Ontario Eliminating Drive Clean Test Fee, Strengthening Program

Ontario is eliminating the $30 Drive Clean test fee for light-duty vehicles, such as most cars, vans, SUVs and light trucks effective today.

Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Glen Murray, made the announcement today at Start Auto Electric Ltd. in Toronto. Eliminating the Drive Clean fee will save people money and make it easier for owners to ensure their vehicles are running efficiently with minimum emissions.  “We are fulfilling our commitment to eliminate the Drive Clean test fee for light-duty vehicles and lower costs for Ontario households,” Murray said.

The province is also implementing other changes to strengthen the Drive Clean Program and ensure that more vehicles are repaired within two years of emissions problems being identified, including:

• Eliminating testing requirements for light-duty vehicles when they are re-sold
• Prohibiting back-to-back conditional passes for vehicles that fail their emissions test
• Ensuring that only fees paid for direct emission system repairs count towards the $450 repair cost limit, the amount required for a conditional pass.

Ontario’s Drive Clean Program tests 2.3 million vehicles per year. It helps reduce emissions that cause smog and poor air quality – cutting emissions from vehicles by about one-third each year, which ensures cleaner air and better health for everyone in the province.

Programs for heavy-duty vehicles including large trucks remain unchanged.