The State of Alaska has a potential for wintertime health problems with Carbon Monoxide (CO) in the Anchorage and Fairbanks areas.

The health threat from exposure to CO is most serious for children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those who suffer from cardiovascular disease, but at higher levels of exposure, healthy individuals are also affected. Visual impairment, reduced work capacity, reduced manual dexterity, poor learning ability, and difficulty in performing complex tasks are all associated with exposure to elevated CO levels.

Automobiles and trucks are the source of most of the carbon monoxide emissions in Alaska. For this reason nearly all vehicles that are operated in the Municipality of Anchorage or in the Fairbanks North Star Borough are required to pass a vehicle emissions test every two years. Exceptions to this requirement include brand new and very old vehicles, diesel engine vehicles, vehicles that are very large (with an unladen weight of 12,000 pounds or more), and motorcycles, snow machines, etc.

Vehicles used regularly to visit or commute into the Municipality of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough for work or school are also required to pass an emissions test every two years.

Program Information and Contacts:

• Regulations
  • The Alaska I/M regulations are: 18 AAC 52, Emissions and Maintenance Requirements for Motor Vehicles
  • link to pdf version of 18 AAC 52 (amended as of Feb. 18, 2006)
• Alaska I/M Program Manual (pdf version)
  • Appendix F, List of Approved Aftermarket Parts is unavailable within the pdf version. Alaska DEC uses the California Air Resources Board's listing. Click on the listing below to get to their aftermarket parts website:
  • California Air Resources Board, Aftermarket, Performance, and Add-On Parts Regulations.
    • The approved aftermarket parts listings are found under the List of Parts Granted Executive Orders (EOs)
• Motorist (information for the vehicle owner or potential buyer of a new or used vehicle)
  • Do I need to have my vehicle tested?
  • What do I do if my vehicle fails the I/M test?
  • New resident information
  • Military resident information
  • Commuters into the Municipality of Anchorage information
  • I/M windshield sticker information
• What's New?
• I/M Program Contacts
• Division of Motor Vehicles I/M Partners - one stop I/M test locations with DMV registration - obtain DMV tab and registration when you take your vehicle in for an I/M test.