Trans 131.01 Note
Note: Forms used in this chapter are MV 2016, substitute renewal notice; MV 2470, vehicle inspection report; MV 2472, application for letter of temporary exemption from emission test requirements; MV 2588, exchanged engine certificate; MV 2594, quality assurance inspection report. Copies can be obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Dealer and Agent Section, P. O. Box 7909, Madison, WI 53707-7909.
Trans 131.02
Trans 131.02 Definitions. Words and phrases defined in s.
110.20, Stats., have the same meaning in this chapter unless a different definition is specified. In this chapter:
Trans 131.02(1)
(1) “Air pollution control equipment" or “emission equipment" means any equipment or feature which constitutes an operational element, device or mechanism which is part of the air pollution control system on a motor vehicle.
Trans 131.02(1m)
(1m) “Authorized inspection facility" means a self-service inspection facility, or a private inspection facility, or an inspection station or facility operated by the department, or by a contractor or subcontractor authorized by the department to perform emission inspections.
Trans 131.02(3m)
(3m) “Collector vehicle" means a nonexempt vehicle with a collector special interest vehicle registration under s.
341.266, Stats.
Trans 131.02(6)
(6) “Contractor" means a person with whom the department has a contract that provides for the operation of one or more inspection stations or for the performance of emission inspection at an authorized inspection facility other than an inspection station or for the performance of a service related to the Wisconsin vehicle emission inspection program.
Trans 131.02(6m)
(6m) “DLC" means data link connector on a vehicle equipped with an OBD II system.
Trans 131.02(6r)
(6r) “DTC" means diagnostic trouble code stored by a vehicle's OBD II system.
Trans 131.02(7)
(7) “Department" means the Wisconsin department of transportation.
Trans 131.02(8)
(8) “Electronic reporting," “electronically reported" or “reported electronically" means reported directly to the department or its contractor electronically in a format specified by the department.
Trans 131.02 Note
Note: Chapter
NR 485 may be obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Air Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.
Trans 131.02(13)
(13) “Exhaust emission" or “exhaust gas" means the combination of substances emitted into the atmosphere from the tailpipe or tailpipes of a motor vehicle.
Trans 131.02 Note
Note: All references made to the Federal Rule in this document are to
40 CFR Part 51, Subpart S Inspection/Maintenance Program Requirements; Final Rule dated November 5, 1992, as amended through January 1, 2001.
Trans 131.02(19)
(19) “
Government vehicle" means a motor vehicle both owned by this state or by any county, municipality, or federally-recognized American Indian tribe or band and registered under s.
341.26 (2m), Stats., or a vehicle owned or leased by the United States.
Trans 131.02(20m)
(20m) “Hobbyist vehicle" means a nonexempt vehicle with a hobbyist registration under s.
341.268, Stats.
Trans 131.02(22)
(22) “Inspection" means the mandatory vehicle emission inspection required by s.
110.20, Stats., consisting of an OBD II inspection.
Trans 131.02(24)
(24) “Inspection station" means an inspection facility operated by a party under contract with the department for the purpose of conducting vehicle emission inspections required by s.
110.20, Stats.
Trans 131.02(25)
(25) “Inspector" means the individual who performs the vehicle emission inspection for the contractor or subcontractor.
Trans 131.02(28)
(28) “Master automotive technician" means a person possessing the highest level of any nationally recognized certification organization for automotive emission-related diagnosis and repair.
Trans 131.02(29)
(29) “Model year" means the date of manufacture of the original vehicle within the annual production period of the vehicle as designated by the manufacturer, or if a reconstructed or homemade vehicle, the first year of titling. If the manufacturer does not designate a production period, the term “model year" means the calendar year of manufacture. Determination of model year shall be as indicated in the VIN or on the vehicle's registration documents.
Trans 131.02(31)
(31) “New vehicle" means a motor vehicle to which the legal title has never been transferred to an ultimate retail purchaser as defined in s.
Trans 139.02.
Trans 131.02(34)
(34) “OBD II" means the on-board diagnostic system installed on 1996 and newer vehicles by the manufacturer that meets the regulations promulgated by the USEPA under
42 USC 7401-7671q.
Trans 131.02(34m)
(34m) “OBD inspection" or “OBD II inspection" means an emissions related inspection in which the vehicle's on-board computer is accessed to evaluate the status of the vehicle's emission control system.
