As part of Governor Larry Hogan’s efforts to make government services more convenient and put money back in the pockets of Maryland families, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) announced the addition of seven new self-service Vehicle Emission Inspection Program (VEIP) kiosks.
The expansion brings the total number of the easy-to-use devices to nine. The self-service kiosks are available 24/7 and have been conveniently installed at existing VEIP and MVA offices throughout the greater Washington and Baltimore regions. As part of Governor Hogan’s plan to reduce fees, the cost for the self-service kiosks was reduced from $14 to $10.
“The Governor challenged us to make our services more convenient and less expensive, and we’ve delivered with the expansion of the self-service VEIP kiosks,” said MVA Administrator Christine Nizer. “These popular kiosks provide customers a quick and easy way to complete their vehicle’s emissions test.”
The VEIP self-service kiosks, first launched in August 2015, at the Glen Burnie VEIP station and the Gaithersburg MVA branch office have performed more than 2,300 VEIP tests and have a customer satisfaction rating of 85 to 90 percent.
The VEIP self-service kiosks are now located at the following locations: Bel Air, Beltsville, Frederick and Waldorf MVA branch offices, and the Annapolis, Edgewood and Owings Mills VEIP stations.
“The Hogan Administration is committed to cleaner air and better service for customers. Self-serve kiosks and other driver-friendly emissions improvements are the wave of the future and that’s great news for air quality and public health in Maryland,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles.
The VEIP self-service kiosks conduct the same diagnostic test performed by technicians at full-service VEIP stations, which still charge the $14 fee. Customers simply plug the testing device into their vehicle’s computer diagnostic system to determine if the engine is working property and the vehicle’s emissions are meeting Maryland’s environmental standards. Eligible vehicles include: light-duty vehicles (under 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight) model year 2005 and newer, and heavy-duty vehicles (between 8,501 and 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight) model year 2008 and newer.
Vehicles not meeting these requirements or vehicles past their inspection due dates, must go to a full-service VEIP location for testing.
The VEIP testing network consists of 18 centralized inspection stations located in 13 counties and Baltimore City, where the air quality must meet federal clean air standards. Vehicles meeting VEIP testing requirements must have their emissions tested every two years. Envirotest is the private contractor responsible for the VEIP’s day-to-day operations. The VEIP program is jointly administered by the MVA and the MDE.