Here in Arizona, vehicle emission testing has been made mandatory for both vehicle and environmental reasons. In the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, increased vehicles on the road also means an increase in air pollution from the cars. Air pollution from vehicle emissions is a danger to public health, which is why the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) administers a mandatory emissions testing and repair program for vehicles in these high traffic areas. This mandatory testing program is known as VEIP, or the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program. It emphasizes the significance of maintaining your vehicle performance and lower emissions and extending the life and effectiveness of your vehicle. And with new testing and customer service techniques, the program is running even more effectively with the ultimate goal of cleaner air being more attainable.

Many auto repair shops are on board with these testing standards, and have emissions services for vehicles that require repair before passing the emissions tests. Vehicle emissions are the by-products of exhaust and the evaporation of fuel as the engine burns the fuel for power and driving capabilities. In cities, personal automobiles are the biggest polluters because of these emissions added together of millions of vehicles. The combustion process cannot be perfect and automotive engines typically emit several types of pollutants.

The Clean Air Act of 1970 gave the EPA the right to regulate motor vehicle pollution, and their control policies have become more stringent since then. In Arizona, growing metropolitan areas means the need for more statewide testing to keep vehicles effectively maintained and working and to keep air quality where it should be. A number of studies have shown that pollutant exposures near major roadways are greater than for other areas in cities. Other studies have linked this increased exposure to an increased prevalence of a wide variety of illnesses including asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia and heart disease.

Catalytic converters were one of the major stepping stones in improving air pollution emissions. Today, since the Clean Air Act of 1990, even more provisions are reducing pollutants. With ozone continuing to present a persistent urban air pollution problem, future vehicle emission control programs will emphasize hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide reductions. Carbon monoxide control will remain critical in many cities, and limits on vehicle-generated carbon dioxide may become important in the future.

If your vehicle is tested and does not pass, most emissions services at auto repair shops will run a diagnostic test and fix the problem. The next step is getting your vehicle re-tested. If done within 60 days of the failed test, the re-test is no additional cost, although there would be repair costs. Keeping your vehicle maintained and with low emissions will save your fuel and your vehicle in the long run. During your emissions test, things like a functioning gas cap, evaporative pressure, opacity, and other things are looked at and graded. Once you have passed, you can register your vehicle again if needed and can drive knowing your vehicle is minimally adding to the pollution and you have done your part to help maintain your vehicle and the environment. Air quality and climate effects are just some of the main factors in vehicle emission standards. It can also save the “respiratory” system of the vehicle. Visit your trusted auto repair shop for more information.