In the United States, vehicle safety inspection and emissions inspection are
governed by each state individually. 17 states have a periodic safety inspection
program, while Maryland and Alabama require a safety inspection on sale or
transfer of vehicles which were previously registered in another state.
New Jersey discontinued its passenger vehicle safety inspection program on
August 1, 2010. In 1977, the federal Clean Air Act was
amended by Congress to require states to implement vehicle emissions inspection
programs, known as I/M programs, in all major metropolitan areas whose air
quality failed to meet certain federal standards. New York's program started in
1982, California's program started in 1984, and Illinois' program started in
1986. The Clean Air Act of 1990 required some states to enact vehicle emissions
inspection programs. State impacted were those in metropolitan areas where air
quality did not meet federal standards. Some states, including Kentucky and
Minnesota, have discontinued their testing programs in recent years with
approval from the federal government. Jurisdictions requiring periodic vehicle
safety inspections Delaware—annually or biennially, new
cars are exempt from inspection for the first five years provided the car
remains with the same owner. District of Columbia—biennially, the
requirement for safety inspection for privately owned cars ended October 1,
2009. Hawaii—annually, with the following
exceptions: Brand new vehicles receive an inspection valid for two years.
Emergency vehicles, school vehicles, rental cars, and vehicles used in public
transportation must be inspected every six months. Sticker placed on rear
bumper to right on license plate. Illinois—According to Illinois EPA,
"Ensure your vehicle is safe to operate. Your vehicle may be rejected [for
emissions testing] if the test cannot be safely conducted." Emissions testing is
required biannually only for vehicles registered in specific counties and zip
codes. Louisiana—annually. However, as of
September, 2012, people in most jurisdictions have the option of getting
a sticker good for two years, rather than one, by paying double the usual
fee. Note that, in New Orleans, Inspection Stickers are commonly
referred to as "Brake Tags"; they are placed on the inside of the windshield,
in the lower-left corner of the windshield. Colors change every year.
Maine—annually; color of sticker changes annually; Sticker placed in top center
of windshield behind rear view mirror. Massachusetts—annually. Stickers are
placed in the lower right corner of the windshield.
Mississippi—annually. Sticker placed in lower left corner of windshield.
Missouri—biennially, based on the vehicle's model year. Odd-numbered model
year renews in odd-numbered year, even-numbered model year renews in
even-numbered year. Effective January 1, 2010, vehicles are exempt from safety
inspection requirements for the first five years following the vehicle's model
year. Vehicles displaying historical plates are completely exempt from
inspection. New Hampshire—annually, except the first
inspection of a new vehicle or upon an ownership transfer is adjusted to expire
in the month of the registrant's birthday and is therefore valid for 4 to
15 months. Sticker placed in top center of windshield under rear view mirror.
New Jersey—annually for commercial vehicles, effective January 1, 2010.
Passenger vehicles are exempt from safety inspections, effective August 1,
2010. New York—annually. Newly registered
vehicles with a current inspection sticker from another state are exempt
until the out-of-state sticker expires or for one year after registration in
New York, whichever is sooner. Stickers are placed on lower left corner of
windshield. North Carolina—annually until the
vehicle is 35 years of age, at which point inspections are no longer
required. Pennsylvania—annually for most vehicles;
every six months for all vehicles over 17,000 pounds GVW, which includes
tractor-trailers, most non-articulated trucks, school vehicles, motor coaches,
mass transit buses, ambulances, fire department trucks, etc. Most vehicles
that carry passengers for hire, including taxicabs but not limousines,
are also required to be inspected semiannually. Vehicles bearing antique
vehicle license plates are exempt from inspection, but vehicles bearing classic
or collectible license plates are subject to inspection. Trailers in
excess of 3,000 pounds GVW are also inspected annually as are motorcycles.
Rhode Island—biennially; newly registered vehicles are exempt from the
inspection requirement for 2 years from the date of purchase. Vehicles
registered as antiques are subject to safety inspection, but are exempt from
emissions testing. Stickers are placed on lower-right corner of windshield.
Texas—new vehicles are sold with an inspection decal which expires 2 years
after the sale of the vehicle. Annually thereafter. The inspection decal is
placed in the lower left corner of the windshield near the registration decal.
Beginning March 1, 2015, the inspection decal is being eliminated and proof of
inspection will be required to renew the registration.
