Vehicle Emissions Tests & Renewing Jalisco Plates

By Bill Ragan

In late January I renewed my Jalisco plates. This is the process I followed. I first wanted to get my 2014 emissions certificate. For my initial test I used Juan Ortega Aro at Sara Garcia #449 Col. La Moderna, telephone 293 3828. He was able to see me without an appointment. His cost was $400 pesos but phone first to make sure he is open. This time I decided to use the GM dealer Flova across from plaza marina; they have done it for people pretty quickly and charge 300 pesos. When I stopped in, being high season, they were busy and I had to make an appointment. When I arrived their testing machine was broken and would not be fixed for a week. The place I then used is called Verificacion Vehicular, it is run by Miguel Uriarte. The address is Av. Politectico Nacional 567 col. Agua Zarca. It is easy to find just turn towards the mountains between the Oxxo and the Bull Ring. Go until the road is new pavement and at the first set of lights make a U turn. It is very close on your right side. They charged 350 pesos. While there you will see a government poster indicating when testing is required based on the last digit of your license plate. Here is the data

• 1 January
• 2 February
• 3 March
• 4 April
• 5 May
• Ajuste June (ajuste means adjustment and I have no idea what this means)
• 6 July
• 7 August
• 8 September
• 9 October
• 0 November
• Ajuste December

To get the test done I needed my original immigration card, and a copy. A copy of my 2013 emissions document, which they keep. He was able to make copies but in case his copier is not working I would bring them.

Here is some information from a secondary source, it does make sense. When buying a new or used vehicle, you get an emission test when purchasing when the ownership changes. Then once you get your plates and you find out that your number is coming up again later in the year, you need to get a second emissions test for that year only and keep both stickers on the window. From that point on you only need to do it once a year and can then remove the last year’s stickers to put the new one in their place if you want to. You have to keep the documentation of the emissions tests and annual renewals forever for when you sell the vehicle, so many folks let all the stickers accumulate until you can barely see out of the window. The paperwork suffices, but I’m sure some are dubious and leave the stickers on for extra measure. I’ll take mine off and stick them on to a piece of plastic wrap to keep them with my papers.

Next I went to the big new government office building on Los Grande Lagos (turn north off Fluvial at the stoplights just before Costco) on the right/east side a few blocks before the bridge. This is where I obtained my plates. Go to the bull pen in front of caja 5. When I was there it was full. It took 1 hour to get to the front and 1 minute at the window. I gave him a copy of my receipt for my new plates from last year and he asked for 387 pesos. This was 455 less 15%. I received back the copy of my previous receipt, an official receipt for the 387 pesos, and a documentos de control vehicular. I will be making copies of both and keeping them in my car. The originals at home. No identification was asked for, nor was there a request to see the emissions testing certificate.

From two sources I was told that discounts apply from Jan 1 to the end of March. After that no discounts and possibly a fine. My emissions testing certificate states it needs to be redone January 2015. The information from the plates does not give any date, other than the date I paid. I have heard that you can go anytime in the first 3 months which may explain my 15% discount (if this is correct I would expect less of a discount after that, like 10% in February and 5% in March).