http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/news/2005/111801.htm
Effective January 1, 2006, the program is being revised to focus on vehicles most likely to pollute by:
* Starting emissions tests to renew licence plates when vehicles are five years old, instead of three, because newer vehicles have much better emissions controls and three-year-old cars pass Drive Clean over 99 per cent of the time. Heavy-duty trucks and buses will also require tests beginning when they are five years old, instead of three
* Strengthening consumer protection and fraud prevention by making it an offence under the Environmental Protection Act to create, distribute or use false Drive Clean passes and making it easier to decertify emissions inspectors who create, distribute or use false Drive Clean passes
As well, 20-year-old light-duty vehicles, which have a high risk of being serious polluters, will now require testing, with 1988 and newer model year vehicles staying in the program.
Further changes to the Drive Clean program are also proposed:
* Requiring annual testing for vehicles 12 years old and older
* Increasing the amount vehicles owners must spend on repairs should their vehicle fail its Drive Clean test from $450 to $600
* No longer requiring a Drive Clean test for an ownership transfer between family members, or when a vehicle lease is bought out by the lessee
* Using the vehicle’s own on-board computers for testing 1998 and newer vehicles