Why didn’t my car pass?
If your vehicle failed, it is not running properly and it’s polluting our air. That impacts everyone’s health. Over 40% of all air pollution in the State comes from motor vehicles. The Connecticut Emissions Program works to identify vehicles that are “high emitters” and have them repaired to prevent excessive air pollution. That is why Connecticut and other states use inspection programs as a tool for compliance with standards of the Federal Clean Air Act. You are helping in this effort by keeping your vehicle running efficiently.
The Connecticut Emissions Program identifies vehicles that are high emitters, and requires that they be repaired to prevent excessive air pollution. If your vehicle failed its emissions test, it is exceeding the allowable emissions standards for the year in which it was manufactured. Vehicles that fail need to be repaired and retested within sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the initial test. Emissions tests identify the specific area(s) where a vehicle is deficient; however, it does not diagnose the cause of failure.
If your vehicle fails its initial test, it is entitled to one (1) free retest per test cycle, not per paid test. You may request the free retest at any Emissions Test Center within sixty (60) consecutive calendar days.
You may always have your vehicle repaired at a repair facility of your choice, or you may make the repairs yourself. However, the State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) highly recommends that you have the repairs performed at a Certified Emissions Repair Facility (CERF), as these facilities are required to employ Certified Emissions Repair Technicians (CERT), who are trained and certified in special classes which focus on emissions-related failures and repairs. If your vehicle fails a second test, it may qualify for a cost waiver, provided the repairs are performed by a CERT and the expenditure criteria is met.
