected using the Gas Cap Integrity Test. This test checks the leak rate of the gas cap. The test passes if the leak rate does not exceed defined limits.

Emissions Inspection

OBD Inspection

Vehicles subject to this inspection program are emissions inspecting using OBD (on-board diagnostics) rather than a tailpipe inspection, when possible.

Vehicle model years 1996 and newer require an OBD-II test. Diesel-powered vehicles are not eligible for this OBD-II test.

Background: About OBD

The U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) indicates:

"The first generation of On-Board Diagnostic requirements, called OBD I, was developed by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) and implemented in 1988. As technology and the desire to expand On-Board Diagnostic capability increased, a second-generation of On-Board Diagnostics requirements was developed. This second version of On-Board Diagnostic capabilities is called "OBD II". The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 mandated that, beginning with the 1996 model year, all light-duty vehicles and trucks made available for sale outside of the state of California must also be equipped with OBDII..."

"The OBD II system monitors virtually every component that can affect the emission performance of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle remains as clean as possible over its entire life, and assists repair technicians in diagnosing and fixing problems with the computerized engine controls. If a problem is detected, the OBD II system illuminates a warning lamp on the vehicle instrument panel to alert the driver. This warning lamp typically contains the phrase Check Engine or Service Engine Soon. The system will also store important information about the detected malfunction so that a repair technician can accurately find and fix the problem."

For more information about OBD, please refer to the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) web site at http://www.epa.gov/obd/index.htm.

EPA FAQs on OBD can be found at http://www.epa.gov/obd/questions.htm.

The OBD Emissions Inspection Procedure

The OBD inspection evaluates your vehicle's emissions status via its onboard computer. The OBD inspection occurs through the connection of the OBD-II SAE standardized vehicle port to the inspection analyzer.

An on-board diagnosis system inspection failure occurs when either:

1. More than two monitors in a vehicle's on-board computer are not set as ready; or,
2. Current Diagnostic Trouble Codes are indicated and the Malfunction Indicator Light is commanded on.

Connection: To start the procedure, the inspector connects a communication cable from emissions analyzer to the Diagnostic Link Connector located in your vehicle. The emissions analyzer simply reads data from your vehicle's computer; no changes are made to your vehicle or its data.

Communication: If the vehicle's OBD system is not communicating with inspection analyzer, the vehicle will undergo the appropriate exhaust emissions test.

Failure: Your vehicle will fail the OBD-II test if the MIL is illuminated, or if your vehicle has more then two (2) system readiness monitors set as "not ready".

About Readiness: The computer in your vehicle performs diagnostic tests on certain emissions systems while you are driving. These system monitors are usually "Ready" or "Complete", unless there's pending problem with a particular system. Sometimes system monitors become not ready if the vehicle's battery has been disconnected or if the vehicle computer's memory has been erased. As part of the OBD-II test, the analyzer checks to see how many of these system monitors are "not ready",. If more than two (2) monitors read "not ready", then the vehicle will fail the OBD-II test.

About Your OBD-II Vehicle's MIL: If your vehicle's MIL is flashing or blinking, you should have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible. The flashing light may indicated that there is an engine misfire, and extensive driving with a misfire could damage your vehicle's catalytic converter.

Maintain Your OBD-II Vehicle's Readiness Status: Some vehicles require extensive driving to reset certain system readiness monitors. Do not disconnect the battery on your vehicle. If your vehicle is in for service, ask your technician not to clear the computer's memory, since this will only unset the system readiness monitors and result in your vehicle failing the OBD-II test.

Tailpipe Inspection

Vehicles not eligible for the OBD procedure are inspected using one of the following tailpipe inspection procedures:

• Enhanced (Dynamometer) Inspection
• Two-Speed Idle Inspection
• Loaded Opacity Inspection (Diesel Vehicles)

Non-Diesel Vehicles

When the OBD inspection does not apply, non-diesel vehicles subject to this inspection program receive either the Enhanced (Dynamometer) Inspection or the Two-Speed Idle Inspection.

Vehicles subject to the dynamometer inspection but having a drive configuration that prevents dynamometer inspection (such as all-wheel drive) will undergo a two-speed idle test rather than the dynamometer inspection.

The Enhanced (Dynamometer) Emissions Inspection Procedure

The enhanced (dynamometer) emissions inspection procedure entails driving the vehicle through a transient drive cycle to simulate driving conditions while measuring exhaust contaminants. The vehicle fails the inspection if measured contaminants exceed defined limits.

The Two-Speed Idle Emissions Inspection Procedure

The two-speed idle emissions inspection procedure entails running the vehicle for a period of time at each of two engine speeds while measuring exhaust contaminants. The vehicle fails the inspection if measured contaminants exceed defined limits.

Diesel Vehicles

When the OBD inspection does not apply, diesel vehicles subject to this inspection program receive the Loaded Opacity Inspection.

The Loaded Opacity Emissions Inspection Procedure

The loaded opacity emissions inspection procedure is performed on the dynamometer. The vehicle is driven to a speed of thirty miles per hour, with the load increasing as the vehicle increases speed. The vehicle fails the inspection if measured opacity exceeds defined limits.

Late Model (New) and Low-Mileage Vehicles

When purchased new from a dealer, vehicles less than two years old or with less than 24000 miles on the odometer are exempt from inspection. However, smart consumers will bring them in for inspection early. Manufacturer's performance warranties may pay for emissions repairs of these vehicles when failing an emissions inspection. Refer to your vehicle's warranty information for details.

For Your Additional Questions and Comments

If you have questions, please contact us by calling the Rhode Island Emissions and Safety Testing toll-free hotline at 1-866-OBD-TEST (1-866-623-8378), or contact us by email at helpdesk@websti.com. We can answer questions, assist you in finding the names and telephone numbers of inspection stations in your area, and provide information on Certified Inspection Repair Technicians (CIRTs) in your area if you need repairs. You can also find inspection stations and CIRTs by using the links on this site.

Inspection Requirements for Heavier Vehicles