North Carolina  

Governing Agency: 

Emissions – Division of Air Quality (DAQ) 

Enforcement – Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Agency Website: 

http://daq.state.nc.us   or  http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/ 

Primary Contact:

Paul Gordey
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Air Quality
1730 Mail Service Center.
Raleigh, NC 27699-1730
Phone: 919-715-7220
Fax: 919-733-1766
E-mail: paul.gordey@ncdenr.gov  

Secondary Contact:

Ronald G. Kaylor, Director
Department of Motor Vehicles
3125 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-3125
Phone: 919-861-3144
Fax: 919-715-0169
E-mail: rgkaylor@ncdot.gov

CURRENT PROGRAM

 

Date Started: 

January 1990

EPA Designation: 

Basic

Program Type: 

Decentralized test and repair

Program Areas: 

48 counties: Alamance, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Chatham, Cleveland, Cumberland, Davidson, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Johnston, Lee, Lenois, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Moore, Nash, Orange, Pitt, Randolph, Robeson, Rockingham, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Wake, Wayne, Wilkes and Wilson.

Enforcement Method: 

Registration denial

Model Years: 

Up to 35 years old

Vehicle Types: 

LDGV, LDGT, HDGV

Exempt Vehicles: 

Current model year, diesel, motorcycles, motor homes and 1996+8,500+GVW (must get safety inspection only)

Test Type: 

OBD for 1996+

Non-OBD Testable: 

Safety inspection only

Cut Points: 

N/A

OBD: 

Pass/Fail as of May 2002

Max Not Ready Flags: 

2 for 1996-2000, 1 for 2001+

Visual Checks 

Catalyst, air pump, EGR, PCV, fuel inlet, fuel cap, evap disable and oxygen sensor

Evaporative System Test: 

None

Safety Test: 

Yes

Test Frequency: 

Annual

Annual Test Volume 

4.4 Million

Decentralized Bays: 

3,900

Test Fee: 

$30 (includes safety inspection)

Re-test Procedures: 

State statute allows one free re-test if conducted at the same facility within 60 days, initial fee beyond that. However most stations will allow customer more that one free re-test. This is a business call that the facility makes.

Contracted Services: 

Verizon business – communications and data analysis

Comments: 

Idle testing for vehicles ended January 2006, 1996 and newer vehicles are OBD tested.