Air Care
Albuquerque / Bernalillo County
Vehicle Pollution Management Program

All vehicles registered in Bernalillo County which meet the following criteria must be emissions tested:

1. Model year 1975 and later
2. Gross vehicle weight between 1,000 and 26,000 pounds
3. Four or more wheels in contact with the ground
4. Spark ignited. (This includes propane, butane, natural gas, etc.)

All vehicles which meet these criteria and are being transferred into Bernalillo County must be emissions tested before registration.

MVD will not accept a failed emissions test or an out-of-state test for registration purposes. However, valid out-of-state tests that are less than 90 days old, may be exchanged for a valid time extension certificate at the Vehicle Pollution Management Division (VPMD).  Only a pass certificate from an Air Care station or a time extension issued by VPMD, is acceptable for registration purposes (must be presented within 90 days of test or issue).

Diesel or electrically powered vehicles are exempt from emissions testing at this time. However, they must be presented to the VPMD Headquarters for an opacity test or verification of electric motor respectively.  There is no fee for a diesel or electric vehicle exemption.

You must have your vehicle tested when:

1. Your renewal notice indicates "emissions certificate required" - testing is currently required biennially and vehicles are automatically selected for testing once every two years.
2. This is the vehicles' first registration in Bernalillo County
3. You are a Bernalillo County resident and you are registering a vehicle in conjunction with a transfer of title.

It is possible that vehicles which fail the emissions test MAY qualify for a time extension. This extension is to allow the vehicle owner time to bring the vehicle into compliance with the Program. The vehicle, a written estimate by a licensed mechanic and your failed test must be presented to the VPMD to be examined to determine your eligibility for a time extension. Extensions will be issued ONLY to those vehicles that will require costly repairs.

Time extensions are granted one time per vehicle and are not transferable. Vehicles which have been granted a time extension for repairs and which have not been repaired during the time extension period will not receive another time extension. An extension will not be renewed upon transfer of title.

When applying at VPMD for a time extension make sure you have the vehicle, your failed test certificate, bill of sale, title or registration and a written estimate by a licensed mechanic.

Impounded vehicles may be granted a two-week time extension for removal from impound. Proper registration, bill of sale or title, and a receipt from the impound lot must be presented to VPMD before the extension will be granted. You will be required to have the vehicle emission tested and provide the test results (pass or fail) to VPMD within two weeks.

Inoperable vehicles will NOT be granted a time extension. Upon payment of fees, MVD will hold the registration in suspense until the vehicle can be tested. Only after a pass certificate or a time extension is presented will MVD release the license plate sticker.

Vehicles registered in Bernalillo County but temporarily unavailable for testing for the following reasons MAY be eligible for a time extension:

1. Vehicle out of county due to military service.
2. Vehicle out of county due to student in school.
3. Vehicle out of county due to temporary employment assignment.

An out of state emission test or proper documentation verifying that the vehicle is out of the county will be required before a time extension will be granted.

Other situations may qualify for a time extension. Contact VPMD at 764-1110 for more details.

The Vehicle Pollution Management Headquarters is located at 1500 Broadway NE. The VPMD business office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Vehicle retesting is conducted from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday.

VPMD cannot perform an initial emissions test. VPMD is a referee station for retesting only. You must present a failed emissions test certificate to the VPMD before your vehicle can be retested and before you may apply for a time extension.

For more information about the Air Care program call the Vehicle Pollution Management Division at (505) 764-1110.