All failures are entitled to a free retest within 30 days at the same station. Please refer to the information below for information on Certified Repair Technicians, Waiver Programs and additional information.

Repair Information Area

Diagnosing a vehicle for emissions inspection failures can be complicated. As a Rhode Island motorist, you are free to select a repair technician or repair the vehicle yourself. However, you may consider having your vehicle repairs performed by a qualified technician, such as a Certified Inspection Repair Technician (CIRT), who is experienced in diagnosing and repairing vehicle emissions systems. Each CIRT meets Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requirements. According to DMV analysis, 95% of vehicles repaired by CIRTs pass on their first retest.

The CIRT program is provided as a resource to assist you, the Rhode Island motorist, in finding a suitable technician to perform emissions-related repairs.

CIRT Directory Area

Certified Inspection Repair Technician Locations and Ratings

When making an appointment, we recommend you confirm the location's current employment of a CIRT. Also, please remember that the technician participation in the CIRT program is voluntary, and does not constitute endorsement by DMV, DEM, or the Inspection Program Management Contractor.

Please refer to the CIRT Directory to find a CIRT near you.

About the CIRT Program

RI Certified Inspection Repair Technician (CIRT) Achievement

A Certified Inspection Repair Technician (CIRT) is a technician with proven skills in diagnosing and repairing vehicular emissions related problems. Each CIRT is a Rhode Island Vehicle Inspector who:

Is ASE L1 Certified (Automotive Service Excellence Advanced Engine Performance Certified), or

Has successfully passed the RI CIRT exam (and must obtain his/her ASE L1 certification within 2 years of passing the RI CIRT exam).

On achieving CIRT status, the CIRT is awarded a Certified Inspection Repair Technician identification certificate, and the repair shop he/she is employed by posts a sign.

Certified Inspection Repair Technician (CIRT) Rating

Each CIRT has a five (5) star Repair Effectiveness Index (REI). Each individual CIRT begins with five (5) stars, and must maintain his/her rating. DMV expects a CIRT to have the ability to inspect your vehicle, to answer any questions you may have about the inspection process, and to repair your emissions failure correctly.

The five (5) star rating system is intended to determine and report the outcome of CIRT-performed emissions repairs. Repair ratings are determined based on: instances of repaired vehicles passing the first retest; instances of repaired vehicles failing retests; issuance of Cost Limit Waivers; and motorist complaints. RI investigates each waiver and complaint on an individual basis

The five (5) star rating system indexes the CIRTs by star rating, with five (5) stars being the best, and one (1) star being marginal. The ratings can be interpreted as follows:

Stars Rating
 ***** (5)   Outstanding! 
 **** (4)   Very Good 
 *** (3)   Good 
 ** (2)   Fair 
 * (1)   Marginal 

Do you have feedback about your experience with a CIRT? Please contact us.

Please refer to the CIRT Directory to find a CIRT near you.

Warranty Information Area

Here, we have provided for you Federal Warranty information provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You can access the U.S. EPA web site at: http://www.epa.gov

Re-Inspection Area

Any vehicle inspected and found not to comply with the standards and criteria for motor vehicle safety and emissions inspections must be re-inspected within thirty (30) days of the initial inspection. If the re-inspection is performed both a) within thirty (30) days and b) at the same inspection station that conducted the initial inspection, then no additional inspection fee applies - e.g., the re-inspection test procedure is performed at no charge.

The following are requirements for re-inspection:

Vehicles exceeding the allowable safety and emission standards during the initial inspection of the vehicle may be re-inspected at any inspection station after the vehicle has been repaired;

A re-inspection shall consist of a complete inspection including all initial tests regardless of the cause of failure in the initial inspection;

The initial inspection station shall not charge for one re-inspection if the vehicle is returned for re-inspection within thirty (30) days. The vehicle owner can only obtain this free re-inspection at the station that performed the initial inspection;

If the vehicle successfully passes the re-inspection, the station shall issue a compliance certificate;

If the vehicle cannot successfully pass the re-inspection, the station shall issue a vehicle inspection report indicating non-compliance. If the motorist desires to request a waiver, the station shall make information available to the motorist on how a waiver inspection conducted by DMV may be arranged. Waivers are available for emissions failures only;

If the vehicle cannot successfully pass the re-inspection and the motorist desires to contest the results of the inspection the motorist may request a challenge inspection supervised or conducted by DMV.

Emissions Waiver Information Area

If you've tried to make the necessary emissions control repairs, but your vehicle still doesn't pass the emissions test, you may apply for a waiver through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Three types of waivers are available:

Diagnostic Waiver

DMV may issue a waiver certificate without the vehicle meeting the emission standards if, after failing an inspection and subsequent re-inspection for emissions at the Final Standards, the vehicle undergoes a complete, documented physical and functional diagnosis and inspection, conducted by the Department, which shows:

That the emission control devices originally required for federal vehicle certification are in place and are functioning as designed; and,

That no additional emission related repairs are reasonably possible; or,

That no further repairs can be made because the parts required for the repairs are no longer manufactured.

A waiver certificate issued under this section is effective for only one inspection cycle.

If you believe you are eligible, you may apply for a Diagnostic Waiver at the DMV by calling 401-462-5890.

Repair Cost Limit Waiver

If you spend at least $700 to repair an emissions problem and your vehicle still fails its inspection, you may apply for a Cost Limit Waiver at the DMV by calling 401-462-5890. The $700 minimum includes parts, and includes repair labor only if the technician who did the work is a Certified Inspection Repair Technician (CIRT).

Please remember that when a CIRT performs repairs, the cost of both parts and labor will count toward the Cost Limit Waiver. If the repairs are performed by anyone who is not a CIRT, only the cost of the parts will count towards the waiver.

The following waiver requirements and conditions apply:

A motor vehicle which, after inspection or re-inspection, fails to comply with the appropriate emissions standards and criteria shall be eligible to obtain a waiver certificate, provided that the cost of emissions related repairs performed exceeds the repair cost limit.

The cost of emissions related repairs may include the cost of repairs made after the inspection or the cost of emission related repairs made up to sixty days (60) days prior to the inspection. The cost of repairs shall not include any costs covered by an emission performance or device warranty, or the cost of tampering reversal.

Any emissions related repair which is made during the sixty-day period prior to inspection, or after the inspection, the cost of which is to be

Applied to the repair cost limit, must be made by a CIRT (Certified Inspection Repair Technician).

The repair cost limit is seven hundred dollars ($700)

Repairs must be appropriate to the cause of the test failure and must be documented by original receipts for the repair. A visual check will be made to determine that repairs were actually made, if such repairs can be visually confirmed.

The appropriateness of the repair cost will be made through comparison with charges in a nationally recognized flat rate manual of emission repair cost estimating. The repair cost may include parts and labor for emissions related repairs.

Waivers shall be effective until the vehicle is next due for emissions inspection.

Repair Time Delay Waiver

A time delay to repair a vehicle which fails an emission inspection of one test cycle may be granted to owners who qualify under low income guidelines as established by the DMV.

The delay shall apply only once for that specific vehicle.

If you believe you are eligible, you may apply for a Repair Time Delay Waiver at the DMV by calling 401-462-5890.