What Is EPA Certification For a Car?
An EPA certification is a certificate given to vehicle manufacturers that confirms compliance with the EPA’s exhaust emissions standards.
Written by Allison Stone
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Simply put, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification is an integral part of the manufacturing process for new cars, and exists to ensure that throughout your car’s lifetime it complies with the EPA’s exhaust emissions standards that help keep our air, soil, and water clear of
pollutants
.Read on with the car ownership experts at Jerry as we break down what EPA certification is, what the EPA looks at, how the tests are conducted, and what it means for you as a driver.
What is EPA Certification?
In order to produce, sell and drive a vehicle in the U.S., it must meet certain EPA exhaust emissions standards. According to
EPA.gov
, an EPA certification is a test conducted at the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL) that not only confirms a manufacturer's compliance with the EPA standards but also verifies the fuel economy test results submitted by each manufacturer.Each different category of vehicle type has a corresponding list of regulations it must meet. The NVFEL conducts testing of new vehicles as well as vehicles that are typically between one and seven years old to verify the effectiveness of the vehicle’s emissions control systems over a lifetime.
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How is the test conducted?
Testing at NVFEL takes place in a state-of-the-art laboratory environment that offers all necessary testing and engineering services for each motor vehicle. The lab is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan
In order to account for a various array of driving conditions, the vehicles are tested on a dynamometer using standard test cycles that simulate city, highway, and aggressive driving as well as cold and hot weather conditions.
How to tell if your vehicle is compliant with EPA regulations
If you’re buying a new vehicle or a qualifying
zero-emissions vehicle
(ZEV), you’re in luck—you can rest assured that this car has already met the required EPA regulations to be sold and distributed within the U.S. The Clean Air Act requires all engines and vehicles to be verified with a certificate of conformity before they enter the marketplace.
Depending on where you live, it may be required that your vehicle undergoes routine emissions testing.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to send your car all the way off to a lab in Ann Arbor. If your state requires emissions testing compliance, it will also provide resources on how, where, and when to get testing done.
Most likely the testing will be done at an official emissions testing station, but if you’re worried about passing or are experiencing any car troubles, you can get a pre-check done by your local mechanic.
What if my new car fails an emissions test?
If your car or light-duty truck fails an emissions test and your vehicle is less than 2 years old or has less than 24,000 miles on it, you may be covered by the Performance Warranty or the Design and Defect warranty.
The Performance Warranty covers repairs required due to a failed emissions test during the first 2 years of 24,000 miles of vehicle use, while the Designed and Defect warranty covers the repair of emission control or emission-related parts which fail to function or function improperly because of a defect in materials or workmanship.
MORE: How Eco-Friendly are Electric Vehicles, Actually?
How to save money on your car
Staying on top of your car’s maintenance is one way to ensure that you never fail an emissions test, but those mechanic bills can start to add up.
If you’re looking for other ways to save, sign up with
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