Emissions
The Division of Motor Vehicles Emissions Program has the responsibility to issue, suspend and revoke licenses for emission testing facilities and emissions inspectors working in the Emissions program areas (counties). This includes Envirotest which performs emissions testing for the state under a contract with the state. It also includes diesel testing facilities.
The Emissions Program is divided into two areas the Denver Metro area is called the "enhanced area" and the counties of Weld, Larimer and El Paso are called the "basic area" each area has to conform to laws that are a little different for each area.
State Emission staff are responsible to make sure that emissions tests are performed correctly, to do this, emissions staff conduct regular covert (unannounced) and overt (observation & hands on) test audits of facilities and inspectors who do emissions tests for the citizens of the state. The frequency of these test audits is defined by Colorado law. When staff determine that inspections are not being done correctly, they issue fines against the testing site and inspector and can take away licenses during this process.
If a car is damaged during an emissions test, or there is any other complaint about the test, staff or facility, the emissions staff help citizens with resolving their complaints. Complaint staff also enforce the "Garage Repair Act" and help citizens obtain refunds who have been charged for car repairs that were not approved ahead of time or if our investigation determines emissions repairs were not needed or to replace parts that were in good working order and not needed to repair the problem.
Sometimes a car will not pass an emissions test. When this happens, the owner needs to fix the car so that it will pass the test. In the enhanced area (Denver Metro), if the owner has spent $715.00 in emissions related repairs on a 1968 and newer model or $75 on a 1967 and older car & $ 200.00 for 1982 and newer or $75.00 for 1981 and older in the Basic area in emissions repairs to fix the car and it still doesn't pass the emissions test, our staff can work with the citizen and issue what is called a "waiver" when the car meets all "waiver requirements". This waiver allows the citizen to register the vehicle and gives the citizen time to repair the vehicle to pass the emissions test and to drive the car for one "testing cycle".
If you have questions or need more information, you can contact our customer service staff at (303) 205-5603.
In the Colorado Springs area, you can contact our staff at (719) 594-8709.
In the Larimer County and Weld County area, you can contact our staff at (970) 494-9808.