What Happens If You Fail an Emissions Test Twice in CT?

Failing the Connecticut emissions test twice means your free retest window is used up, and the vehicle is now out of compliance until you either repair it until it passes or qualify for a state waiver. A second failure also puts you on the clock for a $20 late fee and, eventually, a denied registration renewal if nothing is resolved.

What a Second Failure Actually Means

Your first failure gives you 60 calendar days to repair the vehicle and retest at the same station at no charge.¹ A second failure ends that easy path. From here, Connecticut expects one of two outcomes: the vehicle eventually passes a test, or the state issues a waiver that treats it as compliant despite the failure.

The waiver route is the one most owners end up taking when the car genuinely can’t pass. There are three types, each with its own rules: a repair cost waiver, a diagnostic waiver for manufacturer-acknowledged defects, and an economic hardship waiver. All of them require the Repair Data Form the testing station handed you at the time of the initial failure. No waiver is granted without it, so if you’ve misplaced it, track it down before doing anything else.²

The $20 Late Fee and Your Registration

If you don’t complete a retest within 60 days of the initial failure, the DMV charges the vehicle’s owner a $20 late fee.³ The commissioner can waive the fee for genuinely unusual circumstances, but ordinary delay doesn’t qualify.

The $20 by itself won’t lock you out of registration. The DMV allows you to renew while still owing the late fee.⁴ The bigger exposure is sitting in non-compliance long-term: the Connecticut emissions program warns that failing to complete required testing can lead to a denied registration renewal.⁵ A vehicle with a registration expired more than 30 days can be towed if law enforcement stops you.

One practical point: any outstanding late fee must be paid in full before the state will issue an emissions waiver.² Ignoring the $20 only slows down the fix.

Check Your Federal Emissions Warranty Before Paying for Repairs

Before you spend a dollar on repairs, find out whether the failing component is covered under the manufacturer’s federal emissions warranty. Federal law requires automakers to warranty three major emissions components for 8 years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first: the catalytic converter, the electronic emissions control unit (ECU), and the onboard diagnostics (OBD) device.⁶ Other emissions-related parts carry a shorter warranty of 2 years or 24,000 miles.

Catalytic converters are one of the most common reasons vehicles fail emissions, and they’re expensive. The 8-year window covers more vehicles than owners expect. If your car qualifies, the manufacturer covers the repair. Connecticut’s waiver program also requires you to use available warranty coverage first; qualifying repair costs only include expenses incurred after warranty coverage has been used or the manufacturer has denied coverage in writing.² Skip this step and your waiver application can stall.

The Repair Cost Waiver

This is the most common path when a vehicle fails twice. If you spend enough on legitimate emissions repairs and the vehicle still can’t pass, the state issues a waiver that treats it as compliant.

As of January 1, 2026, you must spend a minimum of $1,137 on qualifying emissions repairs. The figure is tied to the Consumer Price Index and adjusts annually.² Only expenses directly tied to the cause of the emissions failure count. Oil changes, tires, brakes, and other general maintenance don’t apply no matter the amount.

Three rules catch people out:

Only repairs performed after the initial failed test count toward the $1,137 threshold. Earlier work is excluded even when it was emissions-related.
You need original, itemized receipts showing date of service, specific parts replaced, and labor charges. Estimates aren’t accepted.
Qualifying costs only include spending after warranty coverage has been used or formally denied by the manufacturer.²

Where You Have the Work Done Matters

To count toward the repair waiver, the work must be performed at a Certified Emissions Repair Facility (CERF) by a Certified Emissions Repair Technician (CERT). Only vehicles repaired at a CERF are eligible if the vehicle fails its retest.²

You’re free to use any shop you want or do the work yourself. The DMV won’t stop you. But if the car fails again and you need a waiver, those costs won’t count toward the $1,137. The state only recognizes labor and parts from CERT-performed work at a CERF. The Repair Data Form from your initial failure must be completed by the technician doing the repairs, so keep it with your receipts.²

How to Apply for the Repair Waiver

You don’t go to a DMV office for this. Call the Emissions Hotline at (877) 469-2884 and upload your repair receipts and completed Repair Data Form digitally.² State staff review the documentation to confirm the repairs were done at a CERF, the spending meets the minimum, and the costs tie directly to the failure. If everything checks out, the state issues a waiver certificate that clears your compliance record.

Diagnostic Waiver for a Known Manufacturer Defect

Some vehicles fail because of a defect the manufacturer has documented but has no fix for. If that’s your situation, a diagnostic waiver may be the right path instead of spending $1,137 on repairs that can’t solve the problem.

You need formal documentation from the vehicle manufacturer, on the manufacturer’s letterhead, explaining the failure. A letter from a dealership or independent shop will not be accepted. Submit the documentation through the Emissions Hotline, and a DMV inspector will examine the vehicle to confirm no other repair would resolve the issue. If the inspector agrees, the waiver is granted.²

Economic Hardship Waiver

If you genuinely cannot afford the repairs, Connecticut offers an economic hardship waiver. You must provide documentation showing your annual income is at or below state and federal poverty level guidelines, and attest that you don’t have other assets that could cover the repair costs.²

The hardship application runs through a different channel than the repair and diagnostic waivers. Contact the DMV Emissions Division by email at emissions@ct.gov, by phone at 860-263-5611 or 860-263-5333, or by mail at Department of Motor Vehicles, Emissions Division Room 115A, 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161. Any outstanding late fees must be paid before the waiver can be issued.

If Your Waiver Is Denied

A denied waiver puts the vehicle back where it started. The DMV states that you must continue repairing the vehicle until it passes, or face potential law enforcement action, fines, and denial of registration.²

Realistically, that leaves three options: more repairs at a CERF followed by another retest, a different waiver type if you qualify, or retiring the vehicle. Connecticut does not issue temporary driving permits for vehicles stuck in emissions limbo, so a non-compliant vehicle can’t legally be driven once its registration lapses.

1
CT Emissions. My Vehicle Failed the Test – What Should I Do
2
CT Emissions. Waiver Information
3
Justia Law. Connecticut Code 14-164c – Motor Vehicle Emissions Systems
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Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Emissions Testing Late Fee
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CT Emissions. Fees and Penalties
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 7541 – Compliance by Vehicles and Engines in Actual Use