Utah—biennially for the first eight years, annually thereafter.
Vermont—annually; inspections are due at the end of even-numbered months only.
Inspections performed in an odd-numbered month will receive a sticker for the
next even-numbered month. Inspection stickers are placed behind the rearview
mirror and are color-coded by year. Virginia—annually;. Newly registered
vehicles with a valid inspection from another state are exempt from inspection
until the out-of-state inspection expires. Stickers are yellow and are
placed in the lower center part of the windshield.
West Virginia—annually; color of sticker changes annually; sticker placed in
lower right corner of windshield. Jurisdictions requiring a safety
inspection only prior to sale or transfer of ownership
Alabama Maryland
Jurisdictions requiring a safety inspection only when bringing a vehicle
from another jurisdiction Nebraska
Jurisdictions requiring periodic vehicle emissions inspections
Arizona—biennially, in Phoenix and Tucson metro areas only, depending on
age and type of vehicle. California—biennially for all vehicles
from out-of-state, regardless of age; and all vehicles made after 1975 which
are more than six years old. Colorado—biennially. Required in Denver,
Boulder, and the Front Range. Includes Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield,
Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties.
Connecticut—biennially. Delaware—annually or biennially. Older
cars registered as antiques are exempt from emissions testing.
District of Columbia—biennially. Georgia—annually for gasoline-powered
cars or light-duty trucks, required only in the 13 metro Atlanta counties. The
three most recent model year vehicles and those that that are 25 model years
or older are exempt from emissions testing. As well as all motorcycles,
recreational vehicles, motor homes and diesel powered vehicles.
Idaho—required in Ada County and Canyon County only.
Illinois—biennially after the vehicle is four years old. Required only in the
Chicago metropolitan area and eastern suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri.
Indiana—biennially, required in Lake County and Porter County/Northwest
Indiana only. Louisiana—annually, only in the Baton
Rouge metropolitan area parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville,
Livingtston, and West Baton Rouge. Maryland—biennially, required in 13
counties and the independent city of Baltimore. The most recent two model
years of vehicles are exempt from emissions testing.
Massachusetts—annually, as of 2008. Vehicles less than 15 years old must
pass an OBD-2 scan for emissions system compliance. Vehicles over 15 years old
receive a visual check and must not 'produce visible smoke'. Prior to 2008,
an emissions inspection was required biennially based on the vehicle's model
year. Also in 2008, the tailpipe test for 1995 model year and older vehicles
was discontinued. Missouri—biennially, based on the
vehicle's model year, required only in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St.
Charles County, Franklin County, and Jefferson County.
Nevada—required only in Clark County and Washoe County.
New Hampshire—annually, except the first inspection of a new vehicle or upon an
ownership transfer is adjusted to expire in the month of the registrant's
birthday and is therefore valid for 4 to 15 months. Emissions inspection is
required only for model year 1996 and newer vehicles.
New Jersey—biennially. Effective January 1, 2010, commercial vehicles are subject
to an annual inspection. Effective August 1, 2010, new non-commercial
vehicles are exempt for the first five years. Used non-commercial vehicles are
also exempt for the first five model years, as indicated on the New Car
Dealer inspection decal. Used non-commercial vehicles originally
purchased outside of New Jersey will receive a decal valid for five years
from the model year of the vehicle. Effective August 1, 2010, vehicles
exempt from inspection include motorcycles, non-commercial diesel
vehicles between 8,500 pounds and 10,000 pounds GVWR or older than model year
1997 and under 10,000 pounds GVWR, diesel trucks between 10,000 pounds and
18,000 pounds GVWR, farm vehicles, collector vehicles, historic vehicles,
trailers, and mopeds. New Mexico - biennially, required only
for vehicles registered in Bernalillo County
New York—annually. Newly registered vehicles with a current inspection
sticker from another state are exempt until the out-of-state sticker expires
or for one year after registration in New York, whichever is sooner. Model
year 1996 and newer vehicles are subject to an OBD-II emissions inspection, while
older cars receive a visual check of emissions components. Until December 31,
2010, vehicles registered in the five boroughs of New York City, as well as on
Long Island, in Westchester County or in Rockland County required a tailpipe
smog-test if they are not OBD II equipped. All OBD II vehicles in those
areas require only the OBD II test. Any vehicle 26 model years old or more does
not require an emissions check of any sort.
