The Automobile Inspection and Readjustment Program (AIR) is authorized by C.R.S. 42-4-301 through C.R.S. 42-4-317.
(E)* Enhanced - Boulder, Jefferson, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Larimer, and Weld counties.
Colorado law requires that gasoline powered vehicles registered within the AIR Program area be inspected for emissions compliance. Proof of the issuance of emissions compliance must be presented or the electronic testing record verified at the County Motor Vehicle Department, the State Registration Section or EVTR Service Provider at the time of initial or renewal registration.
Colorado law also requires that motor vehicles owned by residents who reside outside the program area who are employed for at least ninety (90) days in a program area or who are attending school in a program area shall be inspected for emissions control.
Motor vehicles owned by non-residents who maintain the vehicle in the emissions program areas are required to be inspected for emissions compliance. Such non-residents include, but are not limited to, all military personnel (See C.R.S.42-4-310 (c) (I)), and temporarily assigned employees of business enterprises.
Gas fleets with twenty or more vehicles, who operate a motor vehicle repair garage or shop adequately equipped and manned as required by section 42-4-308, can become licensed to conduct their own emissions testing. The vehicle inspection report including the certificate of emissions compliance on the lower right of the document (See document 1) and the electronic test data is uploaded to DRIVES. There may be a delay in the access to this data. Fleet gas vehicles must be tested annually and are not waiver eligible.
Air Care Colorado provides gas vehicle testing at the locations listed below. For detailed information of services provided, see https://aircarecolorado.com/ or call the DOR emissions office at (303) 205-5603. Electronic test data from these locations will be updated in DRIVES no later than the next business day..
AURORA
12042 E. 30th Avenue
ARVADA
5185 Marshall Street
BOULDER
5655 Airport Blvd.
BROOMFIELD
11609 Teller Street
CASTLE ROCK
541 Topeka Way
DACONO
5222 Silver Peak Avenue
DENVER SOUTHEAST
10190 E. Warren Avenue
DENVER
2300 S. Lipan Street
FORT COLLINS
835 S.E. Frontage Road
GOLDEN
15335 W. 44th Avenue
GREELEY
2844 W. 30th Street
LITTLETON (County Line)
8494 S. Colorado Blvd.
KEN CARYL
10727 Centennial Road
LONGMONT
4040 Rogers Way
LOVELAND
7001 N. Franklin Avenue
NORTHGLENN
1950 E. 112th Avenue
PARKER
10199 Park Glenn Way
SHERIDAN
2802 W. Mansfield Avenue
Econo-Emissions, 8330 E Colfax Ave, Denver CO.
*Emissions compliance document will be the same as a gas fleet.
1981 and older $15
1982 and newer $25
From the original MSO emissions certification, gas vehicles are exempt for 7 years.
Beginning in the eighth year of registration gas vehicles ‘82 and newer will require emissions testing biennially. ‘81 and older and gas fleet vehicles are to be tested annually.
(See Pass/Fail documents 2 and 3)
2 Speed Idle Test;
All 1981 and older vehicles and all gas trucks with GVWR greater than 8500 pounds.
IM 240 test ( Dynamometer drive simulation tailpipe test)
1982 and newer vehicles
1995 and older vehicles are visually inspected for emissions control equipment.
OBD test (Utilizes on-board diagnostics built into 1996 and newer vehicles to analyze the emissions status of the vehicle.) The onboard diagnostics are a series of self-tests of the various systems on the vehicle. If these self-tests have not completed their cycle following a loss of battery power or the vehicle fault codes being cleared the vehicle would not be ready to be OBD tested and would receive an incomplete report. Check engine light illumination during the test will cause the vehicle to fail the test.
Hybrid and all 8th through 11th model year vehicles.
Rapid Screen Mobile Emissions testing
Alternative drive by testing for ultra-clean well maintained vehicles.
Electric vehicles
Farm plated vehicles
Motorcycles/Autocycles
Kit Cars
Street Rods
Horseless Carriages (more than 50 years old)
Vehicles with two stroke engines manufactured prior to 1980.
The Diesel Opacity Inspection Program (DOIP) is authorized by C.R.S. 42-4-401 through C.R.S. 42-4-414.
