Illinois EPA suspends mailing of vehicle emissions test notices; motorists can get online notices

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has suspended mailing out vehicle emission test notices to motorists, due to the state budget impasse.

Vehicle owners whose license plates expire at the end of March will be the first motorists who won’t receive vehicle emissions test notices, the IEPA said.

Because of the lack of a notice, the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office will temporarily allow license plate renewals for vehicles that have not had their EPA emissions test, citing “unfair burden to Illinois citizens.”

Motorists will be allowed to renew their license plates, but will be informed they are still required to get the vehicle tested, the secretary of state’s office said.

“We will renew them and tell them they should do the test,” said Dave Druker, spokesman for the secretary of state’s office.

Druker added the secretary of state’s office did not want to inconvenience motorists by having them come to a DMV site not knowing they needed the emission test, and forcing them to come back after a passed test.

The secretary of state’s office added when the IEPA resumes mailing out vehicle emissions test notices, the secretary of state’s office will resume regular vehicle registration procedures.

Kim Biggs, a spokeswoman for the IEPA, said the agency expects people with 2012 vehicles may be tripped up by the lack of emission test notice, as this would be the first year they would have to go through the test.

Vehicles that are at least four years old and registered in certain parts of St. Clair, Madison and Monroe counties are required to have an emissions test every two years. Not all vehicles must be tested; rather, it is determined by where the vehicle is registered.

Vehicles subject to testing in 2016 include most even-model-year vehicles with a model year of 1996-2012.

Vehicles that are 2007 model year and newer heavy-duty trucks, with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating between 8,501 and 14,000, also are subject to testing, the IEPA said.

Diesel-powered vehicles, vehicles powered exclusively by electricity, and certain other vehicles are not required to test, the IEPA said.

Motorists can receive electronic notices for license plate renewal by registering at www.ilsos.gov/greenmail/. Electronic notices include whether a vehicle needs an emissions test before its registration can be renewed.

Motorists can also check www.ilsos.gov/regstatus/ to determine whether a vehicle is due for emissions testing.

Motorists in the testing areas can also contact Illinois EPA at 847-758-3400 or 800-635-2380 for more information.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Illinois EPA suspends mailing of vehicle emissions test notices; motorists can get online notices."