Article
Kiosks keeping car emissions in check
When it comes to car emissions test, failing can mean losing your license. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration is attempting to make the test process less stressful with a self-service kiosk.
August 25, 2015 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
When you drive a car that doesn't run clean, you have to be prepared to pay the price, possibly with your license and car registration. However, few people enjoy waiting in long lines at the DMV or vehicle inspection businesses to get their car's emissions tested. Recently, we have seen the DMV begin todeploy self-service kiosk solutions to these customer experience issues. Now the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration is following suit by rolling out a 24/7 emission testing kiosk.
Maryland residents are required to get a state vehicle emissions test every two years, and the new kiosk is designed to make that process less painful, according to areportby The Baltimore Sun. In order to use the kiosk, users scan their emissions notice, confirm their information and swipe a credit card. The kiosks can only service cars manufactured after 2005 and light trucks manufactured after 2008. State officials claim this makes up 58 percent of all vehicles tested annually.
"The benefit is, you can do it before work, you can do it after work, and you can make it convenient to your own time schedule as opposed to trying to get in line when we're open," MVA Administrator Milton Chaffee said in an interview with WBAL TV.
After the driver has paid, they will then plug in the On-Board Diagnostics test device to their vehicle's diagnostics computer. After a few minutes the kiosk will download the information and print a receipt for the user. The entire process takes five to 10 minutes and costs $14.
"Today's announcement demonstrates how we are expanding available technology to bring the residents of Maryland a faster, more convenient way to do business and help protect the environment — a win-win for all," Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement.
This deployment is part of a one year pilot program, with plans to install eight more kiosks across the state.
Watch a video of the kiosk in action below.
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