Your Resource
for the Illinois Vehicle Emissions Testing Program
Out of Area Exemption
Pursuant to the provisions set forth in the Illinois Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law of 2005 (625 ILCS 5/13C-15(b)(9)) and 35 Ill. Adm. Code 276.405, some vehicles selected for testing may be eligible for an exemption from the requirement to test because they are located and primarily operated outside of the Illinois vehicle emissions testing area.
Click here for a list of states where emissions testing is required.
When applying for an Out of Area Exemption, the motorist must provide proof of where the vehicle is located by means of an official document with the registered owner’s name and address preprinted on said document. Documentation dated more than three (3) months prior to submittal of your application will NOT be accepted. Acceptable forms of proof that may be submitted include the following:
- Property tax bill;
- Utility bill;
- Tuition bill;
- National Student Clearinghouse certificate;
- Vehicle Storage receipt;
- Lease signed by both the tenant and landlord;
- Bank statement;
- Credit card bill;
- Medical bill;
- Driver’s license; or
- Letter from employer (on company letterhead).
Other types of acceptable documentation in the following circumstances include:
- Military orders that indicate the location of the deployment or station for vehicle owners in the military. These orders can be more than three (3) months old, because they are often issued for a period of (3) three years. In addition, military personnel can be separated from the vehicle depending on deployment and be eligible for an exemption even if the vehicle is in Illinois, E.g., the motorist’s vehicle is in Illinois, but he/she is deployed out of the country.
- For vehicles located out of the country:
- Bill of lading; or
- SOS foreign stamp on title or other documents indicating the date the vehicle was exported. Typically, vehicles that leave the United States do not return. This document may be older than three (3) months.
Required Documentation
The following documentation must be submitted when applying for an Out of Area Exemption.
- A completed Out of Area Exemption application, typed or legibly printed. Note: when applying electronically via the website, there is no additional paper application to complete and submit.
Important Note About Entering Your “VIN”: Most Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) have 17 digits. Please be sure to include all 17 digits when you complete an application or submit correspondence. Failure to do so could result in delays in processing your request.
Please note: The VIN provided on your Test Notice postcard IS NOT the complete 17-digit VIN; the first 14 digits are accurate, however the last three (3) digits were replaced with asterisks for privacy reasons. When providing your VIN, it must include ALL 17 characters, including the three (3) that were replaced with asterisks.
Your vehicle’s VIN can be found on the driver's side dashboard in the corner near the windshield, or on the label on the inside of the driver's side door (where the door latches when it is closed). VINs are also displayed on: vehicle sales documents, insurance cards and policies, and vehicle title and registration documents. - An “official document” as defined and described above, with the registered owner’s name and address preprinted on the same. Note: the “allowable age” of the document is dependent on the type of document being submitted as proof. With the exception of military orders and SOS foreign stamps on title export documents, the general rule is the “proof” cannot be more than three (3) months old.
Applying for an Out of Area Exemption
*Please do not submit duplicate applications as this will delay the processing of your application. *
If submitting your application manually, after printing and completing the pdf, use one (1) of the methods provided below:
- Email: Waivers@IllinoisAirTeam.net
- Fax: 312.327.7640
- Mail: Illinois Air Team, P.O. Box 3266, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-9998
If you have any questions, please call the Illinois Air Team at: 844.258.9071.