Ohio Finalizes Enhanced Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program Rules, Effective August 21, 2026

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency certified five final rules governing the state's enhanced automobile inspection and maintenance (I/M) program on Aug. 5, 2026. All five rules take effect Aug. 21, 2026.

What changed

Waiver repair technician certification is extended from two years to three years. Applicants must hold current ASE Engine Performance (A8) and Electrical Systems (A6) certifications, and, beginning Jan. 1, 1998, ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance (L1) is required. The director may waive the course-examination requirement for applicants who already hold current L1 certification or a comparable credential.

Repair waiver limits and diagnostic cost caps are set in the definitions rule: at least $200 for model year 1995 and earlier, at least $300 for 1996 and newer, and more than $450 in counties classified as serious, severe, or extreme nonattainment. Diagnostic costs are capped at $100 toward the waiver limit. These amounts are subject to inflation adjustment by the director.

Consecutive repair waivers for the same repeating diagnostic code are now limited, after which the vehicle must be repaired rather than waived.

New vehicle exemption periods are set at six years for non-hybrid vehicles and seven years for hybrid vehicles.

Certified inspector and enforcement provisions are updated, including a three-year bar on reapplying for certification after a revocation.

Why this matters for members

The extended certification window for waiver repair technicians reduces recurring administrative burden for shops performing waiver repairs in Ohio's enhanced program counties. The waiver limit and diagnostic cap figures determine when a repair estimate qualifies a vehicle owner for a waiver, which affects repair volume and estimate practices for shops operating in those counties. The extended new-vehicle exemption periods will likely reduce near-term demand for emissions inspections on newer vehicles.

Effective date

Aug. 21, 2026

Source rules

OAC 3745-26-01 (Definitions): https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-3745-26-01
OAC 3745-26-12 (Requirements for motor vehicle owners): https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-3745-26-12
OAC 3745-26-13 (Requirements for certified inspectors): https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-3745-26-13
OAC 3745-26-14 (Enforcement of program rules): https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-3745-26-14
OAC 3745-26-16 (Certified waiver repair technicians and approved technician trainers): https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-3745-26-16