(D)* Diesel Program areas include Boulder, Jefferson, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Larimer, Weld and El Paso counties
Colorado law requires that diesel powered vehicles registered or principally operated in the program area, or from a terminal, maintenance facility, branch or division within the program area, shall be inspected for diesel opacity compliance and visual emissions component inspection. This testing must be completed at one of 40 independently operated DOIP testing facilities in the Denver, Southern and Northern Front Range areas. Proof of the issuance of emissions compliance must be presented or the electronic testing record verified at the County Motor Vehicle Department, the State Registration Section, or EVTR Service Provider at the time of initial or renewal registration.
Heavy duty vehicle fleets with nine or more vehicles over 14,000 lbs. GVWR are required to register with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) as a self-certified diesel testing facility. The facility once registered with CDPHE can submit fleet emissions testing data directly to the CDPHE server which is interfaced to DRIVES nightly and is available for registration. Fleets that are not submitting test data currently can still complete the hand-written CEC document for registration. The check box must be marked in DRIVES when accepting this document. (See Document 4)
Self-certification fleet vehicles that are registered in the program area but are certified to be physically based and principally operated from a terminal, division, or maintenance facility outside the program area may be provided emissions extension. (See document 5 DR2476).
There are multiple independent diesel testing facilities throughout the Front Range area from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins. Select link for facility locations and business hours.
Up to one hour of the posted shop labor rate.
From the original MSO emissions certification, diesel vehicles less than 26,000 lbs. GVWR are exempt for the first four years of operation.
From the original MSO emissions certification, diesel vehicles 26,000 lbs. and greater GVWR are exempt for the first six years of operation.
All diesel vehicles after the exemption period require emissions testing on a biennial basis up to the 10th year of operation.
All diesel vehicles require testing on the 10th year of operation and annual testing each year thereafter.
(See Pass/Fail documents 6 and 7)
Diesel vehicles are tested using a loaded mode dynamometer opacity test with a visual inspection of all required emissions components. A check engine light illumination during the test will cause the vehicle to fail the test.
Repair waiver
Vehicle has an original failed emissions test.
Repairs have been completed on the vehicle directly related to the original failure.
Detailed receipts totaling a minimum of *$715 outlining the repairs made to the vehicle.
Missing, or tampered emission component replacement does not count towards the minimum requirement.
Vehicle is retested and continues to be in non-compliance.
Application is made to DOR for the waiver.
DOR visual inspection must verify that the vehicle is in original emissions configuration with no modifications and that there is no visible smoke coming from the vehicle.
There is no limit to the number of repair waivers for a vehicle.
68 and newer vehicles, 67 and older is $75
Hardship waiver
Vehicle has an original failed emissions test.
Customer has provided documentation of receiving qualifying government assistance.
Customer has no more than two (2) vehicles registered in their name.
Application is made to DOR for the waiver.
DOR visual inspection must verify that the vehicle is in original emissions configuration with no modifications and there is no visible smoke coming from the vehicle.
Hardship waiver is limited to one per vehicle lifetime.
Waiver applications can be made on https://mydmv.colorado.gov/_ or call the emissions office at (303) 205-5603.
Repair waiver light duty (14000 GVWR or less)
Complete the same process as the gas vehicle waiver with a minimum of $750 in repairs.
No visible smoke inspection.
Repair waiver heavy duty (14001 GVWR or greater)
Complete the same process as the gas vehicle waiver with a minimum of $1500 in repairs.
No visible smoke inspection.
No hardship waivers available on diesel vehicles.
Waiver applications can be made on https://mydmv.colorado.gov/_ or call the emissions office at (303) 205-5603.
(See document 8)
Any retail sales transaction by a Colorado licensed used motor vehicle dealer where the vehicle is to be registered in the emissions program area must provide the buyer with a certificate of emissions compliance or a testing voucher. (Testing vouchers are for gas vehicles only)
If the dealer provides the buyer with a testing voucher the document must include the vehicle VIN, buyer’s signature and the purchase delivery date.
Vehicles sold outside of the program area or transferred to another dealer do not require a certificate of emissions compliance. The dealer must verify the address on the Bill of Sale is outside of the program area.
At the time of delivery, seller is to provide the purchaser with a new passing certificate of emissions compliance that has not been used for registration.
Vehicles that have a minimum of 12 months remaining on the original new car exemption do not require a new emissions test at the time of sale.