North Carolina—annually, required for vehicles in the 48 most populated
counties for model year 1996 or newer vehicles, except brand new vehicles,
which get safety inspections only. Non-gasoline powered vehicles and cars
1995 or older and vehicles with a GVWR of more than 8500 lbs. are exempt from
emissions inspection. Effective November 1, 2008, no inspection decal is issued
upon passing. All state inspection records both emissions and safety are
now kept via electronic database, and are required for being awarded new
license plates, and/or registration. Ohio—currently required only in the
Cleveland metropolitan area. Vehicles up to four years old are exempt. Testing is
based on an odd-even year system. If a car was purchased in 2000, it is not
required to be tested until 2010, if a car was purchased in 2003, then it will
need to be tested in 2009. Ohio does not charge a fee for emission testing, due
to Ohio's tobacco settlement. Oregon—required only in the Portland and
Medford metro areas Pennsylvania—annually for most vehicles
under 9,000 pounds GVW. Required in 25 counties. Diesel-powered vehicles are
exempt from emissions inspection. Rhode Island—biennially.
Tennessee—annually, in conjunction with registration renewal, excluding new
motor vehicles being registered for the first time, vehicles with a designated
model year prior to 1975, heavy duty motor vehicles and motorcycles. Required
only in Davidson County, Hamilton County, Rutherford County, Sumner
County, Williamson County, Wilson County, the fee for the vehicle
emissions inspection is $9.00. As of July 1, 2014, the city of Memphis no
longer requires vehicle emission testing.
Texas—annually, required only in the largest urban areas: Houston,
Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and El Paso. Vehicles more than 2 model years old and
up to 24 model years old are subjected to the annual emission tests - anything
over 25 model years old - including those registered as an antique or
classic, are exempted from emission testing. Motorcycles and diesel vehicles
are exempt from any state emissions testing.
Utah—in its four most populated counties of Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah,
biennially if less than six years old; annually, if older, but not older than
1967; otherwise, none is required. Vermont-annually, done at time of State
Inspection 1996 and new with OBDII, some cars are exempt
Virginia—biennially, in conjunction with registration renewal, required only in
urban and suburban jurisdictions in Northern Virginia. Newly registered
vehicles with a valid inspection from another state are exempt from inspection
until the out-of-state inspection expires.
Washington—required only in urban areas of Clark County, King County, Pierce
County, Snohomish County, and Spokane County.
Wisconsin—biennially, required only in Kenosha County, Milwaukee County,
Ozaukee County, Racine County, Sheboygan County, Washington County, and Waukesha
County. Jurisdictions requiring VIN inspection
Vermont - Required when first registering a vehicle
California - Required when registering an out-of-state vehicle
Colorado - Required when registering an out-of-state vehicle
Connecticut - Required when registering an out-of-state vehicle
Florida - Required when registering an out-of-state vehicle
Illinois - The main VIN tag is inspected at emissions testing stations. If the
VIN tag is not acceptable or is missing, the vehicle is "rejected" for emissions
testing. Emissions testing is required biennually only for vehicles registered
in specific counties and zip codes. Indiana - required when registering an
out of state vehicle Kansas - Required when registering an
out-of-state vehicle Kentucky - Required when registering an
out-of-state vehicle Nevada - Required when registering an
out-of-state vehicle for the first time in the state
New Mexico - Required when registering an out-of-state vehicle
Oklahoma - Required when registering an out-of-state vehicle
Pennsylvania - Required as part of the annual safety inspection. The inspection
procedure only requires checking the main VIN tag. A tracing or visual
verification of the VIN by an inspection mechanic or notary is also required when
registering an out-of-state vehicle. Washington—required only when
registering an out-of-state vehicle for the first time in the state, or for
rebuilt vehicles. Wyoming - Required when registering an
out-of-state vehicle States without safety, emissions, or VIN
inspections Alaska
Arkansas Florida
Iowa Kentucky
Maryland Michigan
Minnesota Mississippi
Montana North Dakota
South Carolina South Dakota
Summary of Periodic Inspection Requirements for Non-Commercial Vehicles
See also Vehicle inspection
Under vehicle inspection Automobile safety
References External links
CITA-Vehicle Inspection.org Guide To The Inspection Mirror