The Massachusetts RMV is taking important additional steps following Governor Charlie Baker’s declaration of a State of Emergency the week of March 9th and to complement the work that has been underway across state government to keep residents safe and healthy.

To help you and your customers maintain proper social distancing, as of March 20 the annual motor vehicle safety and emissions inspection expiration dates are being extended as follows:

• All non-commercial vehicle inspection stickers that expire on March 31, 2020 (designated by a number 3 on the inspection sticker) must be inspected by May 31, 2020.
• All non-commercial vehicle inspection stickers that expire on April 30, 2020 (designated by a number 4 on the inspection sticker) must be inspected by June 30, 2020.
• Non-commercial vehicles that are issued a failed inspection sticker (indicated by a sticker with a red or black letter “R”) that is due to expire in the month of March, 2020, must be re-inspected by May 31, and non-commercial vehicles issued a failed inspection sticker due to expire in the month of April, 2020, must be re-inspected by June 30. Additionally, the one free retest for these vehicles is also extended to May 31 or June 30 provided the retest is performed at the same inspection station that performed the initial inspection.
• Regardless of the date of inspection, vehicles that were issued a failed inspection sticker due to a safety defect (indicated by a sticker with a red letter “R”) shall not be operated until appropriate repairs have been completed.
• All motorcycle inspection stickers originally set to expire on May 31 must be inspected by June 30.

The RMV is also extending the time during which newly registered vehicles must be inspected, which is typically within seven days of the date of registration.

• Any newly registered non-commercial vehicle purchased between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2020 must be inspected by May 31.
• Any newly registered non-commercial vehicle purchased between April 1, 2020 and April 31, 2020 must be inspected by June 30.

In addition, during the declared emergency period, the RMV is waiving the requirement of 540 Code Mass. Regs. § 4.08(2), which requires that inspection stations must remain open and available for inspections for a minimum of six hours per day, five days per week. Inspection stations are excused from compliance with this provision during the length of the COVID-19 emergency.
Finally, inspector and station licensing expirations' are not being extended at this time because current resources are able to meet the application demand. However, you are strongly encouraged to submit your application online in the event RMV headquarter staffing becomes too sparse to handle the paper application demand.

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Questions? Email us at RMVAtlassupport@dot.state.ma.us.