I passed!

The test depends on the vehicle, on newer cars that's true, they just connect to the computer to see if any codes are set because some folks just remove the "Check Engine" bulb before getting tested! On older cars such as my 1992 Miata they do run it on the rollers while monitoring the emissions as well as checking the evaporative system.

It's still a rip off.

In new york, my '95 failed inspection in 2009 which made my mechanic scratch his head. He had just done some work on the car just a month before the test and so could not understand why it would fail. He decided to simply try the test again and the New York State provided emissions testing equipment, which happens to be an IBM PC with 386 processor circa 1985, coughed up what is know as the blue screen of death. It took the State five days to get around to replacing the computer. To add insult to injury they charged the garage again for running the test a 'second time' on my car (which I only found out about recently since they did not pass the duplicate charge on to me - the garage is a class act). I suspect that given the age of the test equipment used and the age of ODBI cars (1995 and older - making fewer and fewer of them on the road as daily drivers) will mean they will stop testing emissions on ODBI cars in New York State soon too.

RIP OFF?? You are getting off easy. Here in SE PA, the emission test is $44.00 to test the gas cap for leaks, and read the OBDII info from the car. Older non OBDII still require a Dyno test, but the number of the testing Dynos has dwindled as the machines failed, and the stations didn't want to pay to fix them. There is talk of dropping the Dyno test for the older ones, but it hasn't happened yet. We also have the safety inspection for another $25.00. The station gets very little of that, so they get to charge about $5.00 for the administration, and the stickers. Note that these are independent service stations in this state, not State run testing facilities. So ~$74 per year -- wait forgot the sales tax! Make it ~$78.

And depending on your station and relation with them, most can expect to throw in a little more for a wiper or lamp somewhere to let them get some money and bring the total to more like $100.00.

Stephen Toth wrote;

Depends on where you go. I actually took my '04 to the dealer last week for inspection. Also had them replace (you guessed it) the wipers blades, which really needed to be replaced, and since it's so darn cold in my unheated garage, I had them change the oil. Total bill $70.65. Free state inspection. Emissions test was $21.95. Wiper blades $14.82. Oil change $29.88 using their oil and filter. Sales tax $4.

Of course it also helps that Young Mazda, just north of Easton, PA, is a sponsor of our club and we get 15% discount on parts and usually labor too.

Iva & Vixen

I'm moving to Arizona.

Yearly roadworthiness test including emissions check - maximum cost £54.85 (some garages charge less).

Road Tax disc - cost varies depending on manufacturer calculated CO2 emissions. My 2003 NB Sport costs £245 per year and all I get is a little round peice of paper!

That's how I say 'RIP OFF'. (c:

Ha! In case you hadn't guessed by the £ currency symbols I used, I live in the UK.

That goes back to that 'relationship' thing I guess. I would agree that assuming all dealerships are 'stealerships' is a mistake. Sometimes (not often) reasonable deals are available there ($15 wipers!).

Chris

Douglass, can you give us quickie / approx $ translation? Sorry, I know that I should know.

Chris

You can also put "xxx UK pounds in US Dollars" in the Google search box and it will convert for you. Works for lots of different currencies.

miker

For the record, 1 pound is about 1.6 dollars at the moment.

Today I paid about about £1.25 (around $2) per litre for petrol with

Or about US$90 to fill the tank of my tiny Peugeot Hatchback with a 1.1 litre engine. I laughed, but it wasn't funny.

By my calculation thats about $7.50 per US Gallon, from one of the cheapest places in town.

How does that compare?

Lower octane is about $2.89 per US Gallon at Costco here in Phoenix, Arizona, California is about $3.17/gallon at Costco, Gas prices can vary a lot in different parts of the country.

Interesting. 95RON is the lowest grade of road fuel available in this country. I think petrol in the city I live in is about as cheap as it gets.

Prices don't vary all that much here though. You're never more than a couple of hundred miles from a refinery and competition means its sold pretty much at cost, with retailers making up by charging £1 or so for a mars bar etc.

Is Arizona pretty?

cd