Reporting vehicles emitting exhaust smoke

Vehicles emit a range of pollutants that are harmful to the environment and our health. It is estimated more than 11,100 Australian adults die prematurely each year due to exposure to traffic emissions.

Vehicles that emit visible tailpipe smoke are a particular concern, as their impact on air quality can be thousands of times worse than newer or well-maintained vehicles. This is why members of the public are encouraged to report smoky vehicles through the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s online reporting tool.

To be a reportable vehicle, it must emit visible smoke continuously for more than 10 seconds. This 10-second rule is necessary to distinguish between a vehicle that needs repairs and one that may produce a small amount of smoke as it accelerates, especially if under load.

To report a vehicle emitting smoke from its exhaust pipe, you will need the vehicle licence plate number and the location, date, and time of the sighting. Other vehicle details, such as a description of the body type, make, model, and colour should also be reported to assist the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation in contacting the vehicle owner.

Once the vehicle details are verified by government, a notification letter is sent to the vehicle owner to encourage vehicle servicing and requesting they provide a response. Outcomes from reporting to the program are summarised in an annual report each year that can be downloaded from the Department’s website.

To report a smoky vehicle, visit wa.gov.au and search for ‘report smoky vehicle’.