Trans 131.02(35)
(35) “Performance monitoring" means the system of evaluating automotive repair facilities' performance by collecting and reporting the repair data as recorded on the vehicle inspection report or as reported electronically, upon performance of the repair.
Trans 131.02(36)
(36) “Person" means an individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership, joint stock company, public or municipal corporation, political subdivision, the state or any agency thereof, and the federal government.
Trans 131.02(37)
(37) “Proper" or “properly" means meeting original manufacturer's equipment standards or the equivalent.
Trans 131.02(37m)
(37m) “Readiness monitors" means the tests performed internally by a vehicle's OBD II system that determine if an emission component is ready to be checked by the on-board vehicle computer.
Trans 131.02(38)
(38) “Recognized automotive emission repair technician" means a person who has received and has proof of formal training in both diagnosis and repair of automotive engines and related systems.
Trans 131.02(39)
(39) “Recognized repair facility" means a franchised new car dealer or other business with a Wisconsin sales tax number that performs emission repairs as a regular part of its business activities and employs at least one recognized automotive emission repair technician.
Trans 131.02(45)
(45) “Technical assistance center" means either a separate contractor facility or a portion of an inspection station which, under the direction of a master automotive technician, is equipped to perform both emission inspections and complete diagnostic evaluations of nonexempt vehicles.
Trans 131.02(50)
(50) “USEPA" means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Trans 131.02(50m)
(50m) “USEPA technical guidance" means the USEPA publication “Performing Onboard Diagnostic System Checks as Part of a Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program," dated June, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. Any alternative inspection procedures or changes in procedural details shall be approved by the USEPA administrator prior to use.
Trans 131.02 Note
Note: Copies are on file with the Legislative Reference Bureau and the Attorney General's office. These procedures are available in published form from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Bureau of Field Services, P. O. Box 7909, Room 253, Madison, WI 53707-7909 and can be accessed on the internet at
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/im/obd/r01015.pdf.
Trans 131.02(51)
(51) “Van" means a motor vehicle constructed on a truck chassis, or indicated as a truck on the manufacturer's statement of origin, with a completely enclosed driver and cargo compartment useable as a cargo carrying vehicle or as a passenger vehicle depending upon equipment.
Trans 131.02(53)
(53) “Vehicle inspection notice" means a document mailed to vehicle owners as a result of failing a remote sensing test indicating that the nonexempt vehicle has been inspected in accordance with the provisions of s.
Trans 131.14 and, if necessary, shall be presented at an inspection station or other authorized inspection facility for inspection under s.
110.20 (6) (a) 4., Stats.
Trans 131.02(54)
(54) “Vehicle inspection report" means a serially numbered document issued at an inspection station or authorized inspection facility or technical assistance center or by an inspector designated by the department to perform the functions of a technical assistance center at the time of vehicle inspection, indicating that the vehicle has been inspected in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and may include data reported electronically.
Trans 131.02(56)
(56) “Voluntary inspection" means the voluntary presentation of a nonexempt vehicle for an emission inspection.
Trans 131.02(56m)
(56m) “Waiver" means a conditional one-cycle exemption from emission inspection that may be granted to a vehicle owner or lessee.
Trans 131.02(57)
(57) “Waiver emission equipment inspection" means a visual inspection conducted to determine the presence and proper connection of selected emission equipment on vehicles presented for waiver determination under s.
Trans 131.04.
Trans 131.02(58)
(58) “Waiver investigator" means the department employee or designated contractor representative who approves or disapproves applications for waivers.
Trans 131.02 History
History: Cr.
