Emissions exempt in Maryland?

I haven't gotten the slip in the mail yet since the car is less than two years old, but I noticed on the back of my wifes slip there are options to apply for an emissions exemption. One of the very first boxes reads something like "passenger vehicle soley powered by diesel or battery power."

Does this mean I just need to check this box and apply for an exemption...and that I will never have to be tested in the Republic of Maryland.

sdk131 said:

I haven't gotten the slip in the mail yet since the car is less than two years old, but I noticed on the back of my wifes slip there are options to apply for an emissions exemption. One of the very first boxes reads something like "passenger vehicle soley powered by diesel or battery power."

Does this mean I just need to check this box and apply for an exemption...and that I will never have to be tested in the Republic of Maryland.

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Never say Never politicians are worse than stealerships you just won't get tested for now

Like he said 'Never say never' but I haven't been tested in six years. More reason to love diesel.

haven't done an inspection since my 85 Jetta TD. If they send you a notice check the diesel box and mail it back in.

This is great news.....as I sit here thinking about leaking egr coolers, intake clogging, provent ccv filters and the like...

In Northern Virginia (an air-quality non-attainment area) cars newer than 1967 MY have to pass smog tests, and within the last 8 years or so, they became very sophistocated, and now check CO, HC, and NOx emmissions by using dynomoters (used to use just a tail pipe "sniffer and check HC and CO levels). Owners must have the cars checked every 2 years and can not renew the registration without passing, or paying some type of penality after having repairs attempted. BUT diesel passenger cars and light trucks are exempt!. So if my EGR cooler springs a leak out of warranty, its getting removed, its coolant hoses connected together, and the EGR pipe plugged off. Period.

--Nate

Maryland Does Test Diesels

Actually, diesels do get tested, if they are noticed as a problem.

There is a "smoke opacity" test, basically does your exhaust block 30% of the light. I believe that you can be sent to try and pass it just like you can be sent to try and pass inspection for a burned-out headlight.

In North Carolina all diesels are exempt from emisions testing and always have been

Move to the Midwest. Emission testing we don't need no emission testing. All that CO2 is good for the corn and soydiesel plants!

The MD exemption is stupid.... (not that I don't enjoy it). For 1996 and later cars, it's nothing more than an OBD2 scan. Nothing that a Diesel can't do as easily as a gasser.

Yes - but not having to do it saves me money

clean diesel

Are the clean diesels still exempt from emissions in the state of md?

Google is your friend:

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/About-MVA/INFO/58000VEI/58000-06T.htm#appendix_c

I am in Austin, Tx with mandatory emissions inspections alongside the annual safety inspection. I just got the TDI and was surprised to find that yes, all diesel vehicles are totally exempt from emissions. Well, except removal of OEM emissions equipment. They don't even check the OBDII.

Consequently my inspection fee was less than half what it costs with either the tailpipe test (pre-1996 OBDII) or OBDII. Weird, gasoline vehicles have to pay the same $16 "emissions test" for either one, I was like "seriously?? you're just plugging in to read the OBDII port's code for an additional $16?"

I wonder why diesels are exempt? Is is just accepted that they can't meet strict emissions requirements so instead of admitting an uncomfortably high number on paper, they just said "nevermind, exempt it"? Or is the TSI "tailpipe test" done at idle not as meaningful for overall emissions?

Either way, it's odd they don't check the OBDII port to fail for codes related to emissions equipment at all.

Can't meet standards? Hell, the TDI is cleaner than a gasser by a large margin. I suspect that, at least in TX, that the percentage of diesels on the road is low enough that they chose to not test simply due to the cost/benefit ratio.

- Tim

Don't complain, they will change it. I had mine reinspected and reregisted yesterday. I love the cheaper cost. The guy doing the check said there was some talk about including diesels in the future (any one that has a dpf he said). Checks are coming for us soon.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/analysis/html/SB01350I.htm

Lightflyer1 said:

Don't complain, they will change it. I had mine reinspected and reregisted yesterday. I love the cheaper cost. The guy doing the check said there was some talk about including diesels in the future (any one that has a dpf he said). Checks are coming for us soon.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/analysis/html/SB01350I.htm

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ANNUAL SMOG testing?! Sounds like Texas wants to be stricter than the CPR here.

California usually leads the way on this stuff. Texas followed CARB diesel standards as well. The tech actually did check to make sure the emissions looked to be in place still.

Well, the new Federal standards for emissions are to be same as the CARB ones from now on (basically the Feds have turn the writing of a Federal regulation over to one state; not sure that is constitutional). However, our checks are biennial, not annual. But if the CARB sees they can get $50 every year rather than just every other year...

I'm just glad California ignores any diesels older than 1998! Cat, what's a cat? Seriously, when you're getting 48-50+MPG your grams per mile of anything is going to be almost nothing anyway…