HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire is a now a Virginia Certified Emissions Repair Facility.
Are you having problem with your vehicle’s emission system? Did you fail your most recent emissions test? Now HomeTowne can help.
“What that means for you is if you have an emissions test and your car fails, you must return to an emissions certified repair facility, and any of the work that is documented can go towards a waiver. This year, the waiver is $815,” said HomeTowne General Manager Rich Campbell.
The emissions system controls how much air is being released from your vehicle back out into the atmosphere. An emission test is required every two years by those parking their vehicles in certain areas, including Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park.
Per Virginia guidelines, drivers whose vehicle fails an emissions test must spend at least $815 in repairs before being given a two-year emissions waiver. The only catch? The work must be done by a Certified Emissions Repair Facility.
“It’s designed to have people make a good faith effort to keep their cars running as cleanly and efficiently as possible,” said Campbell.
Only a handful of shops in the Northern Virginia area are certified for emissions repair.
“It’s beyond just being an emissions shop, where you can have an emissions test done. You actually have to go to an emissions repair facility to have the repairs certified by a qualified technician, which we now have on staff. You have to go through the process of being certified by the state in order to do that,” said Campbell.
Emissions components in a vehicle that can cause failure vary, and can include a vacuum line, exhaust, etc.
“If you go to have an emissions inspection with a ‘Check Engine’ light, generally you will fail,” said Campbell.
For more information about Certified Emissions Repair Facilities, visit the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) website.