About RapidScreen

Tips for Passing

Due to its strict qualifying limitations, RapidScreen is a program that allows only the cleanest-burning vehicles to pass. In addition, there are a number of outside variables that may cause your RapidScreen test to result in an invalid or failing reading. Here are a few tips for maximizing your chances of passing a RapidScreen emissions test.

• Keep your vehicle properly and regularly maintained.
  We cannot stress this enough. Proper vehicle maintenance is good for your vehicle and for our environment. Vehicles that are poorly maintained burn more gas, emit more pollution and wear out faster.
  
• Be sure your vehicle is properly warmed to operating temperature before you’re tested.
  “Cold” vehicles emit higher levels of pollution than those at operating temperature. In general, 10-15 minutes of drive time will ensure proper warm-up.
  
• Make sure your rear license plate is clean and readable.
  In order to recognize your vehicle, RapidScreen’s testing equipment must be able to read your license plate. Dirty or damaged plates, trailer hitches, bike racks and other obstructions can make your plate unreadable to our camera—resulting in an invalid reading.
  
• Accelerate moderately as you pass the testing van.
  Moderate acceleration is required to produce the most representative sample of your vehicle’s exhaust emissions. Therefore, deceleration or heavy acceleration may result in an invalid reading.
  
• Drive by the testing vans on several occasions.
  Since there are several variables that may contribute to an invalid reading, and because your vehicle must record two clean readings to pass RapidScreen, it’s a good idea to drive by the testing vans several times in the months prior to your registration renewal.
  
• Don’t drive past the same testing van multiple times in a day.
  Only one reading per location, per day will qualify as valid. If you drive past the same testing van multiple times in a day, only the last reading will be kept. However, you may register two readings in one day if they are at two separate locations.
  
• Don’t wait until the month your emissions is due.
  In order to allow sufficient time to analyze and process the RapidScreen data, any readings recorded within the final two months before your vehicle’s registration renewal is due will be too late to qualify.