Rule 391-3-20-.05. Emission Standards

1. (1) An inspector shall not perform a tampering inspection, a fuel cap verification, or an OBD system check on a vehicle which:

   1. (a) has a missing exhaust system, or
   2. (b) is unsafe to inspect.

2. (2) The inspector shall not issue a Certificate of Emission Inspection indicating an overall passing result for the emission inspection unless the inspector has inspected the vehicle in accordance with the requirements of the Act and this Subject and the vehicle has passed the tampering inspection, the OBD system check, and the fuel cap verification.

   1. (a) The vehicle shall pass the tampering inspection if:

      1. 1. the catalytic converter(s) has not been removed or disconnected;
      2. 2. no catalytic converter was installed by the original equipment manufacturer as determined from the vehicle emission control label;
      3. 3. in the case of a vehicle which has been converted from a single exhaust system to a dual exhaust system and a catalytic converter(s) was part of the original single exhaust system configuration, a catalytic converter has been installed in each pipe of the dual exhaust system;
      4. 4. in the case of a non-conforming vehicle for which either the original vehicle or the replacement engine was equipped with a catalytic converter(s), a catalytic converter(s) has been installed; or
      5. 5. a catalytic converter(s) installed by the original equipment manufacturer has been removed and replaced with another catalytic converter(s).

   2. (b) The vehicles shall pass the OBD system check if:

      1. 1. the Georgia Analyzer System (GAS) is able to communicate with the vehicle's OBD system;
      2. 2. the MIL illuminates with the ignition key in the "on" position and the engine not running, which is known as Key On Engine Off (KOEO);
      3. 3. the OBD system does not command the MIL to illuminate with the ignition key in the on position with the engine running;
      4. 4. all nonexempt OBD system monitors, as specified in the GAS, are set to "ready";
      5. 5. the OBD system does not contain any fault codes which command the MIL to illuminate, as specified by the vehicle manufacturer, indicating problems with the emissions control parameters monitored by the OBD system; and
      6. 6. the MIL does not illuminate with the ignition key in the "on" position and the engine running, which is known as Key On Engine Running (KOER).
   3. (c) The vehicle shall pass the fuel cap verification if the vehicle's primary fuel cap and, when equipped, one secondary fuel cap is present.

Authority: O.C.G.A. Section 12-9-40, et seq., as amended.

History. Original Rule entitled "Emission Standards" adopted. F. Nov. 1, 1993; eff. Nov. 21, 1993.

Amended: F. Aug. 31, 1994; eff. Sept. 20, 1994.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 28, 1995; eff. Sept. 17, 1995.

Amended: ER. 391-3-20-0.33-.05 adopted. F. June 4, 1996; eff. May 29, 1996, the date of adoption.

Amended: Permanent Rule adopted. F. Aug. 26, 1996; eff. Sept. 15, 1996.

Amended: F. June 3, 1997; eff. June 23, 1997.

Amended: ER. 391-3-20-0.38-.05 adopted. F. Dec. 5, 1997; eff. Dec. 3, 1997, the date of adoption.

Amended: F. Mar. 27, 1998; eff. Apr. 16, 1998.

Amended: F. June 18, 1999; eff. July 8, 1999.

Amended: F. Sept. 17, 1999; eff. Oct. 7, 1999.

Amended: F. Dec. 8, 2000; eff. Dec. 28, 2000.

Amended: F. June 28, 2001; eff. July 18, 2001.

Amended: F. Dec. 6, 2001; eff. Dec. 26, 2001.

Amended: F. Dec. 20, 2004; eff. Jan. 9, 2005.

Amended: F. May 30, 2014; eff. June 19, 2014.

Amended: F. Nov. 2, 2016; eff. Nov. 22, 2016.

Amended: F. Mar. 8, 2018; eff. Mar. 28, 2018.

Amended: F. Mar. 24, 2021; eff. Apr. 13, 2021.

Amended: F. Mar. 30, 2022; eff. Apr. 19, 2022.

Amended: F. Mar. 1, 2023; eff. Mar. 21, 2023.

Amended: F. Feb. 6, 2024; eff. Feb. 26, 2024.

Amended: F. Dec. 4, 2025; eff. Dec. 24, 2025.