D.C. residents are well acquainted with the drill: It is time to get your car emissions checked, so you head over to 1001 Half St. SW, home to the only inspection station in the city. You do it every two years, like clockwork.

Now, D.C. officials have unveiled a new machine that may save you that trip.

On Friday, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and Gabriel Robinson, director of D.C.'s Department of Motor Vehicles, unveiled a self-service kiosk that will allow residents to perform their own emissions screening. The $300,000 machine is at the Takoma Recreation Center at 300 Van Buren St. NW, and it will be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Can’t sleep and want to get your car checked? You can do that now.

“Today’s opening of the new 24 -hour self-serve kiosk is just one more example of how we’re making city services more convenient,” Bowser said.

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Robinson said that every year, 171,000 drivers make the trip to the Half Street inspection station.

“This will give D.C. residents the opportunity to come on their own time to have their vehicle inspected and not have to go all the way to Southwest,” Robinson said.

The machine features a touch screen and audio with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the inspection process, Robinson said. It also includes a camera for safety and security reasons. Drivers who pass will receive an emissions report and temporary certificate that they can place on their dashboard until they receive their official sticker. Those who fail will also will get a printout explaining why and what they will need to do to pass the test.

The $35 charge is billed to the vehicle owner as part of the registration process. Robinson said the kiosk will work for 2005 and newer model-year cars. Older vehicles will have to be taken to Half Street for their inspections.

Staff members will be at the Takoma location for the first few weeks to help drivers that want to use the machine. Robinson said DMV officials hope to install another kiosk in Ward 7 or 8 but do not yet have a timeline for when that would happen.

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