Register, June, 1993, No. 450, eff. 7-1-93; emerg. revise eff. 12-4-95; am. (intro.), renum. (1) to (4), (6) to (10), (14) to (16), (18) to (22), (24), (26) to (28) and (34) to (42) to be (2), (3), (6) to (10), (12), (13), (16), (19) to (25), (29) to (32), (36), (37), (41), (43), (44), (48), (51), (52), (54), (56), (58), respectively, and am. (6), (8) to (10), (12), (19), (22), (23), (25), (29), (32), (43), (44), (51), (52), (54), (56), (58), cr. (1), (3m), (4), (14), (15), (18), (20m), (27), (28), (34), (35), (38), (39), (40), (42), (45), (47), (49), (50), (50m), (53), (55) and (57), r. (5), (12), (13), (23), (25), (29), (30), r. and recr. (11), (17), (33),
Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; correction in (44) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, August, 1996, No. 488; correction made to delete duplicative subsection and correction in (12) and (20m) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, April, 1999, No. 520; cr. (6m), (6r), (26), (34m), (37m), am. (11), (22), (32), (50m) and (58),
Register, May, 2001, No. 545, eff. 6-1-01;
CR 07-114: cr. (1m) and (56m), r. (3), (4), (11), (14), (16), (27), (30), (32), (33), (43), (47) and (49), am. (6), (6r), (10), (22), (25), (34) to (35), (50m), (53) and (54), r. and recr. (8)
Register June 2008 No. 630, eff. 7-1-08;
CR 10-088: am. (1m), (6), (10), (34m), (50m), (54) and (56m)
Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11;
CR 22-048: am. (19) Register July 2023 No. 811, eff. 8-1-23.
Trans 131.03
Trans 131.03 Emission inspection and reinspection. Trans 131.03(1)(a)(a) All nonexempt vehicles that are customarily kept in counties certified under s.
110.20 (5) (a), Stats., or in a county whose county board adopts a resolution under s.
110.20 (5) (b), Stats., shall be inspected as provided in this chapter. Penalty for failure to comply with this section consists of either denial of registration renewal or suspension of vehicle registration as set forth in s.
341.63 (1) (e), Stats.
Trans 131.03 Note
Note: The 6 counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington and Waukesha were certified by the department of natural resources in a letter to the department dated August 21, l981. Sheboygan County was certified by the department of natural resources in a letter to the department dated April 20, 1992.
Trans 131.03(1)(b)
(b) Nothing in this chapter waives an expired registration because of failure to pass inspection requirements by the registration deadline.
Trans 131.03(1)(c)
(c) A vehicle is first subject to the requirements of this chapter when the vehicle is 4 model years old.
Trans 131.03(1)(d)
(d) For purposes of calculating the number of model years of vehicle age under ss.
110.20 (13) and
285.30 (5), Stats., a model year shall be considered synonymous with a calendar year. Not satisfying the inspection requirements of this chapter prior to the date of registration expiration shall not extend vehicle age.
Trans 131.03 Note
Note: For example, a 2004 model year vehicle shall be considered as being more than 4 model years old commencing January 1, 2008.
Trans 131.03(2)
(2)
When inspection required. Nonexempt vehicles subject to an inspection shall have the inspection completed as provided in this chapter when any of the following apply:
Trans 131.03(2)(a)
(a) No more than 180 days prior to renewal of annual registration. This requirement applies when the vehicle is 4 model years old and every 2 years thereafter.
Trans 131.03(2)(b)
(b) Within 45 days of an ownership change registration issuance for vehicles more than 5 model years old at the time of ownership change, unless the vehicle passed inspection within 180 days prior to such ownership change registration, or
Trans 131.03 Note
Note: For example, a 2004 model year vehicle shall be considered as being more than 4 model years old commencing January 1, 2008.
Trans 131.03(3)
(3)
Document requirements. Each vehicle presented for inspection at an inspection station or at an authorized inspection facility shall be accompanied by at least one of the following documents which identifies the vehicle by make, model year, VIN, and license plate number:
Trans 131.03(3)(d)
(d) A vehicle inspection report if a reinspection, unless repair performance data has, upon performance of the repair, been reported electronically.
Trans 131.03(3)(g)
(g) A letter issued by the department notifying the vehicle owner that the vehicle requires inspection.
Trans 131.03(3)(h)
(h) A properly completed voluntary inspection request form, obtainable from the manager at each of the inspection stations or at other authorized inspection facilities as determined by the department.
Trans 131.03(4)
(4)
Scope and nature of inspection. The vehicle emission inspection shall consist of an OBD II inspection which indicates whether the MIL is commanded on and, if so, the DTCs causing the command.
Trans 131.03(5)(a)(a) Vehicles that meet any of the following conditions shall fail the inspection:
Trans 131.03(5)(a)2.
2. The MIL does not illuminate at all when the ignition key is turned to the “key on, engine off" position.
Trans 131.03(5)(a)3.
3. The MIL illuminates continuously or flashes when the vehicle is in the “key on, engine running “ condition, even if no DTCs are present.
