Inspection & Maintenance (I/M) - Regulations
Vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs help improve air quality by identifying cars and truck with high emissions and that may need repairs. Owners or operators of vehicles with high emissions are notified to make any repairs so that emissions are within legal limits. The 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act (CAA) made I/M mandatory for several areas across the country. This page contains regulations promulgated by EPA to facilitate the states implementation of this CAA mandate.
NOTE: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.
Amendments to Vehicle Inspection Maintenance Program Requirements to Address the 8-Hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Ozone
- Final Rule: Amendments to Vehicle Inspection Maintenance Program Requirements to Address the 8-Hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Ozone (also available as a PDF, 8 pp, 84K)
- Fact Sheet (also available as a PDF, 2 pp, 149K, EPA420-F-06-028, March, 2006)
- Media advisory: EPA Proposes Revisions to Vehicle Inspection Maintenance Program Requirements (December 22, 2004)
- Proposed Rule (also available as a PDF, 12 pp, 147K )
- Fact Sheet (also available as a PDF, 3 pp, 21K, EPA420-F-00-059, December, 2004)
- Contact: Dave Sosnowski, phone: (734) 214-4823, email: sosnowski.dave@epa.gov
Amendments to Vehicle Inspection Maintenance Program Requirements Incorporating the On-Board Diagnostic Check
- Final Rule as published in the Federal Register April 5, 2001. (also available as a PDF, 25 pp, 203K)
- Proposed Rule as published in the Federal Register September 20, 2000
Additional Flexibility Amendments to Vehicle Inspection Maintenance Program Requirements.
- Final Rule as published in the Federal Register July 24, 2000
- Proposed Rule as published in the Federal Register August 20, 1999. (also available as a PDF, 26 pp, 126K)
- Proposed Amendment Fact Sheet (PDF) (3 pp, 12K, EPA420-F-99-030, August 1999)
- Contact: Dave Sosnowski, phone: (734) 214-4823, email: sosnowski.dave@epa.gov
I/M Program Requirement - On-Board Diagnostic Checks Amendment to the Final Rule
- Final Rule Fact Sheet (PDF) (3 pp, 13K, EPA420-F-98-017, April 1998)
- Final Rule | PDF Version (6 pp, 46K, published May 4, 1998)
- Proposed Rule Fact Sheet (PDF) (3 pp, 11K, EPA420-F-98-002, January 1998)
- Proposed Rule as published in the Federal Register, December 1997
- Contact: Leila Cook, phone: (734) 214-4820 or email: cook.leila@epa.gov
Minor Amendments to Inspection Maintenance Program Evaluation Requirements; Amendment to the Final Rule
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (3 pp, 10K, EPA420-F-97-052, August 1997)
- Final Rule as published in the Federal Register, January 1998
- Proposed Rule as published in the Federal Register, September 1997
- Contact: Dave Sosnowski, phone: (734) 214-4823, email: sosnowski.dave@epa.gov
September 23, 1996, I/M Program Requirements Minor Amendments
I/M Requirement for On-Board Diagnostic Checks
- August 27, 1996, Correction of August 6, 1996, Final Rule: On page 40946, first column, Sec. 51.372(b)(3), the last line, "August 6, 1996" should read "August 6, 1998".
- August 6, 1996, Final Rule
- August 18, 1995, Proposed Rule
Inspection/Maintenance Ozone Transport Region (OTR) Flexibility Amendments.
- Final Rule as published in the Federal Register on July 25, 1996. (also available as a PDF, 7 pp, 44K)
- Proposed Rule as published in the Federal Register October 23, 1995.
July 1996, Full list of I/M regulations and guidance documents
I/M Flexibility
- Final Rule as published in the Federal Register on September 18, 1995.
- Proposed Rule as published in the Federal Register on April 28, 1995.
December 12, 1995, Guidance on Interim Approval of I/M Plans (PDF) (8 pp, 34K)
I/M Redesignation
- Final Rule as published in the Federal Register on January 5, 1995
- Proposed Rule as published in the Federal Register on June 28, 1994.
Full 1992 I/M Regulations (PDF) (72 pp, 226K)
1992 Enhanced I/M Tech Support Document without appendices (PDF) (140 pp, 340K)