ft EA~United States .,_w~ Environmental Protection ,,. Agency Frequently Asked Questions 

EPA’S In-Use Verifcation Program 

(IUVP) 

Must I participate in this program? 

No, your cooperation in this program is completely voluntary. If, for any reason you 

decide not to participate, please complete and return the enclosed reply form in the 

prepaid envelope. 

Why should I participate? 

In addition to $20.00 per day per day and loaner vehicle or $50.00 per day with no 

loaner vehicle, and your vehicle returned to you with a full tank of fuel, your participation will beneft you indirectly by helping EPA understand and improve the quality 

of the air in and around your city. 

Are there any restrictions on my participation? 

Yes, if you choose to accept a loaner vehicle as part of your participation in the program then the Automotive Insurance Provider for the loaner vehicle feet requires 

that they check the motor vehicle driving record of each individual that will be driving the loaner vehicle while it is in your possession. Insurance for the loaner vehicle 

is provided at no cost to you with a low deductible for damage (details are available). 

All individuals driving the loaner vehicle must be 24 years of age or older with no 

more than 4 points on their driving record. The driving record cannot show more 

than one accident and one moving violation or four moving violations in the past 

3 years. 

How long will the test program take? 

The test program takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks. The length of time is dependent 

on the number of tests required and how many other vehicles are being tested. 

Offce of Transportation and Air Quality 

EPA-420-F-19-017 

February 2019 
Will my vehicle be mistreated in any way? 

Frequently Asked Questions 

No, every aspect of the test program has been designed to duplicate everyday operation. 

Exactly what will be done to my vehicle? 

An underhood inspection and routine maintenance, if necessary will be performed prior to each 

test. The vehicle must be completely cooled off before the test can begin. This requires that 

the vehicle not be started for 12 to 36 hours to simulate overnight parking. Once the vehicle 

is suffciently cooled off, it will be pushed onto a dynamometer. Although the vehicle does not 

actually move during the test, the dynamometer is a type of treadmill that simulates conditions 

which would normally be encountered on the road. A hose is connected to the exhaust pipe to 

collect the exhaust. A specially trained driver then starts the vehicle and “drives” it through 

suburban and rural areas. Throughout this time, a portion of the exhaust gases is collected for 

subsequent analysis. This analysis allows us to calculate the quantity of exhaust emissions emitted by your vehicle. Values for the city and highway fuel economy are also calculated. Typically 

2 to 3 of these test sequences will be performed on your vehicle. 

How many miles will my vehicle be driven during the program? 

Your vehicle will be driven approximately 300 odometer miles during the testing. The majority 

of these miles will be accumulated indoors on the dynamometer. A 10 minute road test might 

precede the dynamometer testing. 

How will my vehicle be protected while in EPA’s laboratory? 

In addition to providing insurance, your vehicle will be stored indoors while the testing is being 

conducted. If required to be parked outside, your vehicle will be located in a locked and secured 

area at the EPA National Vehicle and Fuels Emission Laboratory (NVFEL). 

What happens to the information obtained from my vehicle? 

The information collected as a result of this program is used to determine the emissions performance of in-use vehicles and its effect on air quality. The data from your vehicle is combined 

with data from other vehicles in this area in order to obtain a statistically valid sample. 

How can I obtain the results from the testing of my vehicle? 

If you request, after the completion of the testing you can obtain the results on your vehicle. 

We will forward them to you as soon as all the data has been processed. 

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What happens if my vehicle fails to meet any emission standards? 

We expect that a certain portion of vehicles will fail to meet one or more of the emission 

standards. However, none of the information collected from this program will be used against 

individual vehicle owners. 

How will my monetary incentive be calculated? 

You will be offered $20.00 per day and a loaner vehicle for every day your vehicle is at the 

National Vehicle and Fuels Emission Laboratory (NVFEL). If you do not want a loaner vehicle, 

you will be offered $50.00 per day. The compensation will be based on whole days, beginning 

with the day your vehicle arrives. It will end one day after you are notifed your car is ready for 

return. If you do not wish to provide your social security number, you have the option to cap the 

total incentive at $599. 

Who may participate? 

Anyone, except employees of Jacobs (the contractor) or EPA shall be eligible for consideration 

as a candidate vehicle owner for the above mentioned program. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

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