Maryland Emissions Inspection Exemption

heavenleigh · 12-13-2006, 09:23 PM

I know that the Prius is exempt from the Maryland Vehicle Inspections program:

Maryland MVA

But I still got the Inspection form in the mail a few months ago. No where on the form does it list the hybrid exemption as a covered exemption reason (on the back if you are disabled or have a diesel or electric only vehicle you check the box and mail the form back), and they don't answer their phone, just endless menus for locations and extensions, and crap. So, do I just ignore the form and skip the inspection? I was going to send it back with a letter explaining why I am not getting the inspection done, but I want to hold on to it just in case and I was some sort of confirmation that I am covered.

How did you guys handle this?

Thanks!

--
Hillary

8AA · 12-15-2006, 08:52 PM

I've never received an inspection notification for my Prius. I would suspect that their database has your car entered as something other than a Prius. If I were you, I'd take the notice to one of the inspection stations and go into the office. That's what you are supposed to do if you spend money to get a car tuned up and it still fails the inspection. If they can issue exemptions for those cars, maybe they can also straighten out their database for you. At the very least they should be able to stamp your inspection notice, or whatever they do when they issue an exception.

BTW: The Prius and the Insight are the only two hybrids that are exempt from the Maryland Emissions Test.

kdmorse · 12-15-2006, 09:18 PM

As 8AA said, it's my understanding that you're simply not supposed to receive inspection notices for current Prius models. (I'm not 100% sure about the older Gen 1's - but your 2004 should absolutely be exempt).

I will tell you however, that the local emissions folks are extremely disorganized, and a pain to deal with. But you can get them on the phone - and they can fix things over the phone. There's another phone number other than the main one (which I had the same results as you when I called it), and I'm truly sorry - but I no longer have that number, that gets you to a person. It's not the main number that listed on the inspection notice, it's listed somewhere under 'what to do if your tag renewal is rejected due to a missed inspection/inspection failure/or other error on our part'.

Not that it helps you any - but the answer to the above question is - Call them up, and they will resend you an inspection notice, which resets your inspection due date to three months in the future. With your inspection date reset, you're no longer overdue, and you can renew your tags. Also, with your inspection date reset - as you're no longer overdue, and no late charge applies when (if) you do get an inspection.

Good Luck,

-Ken

heavenleigh · 12-16-2006, 02:13 AM

Thank you both so much for the responses--I guess I'll head up to the VEIP station to hash it out with them, though I was hoping to avoid the trip being exempt and all...I guess I'll keep my nasty letter suggesting that they not bother mailing out notices to vehicles they know are exempt.

--
Hillary

8AA · 01-27-2007, 11:30 PM

Well Hillary, did you have any luck with the VEIP Station? I'm curious to see how you made out, partially out of concern, but mainly because I just received my inspection notice! Here's another oddity, I bought my car in September, but my inspection date is March. It really seems like someone corrupted the database of vehicles and they are trying to patch it back together.

I'll let the rest of you know how I make out next week at the VEIP Station.

heavenleigh · 02-19-2007, 05:32 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(8AA @ Jan 27 2007, 11:30 PM) [snapback]381839[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Well Hillary, did you have any luck with the VEIP Station? I'm curious to see how you made out, partially out of concern, but mainly because I just received my inspection notice! Here's another oddity, I bought my car in September, but my inspection date is March. It really seems like someone corrupted the database of vehicles and they are trying to patch it back together.

I'll let the rest of you know how I make out next week at the VEIP Station.
[/b]

I ended up following someone's advice and navigated my way through the phone system and talked to a human (gasp!). They said I was supposed to send back the notice with my reason explained on the back (that it is exempt due to being a hybrid) which is not one of the choices available. I sent it with a copy of the law and a letter explaining why I sent it back and never heard anything futher.

I bought my car in October (of 05) and got the inspection notice in Nov of 06 (due 1/3/07). I assumed it was triggered by my birthday(?). I have no idea if my car is even still registered, but I figure they'll send me a notice if it expires.

Good luck!