(See document 9)
Vehicles that cannot be physically tested due to a major component failure preventing the vehicle from being driven can transfer ownership without a certificate of emissions compliance by completing form DR 2023 (See compliance documents at the end of this webpage.) The use of this form clearly defines the conditions that allow for this type of ownership change and explains that emissions compliance of the vehicle is now placed on the buyer of the vehicle. If the form is not entirely followed in detail the emissions liability of the vehicle can revert back to the seller.
C.R.S. 42-4-310 (1) (c) (III) Vehicles registered in a program area and being operated outside such area but within another program area shall comply with all program requirements of the area where such vehicles are being operated. Vehicles registered in a program area that is being temporarily operated outside the state at the time of registration or registration renewal, may apply to the Department of Revenue for a temporary exemption from program requirements. Upon return to the program area, such vehicles must be in compliance with all requirements within fifteen days. A temporary exemption shall not be granted if the vehicle will be operated in an emissions testing area in another state unless proof of emissions from that area is submitted.
These are the reasons for an Out of State Emissions Extension from form DR 2376.
Colorado resident attending school out of the state (this is not available to residents in state but outside of the emissions area).
Colorado resident serving in the military out of the state.
Individuals seasonally out of the state (snowbirds or any individual that resides outside of Colorado for a portion of the year but always returns).
Vehicle disabled out of the state (involved in an accident or broke down while traveling and is temporarily not drivable).
Individual temporarily working out of the state.
Individual temporarily out of the state for other reasons (such as settling an estate or caring for a sick relative).
(See document 10)
Form DR 2376 – Application for an Affidavit of Emissions Extension
If the vehicle is domiciled in an area requiring an emissions test, a current, passing, emissions test must be provided from that area. In this case, the extension is valid for the normal vehicle emissions cycle.
If the vehicle is domiciled in an area that does not do emissions testing, a VIN verification is required. Form DR 2698 – Verification of Vehicle Identification Number. In this case, the extension is valid for one year only. The DR 2698 may only be signed by law enforcement.
Applications can be made online at https://mydmv.colorado.gov/
Applications can be made directly at a DMV office in the county in which the vehicle is registered.
This process may be repeated over multiple registration cycles until the vehicle has returned to Colorado.
At the county’s discretion, they may hand the year tab to the customer over the counter.
If the decal is to be mailed out of state, there is a special procedure in DRIVES for this process:
Complete the Case for an Out of State Emissions Extension and process the registration normally, but do not print the registration notice yet.
Go to the ownership account for the vehicle.
Go to the CRM tab.
Go to the Letters sub-tab.
Click the hyperlink for the Vehicle Registration letter.
Click the Input tab. It will show the regular ownership address.
Click the Edit button on the right.
Enter the out of state mailing address. This will generate an override address
You can now print the registration.
The mailing address will be the override address just entered.
The normal registration address will print on the vehicle registration.
Please contact the Emissions office at (303)205-5603 with any questions.
1975 and older vehicles registered with collector plates do not require an emissions test.
Vehicles 32 years old and older are eligible for collector plates with a passing emissions test and a mileage affidavit. Emissions testing must be repeated on a 5-year cycle.
Vehicles 1976 and newer that have been continuously registered with collector plates initiated before 9/1/2009 do not require emissions testing.
Rapid Screen-testing standards are more stringent compared to standard testing.
Eligible vehicles must be gas vehicles 82 and newer, less than 10K GVWR with no outstanding emissions failed tests.
The vehicle must be registered in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer or Weld counties.
Test sites will be identified with a sign “Emissions monitor ahead”
Test site locations can be found at https://aircarecolorado.com/
To qualify for Rapid Screen the vehicle must record two consecutive passing screens within a ten month window. This window begins one year before your vehicles renewal month and ends two months prior to the renewal month.
Tips to achieve a successful Rapid Screen.
License plate must be clean and readable.
Ensure the vehicle is at full operating temperature.
Moderately accelerate through the testing monitor.
VIN verification is required when registering a vehicle from out of state.
VIN verification is not required if the new registration applicant provides a copy of the manufacturer’s certificate of origin, an original purchase receipt from the dealer or out of state seller from whom the applicant purchased the vehicle new, or if at the time of the application the vehicle is registered in another county of the State.
Colorado County Clerk or designated employee
Colorado law enforcement officer
Licensed Colorado Dealer
Colorado licensed emissions station (Air Care Colorado)
Colorado licensed diesel inspection station