Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum expenditure or estimate toward emissions related repairs will increase from $555.50 to $573. Applications submitted on or after January 1, 2025, must satisfy the $573 minimum requirement.

In accordance with 625 ILCS 5/13C-30(c) and 35 Ill. Adm. Code 276.404, the owner of a vehicle that failed an emissions test and needs repairs that cannot be performed due to the owner’s/owners’ economic hardship, may apply for a one-year extension from the vehicle’s current registration expiration date to allow additional time to get the vehicle repaired and pass an emissions test.

This Economic Hardship Extension can be granted only if all of the eligibility criteria are met:

1. Household(s) Income - The registered owner(s) of the vehicle must certify that the income during the preceding 12 months of all persons who were 18 years of age and older and residing in the household(s) was not more than the allowable amount. In the case of multiple registered owners, who are not part of the same household(s), all owners must certify that the sum of their household income was not more than the allowable amount stated on the application.
2. The subject vehicle must have failed an emissions test.  A test result of Reject will not qualify for a Hardship Extension.
3. Receipts and/or estimates for emissions repairs on the subject vehicle must be submitted meeting the following requirements:
   • Must relate to the failing test(s).
   • Must be dated no more than (5) months prior to the expiration date of said vehicle's Illinois registration.
   • Must total at least $555.50 (half of the amount required when seeking a Repair Waiver)  Receipts for brakes, exhaust systems, hoses, belts, etc., are not acceptable.
   • If the repairs are performed, or estimates are provided by a recognized repair technician, they must be submitted on a dated work order, company letterhead or invoice.  Parts, services/labor and diagnostic fees may be included.  A recognized repair technician is someone that is: professionally engaged in vehicle repair, employed by a going concern whose purpose is vehicle repair or has nationally recognized certification for emissions-related diagnosis and repair. Note: handwritten estimates or receipts are not acceptable.
   • If the registered owner(s) intend(s) to perform the repairs, the estimate must include only the cost for the emissions parts related to the test failure(s). The estimate can be either a receipt from an auto parts store or an estimate for parts from a recognized repair facility submitted on a dated estimate, company letterhead or invoice.
   • Receipts may not include any costs associated with any motor vehicle emissions-related recall that has been, or is to be, paid by a manufacturer or dealer.
4. The registered owner(s) has/have not previously received an extension for economic hardship for the identified vehicle, or, if he/she has/have, the identified vehicle passed the vehicle emissions test prior to issuance of another extension for economic hardship.