--
Hillary

8AA · 02-20-2007, 07:54 PM

I went to an inspection station and told the guy in the office that I understood that my car was exempt from the inspections. He said "is it a Prius?" I said that it was, he then filled out an exemption form and told me to keep it in the car. He kept my inspection notice, so I would assume that he is going to take care of turning it in. We'll see what happens in two years.

brinoch · 03-20-2007, 11:53 AM

I can't speak for what occurs with a Prius since I just bought mine earlier this month (sweet!), but I previously had a VW Jetta. Through some error in inputting the car data when I registered the car (after an initial inspection), they believed I had a Jetta TDI and was told that I was exempt from emissions inspections. So, in 4+ years of living in MD with a VW Jetta, I only had one inspection.

12-15-2006, 08:52 PM	#2
8AA Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 492 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I've never received an inspection notification for my Prius. I would suspect that their database has your car entered as something other than a Prius. If I were you, I'd take the notice to one of the inspection stations and go into the office. That's what you are supposed to do if you spend money to get a car tuned up and it still fails the inspection. If they can issue exemptions for those cars, maybe they can also straighten out their database for you. At the very least they should be able to stamp your inspection notice, or whatever they do when they issue an exception. BTW: The Prius and the Insight are the only two hybrids that are exempt from the Maryland Emissions Test. __________________ '04 Salsa Red BC9 CN mudflaps (front only) • Back window fresnel lens • Inverted Homelink mirror • F37/R35 Lifetime MPG 51.6

12-15-2006, 09:18 PM	#3
kdmorse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 198 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	As 8AA said, it's my understanding that you're simply not supposed to receive inspection notices for current Prius models. (I'm not 100% sure about the older Gen 1's - but your 2004 should absolutely be exempt). I will tell you however, that the local emissions folks are extremely disorganized, and a pain to deal with. But you can get them on the phone - and they can fix things over the phone. There's another phone number other than the main one (which I had the same results as you when I called it), and I'm truly sorry - but I no longer have that number, that gets you to a person. It's not the main number that listed on the inspection notice, it's listed somewhere under 'what to do if your tag renewal is rejected due to a missed inspection/inspection failure/or other error on our part'. Not that it helps you any - but the answer to the above question is - Call them up, and they will resend you an inspection notice, which resets your inspection due date to three months in the future. With your inspection date reset, you're no longer overdue, and you can renew your tags. Also, with your inspection date reset - as you're no longer overdue, and no late charge applies when (if) you do get an inspection. Good Luck, -Ken __________________ 2006 Black Package #7 Dark Grey Interior Headlight Flasher EV Mod

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12-13-2006, 09:23 PM	#1
heavenleigh Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 52 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I know that the Prius is exempt from the Maryland Vehicle Inspections program: Maryland MVA But I still got the Inspection form in the mail a few months ago. No where on the form does it list the hybrid exemption as a covered exemption reason (on the back if you are disabled or have a diesel or electric only vehicle you check the box and mail the form back), and they don't answer their phone, just endless menus for locations and extensions, and crap. So, do I just ignore the form and skip the inspection? I was going to send it back with a letter explaining why I am not getting the inspection done, but I want to hold on to it just in case and I was some sort of confirmation that I am covered. How did you guys handle this? Thanks! -- Hillary

12-16-2006, 02:13 AM	#4
heavenleigh Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 52 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Thank you both so much for the responses--I guess I'll head up to the VEIP station to hash it out with them, though I was hoping to avoid the trip being exempt and all...I guess I'll keep my nasty letter suggesting that they not bother mailing out notices to vehicles they know are exempt. -- Hillary

01-27-2007, 11:30 PM	#5
8AA Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 492 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Well Hillary, did you have any luck with the VEIP Station? I'm curious to see how you made out, partially out of concern, but mainly because I just received my inspection notice! Here's another oddity, I bought my car in September, but my inspection date is March. It really seems like someone corrupted the database of vehicles and they are trying to patch it back together. I'll let the rest of you know how I make out next week at the VEIP Station.

02-20-2007, 07:54 PM	#7
8AA Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 492 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I went to an inspection station and told the guy in the office that I understood that my car was exempt from the inspections. He said "is it a Prius?" I said that it was, he then filled out an exemption form and told me to keep it in the car. He kept my inspection notice, so I would assume that he is going to take care of turning it in. We'll see what happens in two years.

03-20-2007, 11:53 AM	#8
brinoch Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I can't speak for what occurs with a Prius since I just bought mine earlier this month (sweet!), but I previously had a VW Jetta. Through some error in inputting the car data when I registered the car (after an initial inspection), they believed I had a Jetta TDI and was told that I was exempt from emissions inspections. So, in 4+ years of living in MD with a VW Jetta, I only had one inspection.