New emissions testing station in Guadalajara.

The new Responsible Verification smog check program began on March 3, 2020 to improve the air quality of Guadalajara, but applied only to fleets and not been enforced for private vehicles. That changed last week with the publication of new regulations  requiring inspections for private cars. But according to a “Nota Aclaratoria” posted this week on the  Responsible Verification site, for the time being the program has been shrunk to Guadalajara vehicles only. How this will work in practice is unclear.

The Jalisco government recently announced that private autos must be smog-inspected and must carry a smog certificate. Previously the rules had been enforced only for state and municipal cars, diesel, and high use vehicles like taxis. The Responsible Verification website of the Media Ambiente Y Desarrollo Territorial lists dates by which cars with specific license numbers must be inspected.

The regulations apply to all vehicles that spend more than 20  consecutive days driving within the state per every 4 months, but the “Nota Aclaratoria” apparently suspends this temporarily . 

The rule applied to out of state cars and trucks as well as for those with Jalisco plates. For vehicles driven in the state for less than  20 consecutive days  within a 4 month period, a free online permit can be obtained to place in the  car’s window.

Once the program begins, vehicles without the smog sticker or the temporary permit maybe fined by Transit Police.  A successful  smog test will result in an annual sticker showing proof of compliance. The smog sticker will cost $500 mx, plus the cost of any engine tune-up or repairs if needed. Currently inspections will begin on Oct 1, 2021, but with the “Nota Aclaratoria” that date may  not  firm.  When the private car tests begin they will be  using an “internationally certified technology that …. is shielded against corruption.”  

According to the PV-based website Pat’s Plates which helps Expats with car and car license issues in Mexico, the enforcement rollout will be very slow so it doesn’t apply to PV or other cities or towns for now. 

In a phone interview with Laguna, Patrick Pickett, Administrator of the Pat’s Plates Facebook page, said,  when asked what outside drivers should do in Guadalajara if they are stopped,  “Plead ignorance if you are  stopped. There have been smog laws on the books for years, but very little enforcement. So we will have to wait and see how this plays out.  And remember that only state police will be enforcing it, although cities may be able to later .“ 

When asked if it is a good idea for Lakeside drivers to get appointments for inspection anyway, he replied that, “since there are only 4 inspection stations, we will have  to wait to see if outside drivers can even get an appointment.” He also mentioned that the situation may be like Mexico city where you can get an online permit for a few days or a week before you drive into the city.

The government has promised that eventually there will be over 90 inspection stations in the State and that private garages and repair shops will be able to test cars. Some shops outside of the Guadalajara areas have been listed in the press, but they are not available for online appointment through the government website.

Until the policy and the practice  becomes clearn, Lakeside drivers who intent to go to Guadalajara should monitor the Verificación Responsible website  at https://verificacionresponsable.jalisco.gob.mx/ and Pat’s Plates at https://www.facebook.com/patsplatespv