Cleaning Up Our Air One Vehicle at a Time

If one of your financial challenges is being unable to get your car or truck to pass the annual emissions test, or if you can’t afford to replace your old car, the state of Texas might be able to help. Under the Low Income Vehicle Repair Assistance, Retrofit, and Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program (LIRAP), qualified vehicle owners may receive financial assistance in either getting their vehicle repaired to pass the yearly test, or towards the purchase of a replacement vehicle.

To qualify for help under LIRAP, your net family income must be no greater than 300% of the federal poverty rate (for example, the income limit for a family of four is $61,950), and your vehicle must have been registered in a participating county (such as Collin County) for the preceding 12 months. In addition, your vehicle must have failed its emissions test (for repair or replacement assistance) or be at least 10 years old and have passed both its emissions test and safety inspection within the last 15 months (for replacement assistance).

The amounts available for repair (between $30 to $600) or replacement (between $2,000 to $3,500) vary based on actual cost of repairs or according to the age and type of replacement vehicle purchased. Other restrictions apply. For more complete information, go to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality web site.

Please Note: The program provisions described above will go into effect in late December 2007 or early January 2008. The program currently operates under different parameters, which you can review on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality web site.

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