Emissions exempt car

[skunk2]

Anybody know if a 1988 model year car is exempt from emissions testing?

[mEtH]

why would a 88 be exempt? My father has some old cars dating around 82 and has to do emission, so i would think its unlikely.

[kevcol74]

Last I knew, 87 Was the last year of exemption, but I'm not 100% up to date. Anything older than that is exempt that isn't commercial. My 86 Mustang was exempt the year I sold it, last year! lol I believe its older than 20 years. But, that doesn't mean you can pull your emissions equipment off, that is still subject to roadside checks. Don't pull your cat off and replace it with a straight pipe! Thats a hefty fine!
Just call a local emissions testing facility, they will tell you.



why would a 88 be exempt? My father has some old cars dating around 82 and has to do emission, so i would think its unlikely.

Somebody is screwing your old man over then!!

[Wild Weasel]

I thought cars older than 20 years were exempt.

Of course, I think this policy is stupid so maybe someone in power agreed and changed it...

[skunk2]

it wasn't a matter of taking off emissions equipment....picking up a used car and wondering if I have to do emissions testing.

[kevcol74]

Call an emissions testing facility... or online, if you have the VIN you can see its emissions history online. (drive clean ontario in your search engine, you'll find it!)

Verified, 1988 is still being tested...

[mEtH]

I am heading out to buy an 88 as a beater now! :chuckle
You would think that they would need emissions done more often to make sure they are not polluting anymore then they should. Some of those old cars that are not maintained properly spit out a crap load of carbon... ah well what do I know.

[cereal83]

Yeah its 20 years I think

[skunk2]

kevcol - thanks for the info...i'll try and call a facility to be 100% sure myself. appreciate the help.

meth - this is exactly what it is, for a beater.

thanks.

[Wild Weasel]

I am heading out to buy an 88 as a beater now! :chuckle
You would think that they would need emissions done more often to make sure they are not polluting anymore then they should. Some of those old cars that are not maintained properly spit out a crap load of carbon... ah well what do I know.

That's exactly what makes the law stupid.

I think that any car that has been subject to emissions requirements at some point, should always be subject to emissions requirements.

Older cars built before emissions controls were in place should be exempt, but if a car was built with emissions controls, then they should have to be working.

Perhaps there could be a process of getting an exemption for a classic car for which parts are no longer available but isn't being regularly driven, but not for beaters. That completely defeats the purpose of having emissions testing as those cars will be the worst polluters and are the ones that should be taken off the roads!

[kevcol74]

I was happy when my 86 Mustang finally was exempt! But, that doesn't mean I went and bypassed anything! Infact, it passed its last test with better numbers with 245,000kms on it than my 1996 Probe GT did with 130,000kms... If it was maintained, it will work right. If it wasn't, chances are at 20 years old, its in the scrap yard anyways.
Good luck with the beater skunk2, get its vin and check its last test online. If it shows a "Pass", then its worth pursuing, if it shows "Conditional Pass", that means it didn't pass its last test, but was put through due to the maximum limit exemption, meaning there is likely still a problem that would have to be dealt with. When changing hands/ownership trnasfer, they HAVE to pass, no limit on repair bills.

[Mazda3X2]

Quoted from the Drive Clean site.

Age exemption ends for older cars
Light-duty vehicles of the 1988 model year and newer will stay in the program and require emissions tests every two years. Light-duty vehicles of the 1987 model year and earlier continue to be exempt from the program when they are 20 years old or older.

Vehicles currently registered as “historic” continue to be exempt from emissions tests. An exemption from tests will be recommended for 1988 and newer model vehicles when they reach 30 years of age,
if they are designated as historic under the
Highway Traffic Act.

[kevcol74]

Bummer! lol

[skunk2]

it's all good......the 1988 car i'm picking up is in good condition and price was right.
i do have my eye on an 85 cressida that can be a fun summer car.

[Ex-Rolla]

Hey, you can at least take away one good thing from this thread... In another 10 years, the car will be considered "Historic".

[skunk2]

in another 2 years that car will probably be crushed lol.

[kevcol74]

skunk2, you never have told us what it is!!! Come un, spill on the classic turning historic!!

[skunk2]

lol its nothing special...it's a camry, no classic here.
i would rather get the cressida but the purpose of the car is for winter driving....the cressi is rear wheel drive.

[dentinger]

farm vehicle are also exempt from emissions testing....
not that it helps in this situation...

[Dave_The_BMXER]

FYI if the car is over 20 years you have to get it professionally appraised before you can register it. So they can tax you the right amount.

[alhope34]

I wish Ontario was more like Quebec and never had emissions testing. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

[kevcol74]

FYI if the car is over 20 years you have to get it professionally appraised before you can register it. So they can tax you the right amount.


Ha, just go to a used car dealer and flip them $50 and they will give you an appraisal for whatever value you want! :chuckle (Been there, done that! lol)

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I was the seller so the buyer figured something out, but I didn't know about it.