If you’re a car hobbyist in Arizona you are probably aware that collector vehicles older than 15 years and carrying collector vehicle insurance are no longer required to pass a yearly emissions test upon registration. 

The following is a “fact sheet” provided by the EPA, the last bullet explains how the exemption will be enacted. 

FACT SHEET

REVISIONS TO ARIZONA’S VEHICLE EMISSIONS INSPECTION (VEI) PROGRAM

Today’s Federal Register action proposes to approve two revisions to Arizona’s State Implementation Plan (SIP) modifying Vehicle Emissions Inspection (VEI) programs in Phoenix and Tucson. Once signed and published, a 30-day public comment period will begin on our action. After the comment period is over, we will respond to any comments and publish our final rulemaking. Thirty days after our final rulemaking is published, the exemptions will be effective.

·                     The State adopted the VEI programs in 1994 to meet federal requirements for motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs in certain areas that did not meet federal air quality standards. Arizona's enhanced VEI program is implemented in the Phoenix area. The basic VEI program is implemented in the Tucson Air Planning Area.

·                     The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) submitted a SIP revision to EPA on December 23, 2005 to exempt collectible vehicles from the Phoenix’s enhanced program and to exempt collectible vehicles and motorcycles from the basic I/M program in Tucson based on Arizona House Bill (HB) 2357.

·                     The SIP revision includes a qualitative demonstration that the revisions to the VEI programs in Phoenix and Tucson will not interfere with attainment or maintenance of federal air quality standards for ozone (or smog) or carbon monoxide (CO).

·                     HB2357 defined a collectible vehicle as a vehicle that either (a) bears a model year date of original manufacture that is at least fifteen years old, or (b) is of unique or rare design, of limited production and an object of curiosity, and also is both (a)  maintained primarily for use in car club activities, exhibitions, parades or other functions of public interest or for a private collection and is used only infrequently for other purposes; and (b) has a collectible vehicle or classic automobile insurance coverage that restricts the collectible vehicle mileage or use, or both, and requires the owner to have another vehicle for personal use.

·                     When vehicle owners register vehicles that carry collectible vehicle insurance in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, and motorcycles in Tucson, their registration renewal notices from the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) will not say "emissions test required.” These vehicles can be registered or re-registered without providing a certificate of emissions inspection.

For more information contact Wienke Tax, US EPA Region 9 Air Planning Office, 520-622-1622 or tax.wienke@epa.gov.  Of course, you can always call Hagerty Plus at 888-310-8020.

When it's time to renew your vehicle registration, be sure to take a copy of your insurance policy with you to prove that you have your vehicle insured as a collector vehicle.

Please note that the emissions test exemption is not likely to be implemented until April 30.  Until then, the current law is in effect.