Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 280 - Department of Revenue
Chapter 30 - Division of Motor Vehicles
Subchapter 15 - Safety and Emissions
Part 1 - Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Safety and Emission Control Regulation No.1
Section 280-RICR-30-15-1.6 - Rhode Island Vehicle Inspection Program Procedures

Universal Citation: 280 RI Code of Rules 30 15 1.6

Current through September 18, 2024

1.6.1 General

A. The Department shall provide for the Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Inspection/Maintenance Program (Rhode Island I/M Program), by contract with a Program Manager for support services. The Rhode Island I/M Program Manager shall assist in the establishment of a network of Authorized Inspection and Repair Station (AIRS) to inspect and reinspect motor vehicles as provided under the requirements of these regulations. The Rhode Island I/M Program Manager shall be responsible for the operation of the network including host computer, test equipment, technician training and support services to the inspection stations. The Rhode Island I/M Program Manager is prohibited from operating or having an interest in an AIRS.

B. The Authorized Inspection and Repair Stations shall be responsible for the inspection of motor vehicles to determine compliance with the applicable standards and criteria for motor vehicle safety and emissions. For a motor vehicle that has been completely inspected and determined not to comply with the applicable standards and criteria, the AIRS shall provide a written inspection report describing, to the extent practical, the reasons for not complying with the applicable standards and criteria and describing the repairs likely to be needed to bring the vehicle into compliance with the applicable standards and criteria.

C. Any motor vehicle which is not in compliance with these regulations and is inspected and found not to comply with the standards and criteria for motor vehicle safety and emissions inspections must be reinspected and found to comply with the standards and criteria for motor vehicle emissions inspections, or have received a waiver certificate, or time extension to achieve compliance, or not be operated on the highways of the state.

1.6.2 Inspection Frequency

Motor vehicles subject to the Rhode Island I/M Program shall be inspected biennially except as described in § 1.4 of this Part.

1.6.3 Registration

A. The Administrator of the Division of Motor Vehicles shall establish a procedure to prohibit owners from registering a motor vehicle except those exempted in § 1.5 of this Part, unless a required inspection has been conducted and the vehicle has been found to comply with the requirements of these regulations.

B. A certificate of approval (an inspection sticker) will be issued to vehicle operators whose vehicles have passed inspection and are in compliance with these regulations. The inspection sticker shall be placed in the lower right of the windshield.

1.6.4 Inspection Fee

Operators shall be charged an inspection fee of $55.00 dollars per motor vehicle at the time of inspection, except that operators of vehicles subject to § 1.2 of this Part shall be charged an inspection fee of $23.50. The inspection fee must be paid for each motor vehicle inspected and is payable whether a compliance certificate, waiver certificate, or no certificate is issued.

1.6.5 Inspection Requirements

Vehicles subject to the Rhode Island I/M Program shall be inspected using the standards, criteria and procedures for the safety test as established by the Department, and for exhaust emissions test, evaporative emissions test, and onboard diagnostics inspection as described in the Department of Environmental Management's Air Pollution Control Regulation No. 34, 250-RICR- 120-05-34. Initial inspections in a test cycle shall be performed at an AIRS without repair, or adjustment prior to the test.

1.6.6 Inspection Prohibited

A. The AIRS shall refuse to perform the inspection of any vehicle subject to the Rhode Island I/M Program if the vehicle is determined by the AIRS to be in such an unsafe condition as to be a hazard to inspection personnel and/or the vehicle operator, or a vehicle owner has not had repairs completed under a recall notice. The owners of vehicles with an unresolved recall notice must provide proof of compliance to an AIRS before an inspection can be conducted.

B. The vehicle shall not be inspected until the reason for the refusal has been remedied. The AIRS shall provide any motorist who is refused an emissions inspection a copy of an emissions inspection report supplement as described in § 1.9.3 of this Part.

1.6.7 Non-Factory Specification Vehicles

A. Vehicles that have been altered from their original certified configuration shall be tested in accordance with the following:
1. Reconstructed and Homemade Vehicles
a. All reconstructed and homemade vehicles shall be inspected for emissions compliance using the standards and test procedures applicable for exhaust emission, functional emissions control devices and visual inspection for each individual vehicle based on the engine year of the engine installed in the vehicle at the time of inspection.

2. Vehicles With Exchanged Engines
a. A motor vehicle with an exchanged engine shall be inspected for emission compliance by the applying the emission standards and criteria for motor vehicle emissions inspections based on the chassis model year of the vehicle. Except that if the engine installed in the vehicle at the time of inspection is newer than the chassis model year the inspection standards and criteria for motor vehicle emissions inspections shall be based on the model year of engine.

3. Vehicles With Changed Fuel Type
a. A vehicle with an engine that has been changed from one fuel type to another fuel type (e.g., from a diesel engine to a gasoline engine) that is subject to these regulations shall be subject to the test procedures and standards for the current fuel type of the engine installed in the vehicle at the time of inspection.

4. Trucks and Vans
a. All trucks and vans shall be tested in accordance with the emission standards for motor vehicles as determined by the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). If no manufacturer's GVWR is available, then the vehicle shall be tested according to the GVWR as determined by the Department.

1.6.8 Requirements for Vehicle Registration

A. Owners of vehicles shall meet the following requirements for registration of a motor vehicle subject to these regulations:
1. Registrations or Transfers of Registration
a. The Administrator of the Division of Motor Vehicles shall establish requirements and procedures to be followed by vehicles owners in order to obtain a registration or to transfer a registration for a motor vehicle subject to these regulations

2. Sale of Non-Complying Used Vehicles
a. A dealer shall not sell a used vehicle that is subject to the Rhode Island I/M Program unless a new inspection of the vehicle has been conducted and a compliance certificate has been issued in accordance with these regulations. A new inspection shall be construed to be an inspection conducted no more than ninety (90) calendar days prior to the date of sale of a vehicle, or an inspection conducted at a point no more than 500 vehicle odometer miles prior to the date of sale, whichever shall occur first.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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