New Drive Clean test rules in Ontario reflect cleaner engines

TORONTO — Ontario’s Minister of Environment John Wilkinson has announced a significant change to the province’s Drive Clean emissions-reduction program.

Starting Sept. 1, the biennial vehicle emission tests required in the province will affect vehicles, including heavy duty trucks, seven years of age and older, up from the current five years of age.

In other words, motorists skip what would normally have been their first test.

Wilkinson says the change is due to improvements in vehicle technology and emission testing, as well as owners doing a better job of maintaining their vehicles. He said five- and six-year-old vehicles routinely pass the strict emissions test; the aim of the program is to capture cars that are polluting.

Under the new rules, a test would no longer be required when a recently-tested vehicle changes ownership.

Drive Clean fees will not change. Each light-duty vehicle test costs $35, with up to two additional tests costing $17.50 each after repairs.

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) applauded the move, pointing out that the fact that heavy duty vehicles were included in the changes is recognition of the greening of technology present in today’s modern heavy trucks.

OTA says with the evolution of the near-zero emission engine through Environment Canada regulations the need for programs like Drive Clean become less and less relevant.

“For some years now, the OTA has been arguing that with the significant changes to truck engines over the last 10 years the industry has reached a point where trucks should not be seen as gross polluters,” a statement from OTA reads.