Vehicle Inspection & Emissions Info By US State
Car Safety & Motor Vehicle Inspection Info
ALABAMA DOR
Alabama DOR Department of Revenue
- No emissions test required to register your vehicle
- Safety inspection required prior to sale or ownership transfer
- Inspections are performed at the Motor Vehicle Title and Tag office before registration
ALASKA DMV
Alaska DMV Division of Motor Vehicles
- Emissions inspections are not required in Alaska as of March 1, 2012
- A Vehicle Identification Number – VIN or safety inspection may be required in some situations
ARIZONA DOT
Arizona DOT Department of Transportation
- Vehicle emissions tests are required for drivers of 1967 or newer vehicles who live in or regularly commute to Phoenix and Tucson metro areas
- Pre-1981 vehicles are tested annually; 1981+ vehicles are tested every other year
ARKANSAS
Arkansas ADEQ Department of Environmental Quality
- ADEQ annual vehicle inspections are not required
CALIFORNIA DMV
California DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
- Smog check requirements vary by zip code – required for all out-of-state vehicles
- Exceptions – Emissions tests are not required for certain vehicles, like hybrids, electric cars, motorcycles, trailers, or diesel-powered vehicles 1997 year model and older or with a Gross Vehicle Weight of more than 14,000 lbs
COLORADO CDPHE
Colorado CDPHE Department of Public Health & Environment
- State car inspections and emissions testing are required in select counties biennially for model years 1982 and newer, annually for model years 1981 and older
- Exceptions – Inspections are not required for some vehicles, including electric cars, hybrids, and cars that are less than seven years old
CONNECTICUT DMV
Connecticut Inspections & Emissions Testing
- Statewide vehicle emissions testing is required every two years for vehicles four years or older, but the type of emissions test varies by vehicle
- Connecticut will automatically issue late fees for missed deadlines
DELAWARE DMV
Delaware DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
- Statewide safety and emissions inspections are required every two years
- Vehicles that are seven years old or newer are exempt from all testing
FLORIDA DHSMV
Florida DHSMV Safety and Motor Vehicles
- Emissions testing is not required
- Vehicle Identification Number – VIN testing is required for out-of-state vehicles
GEORGIA I/M
Georgia I/M Vehicle Emissions Inspection & Maintenance
- Some Atlanta metro counties require annual emissions testing
HAWAII DOT
Hawaii DOT Department of Transportation
- Annual safety inspections are required for vehicles older than two years
IDAHO DEQ
Idaho DEQ Department of Environmental Quality
- Emissions testing is required every two years in Ada and Canyon Counties
ILLINOIS DOT
Illinois DOT Department of Transportation
- Emissions testing is required in Chicago, Metro-East Saint Louis every two years
- Safety inspections are required in select counties every two years
INDIANA BMV
Indiana BMV Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- Emissions testing is required every two years in select counties
IOWA DMV
- Iowa Department of Motor Vehicles – No inspections are required
KANSAS DMV
- Vehicle Identification Number – VIN inspections are required only when registering out-of-state vehicles
KENTUCKY DMV
Kentucky DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
- Vehicle Identification Number – VIN inspections are required the first time you register a vehicle
- No other inspections are required
LOUISIANA DMV
Louisiana Motor Vehicle Inspection Requirements
- Annual safety inspections are required
- Annual emissions testing is only required in the Baton Rouge metro parishes
MAINE MVI
Maine State Police Motor Vehicle Inspection
- Annual statewide safety inspections are required
- Annual emissions testing is only required in Cumberland County
MARYLAND MVA
Maryland MVA Motor Vehicle Administration
- Safety inspections are required prior to the sale or transfer of vehicle ownership
- Biennial emissions testing is required in select counties
MASSACHUSETTS RMV
Massachusetts RMVRegistry of Motor Vehicles
- Annual emissions testing is required for cars less than 15 years old; vehicles older than 15 years must undergo an opacity test to check if the tailpipe produces “visible smoke”
- Annual safety checks are required
MICHIGAN DMV
- No inspections are required
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Driver & Vehicle Services
- No inspections are required
MISSISSIPPI DMV
- Safety inspections are required for vehicles that have tinted windows
MISSOURI
Missouri State Highway Patrol Vehicle Inspection
- Vehicles made within the last five years are not required to have safety inspections; after that, biennial safety inspections are required
- Biennial emissions testing is only required in select counties
MONTANA DMV
Montana DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
- Car inspections are not required
NEBRASKA DMV
Nebraska DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
- Out-of-state vehicles are required to have safety and Vehicle Identification Number – VIN inspections
NEVADA DMV
Nevada DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
- State inspections for emissions are required in select areas
NEW HAMPSHIRE DMV
New Hampshire DMV Division of Motor Vehicles
- Safety inspections and emissions inspections are required annually
NEW JERSEY MVC
State of New Jersey MVC Motor Vehicle Commission
- Emissions tests are required for all vehicles every two years, with exception of newer cars
- A safety inspection is required only for commercial vehicles
NEW MEXICO MVD
New Mexico MVD Motor Vehicle Department
- Emissions inspections are required every two years in Bernalillo County
NEW YORK DMV
New York DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
- Annual emissions and safety inspections are required and are completed at the same time
NORTH CAROLINA DMV
North Carolina DMV Division of Motor Vehicles
- Annual safety inspections are required
- Annual emissions testing is required in select counties
NORTH DAKOTA DOT
North Dakota Department of Transportation DOT
- No vehicle inspections are required
OHIO EPA
Ohio EPA Environmental Protection Agency
- Emissions tests are required in select metro areas
- Frequency varies
OKLAHOMA DMV
- Oklahoma does not require smog or emissions testing
OREGON DMV
Oregon.gov Vehicle Inspections
- Biennial emissions tests are required in select metro areas
PENNSYLVANIA DOT
Pennsylvania DOT Department of Transportation
- Emissions testing is required annually in select counties
- Safety inspections are required annually and include Vehicle Identification Number – VIN checks
RHODE ISLAND DMV
Rhode Island DMV Safety & Emissions
- Cars older than two years are required to undergo biennial safety inspections
- Emissions tests are required every two years
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) checks are required when registering an out-of-state vehicle
SOUTH CAROLINA DMV
South Carolina DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
- South Carolina does not require smog tests or vehicle inspections
SOUTH DAKOTA MVD
South Dakota MVD Motor Vehicles Division
- Emissions testing is not required
TENNESSEE TDEC
Tennessee TDEC Department of Environment & Conservation
- Annual emissions inspections are required in select counties
TEXAS DPS
Texas DPS Department of Public Safety
- Annual emissions tests are required in select counties
- Annual safety inspections are required in all counties on vehicles more than two years old
UTAH DMV
Utah DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
- Emissions tests are required in select counties
- Statewide safety inspections are done in time intervals, then annually after a certain point
VERMONT DMV
Vermont DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
- Annual safety inspections are required
- Annual emissions tests are required in some areas
VIRGINIA DMV
Virginia State Vehicle Inspections
- Annual statewide safety inspections are required
- Emissions tests are required every two years in some areas
WASHINGTON DMV
Washington Vehicle Emissions Check Program
- Emissions tests are required in certain counties
WEST VIRGINIA DMV
West Virginia General Inspection Requirements
- Annual safety inspections are required
- If you already have an inspection sticker in New York, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah, Texas, or Wyoming, you do not need an inspection in West Virginia until it expires
WISCONSIN DMV
Wisconsin DMV Emissions Testing
- Emissions tests are required in certain counties
WYOMING DOT
Wyoming DOT Department of Transportation
- Emissions testing is not required
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) car inspections are required for out-of-state vehicles