The goal of the AirCheck Texas Repair and Replacement Assistant Program (LIRAP), created by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), is to help low-income individuals meet vehicle emissions standards.

Repair Program

If your net family income is less than 200% of the federal poverty rate (click here to see a table) and your vehicle meets the eligibility requirements below, TCEQ can give you a voucher for up to $600.00 towards bringing your vehicle up to emissions standards. The vehicle must:

• Have been registered in the county in which you are applying for assistance for a minimum of 12 months.
• Have failed the emissions portion of the inspection but passed the safety portion within the last 30 days prior to submitting an application.
• Be driven under its own power to the emissions inspection station or designated disposal facility.
• Be 2-24 years old.

Replacement Program

If your net family income is less than 200% of the federal poverty rate (click here to see a table) and your vehicle meets the eligibility requirements below, TCEQ can give you a voucher for up to $1,000.00 towards the purchase of a new vehicle. The vehicle must:

• Have been registered in the county in which you are applying for assistance for a minimum of 2 years.
• Have failed the emissions portion of the inspection test within the last 30 days and passed the safety portion of the test within the last 15 months prior to submitting an application.
• Be driven under its own power to the emissions inspection station or designated disposal facility.

The vehicle must be destroyed, recycled, or dismantled by a participating vehicle retirement facility and its parts must remain available for use in the LIRAP. Requirements might change in September of 2007.

How do I apply? Call the nearest center (listed below) and discuss your eligibility with one of the representatives. The representative will then schedule you for a face-to-face meeting with a caseworker in one of the 7 Family Support Service centers. If you and your vehicle meet the eligibility requirements, TCEQ will issue you a voucher, which is redeemable at any of the pre-approved facilities. You will be responsible for a $30 co-pay. The voucher can only be applied towards emissions repairs or a replacement vehicle and can only be redeemed at one of the participating facilities. The AirCheck call centers are:

• Houston/Galveston Area (Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Montgomery Counties): 1-866-237-9392. Click here for the HGAC website.
• Dallas/Fort Worth Area (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, and Tarrant Counties): 1-800-898-9103. Click here for the Dallas/Fort Worth Area website.
• Austin Area: Williamson county 1-800-978-1766; Travis County 512-267-0301.

For more information, visit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality website.