Vehicle inspection in the United States

Last updated

Vehicle inspection laws by state:
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Periodic safety inspection required
VIN inspection required upon sale or transfer
Safety inspection required when registering a vehicle from another jurisdiction
Emissions testing required in some areas
Emissions testing required in all areas
No inspection required
Striped: Both safety and emissions testing required Inspection V2.png
Vehicle inspection laws by state:
  Periodic safety inspection required
  VIN inspection required upon sale or transfer
  Safety inspection required when registering a vehicle from another jurisdiction
  Emissions testing required in some areas
  Emissions testing required in all areas
  No inspection required
Striped: Both safety and emissions testing required

In the United States, vehicle safety inspection and emissions inspection are governed by each state individually. Fifteen states have a periodic (annual or biennial) safety inspection program, while Maryland requires a safety inspection and Alabama requires a VIN inspection on sale or transfer of vehicles which were previously registered in another state. An additional 16 states require periodic emissions inspections.

Contents

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 (for Inspection and Maintenance), in all major metropolitan areas whose air quality failed to meet certain federal standards. New York's program started in 1982, California's program (Smog Check) started in 1984, and Illinois's program started in 1986. The Clean Air Act of 1990 required some states to enact vehicle emissions inspection programs. States impacted were those in metropolitan areas where air quality did not meet federal standards. [1] Some states, including Kentucky and Minnesota, have discontinued their testing programs in recent years with approval from the federal government. [ citation needed ]

List of jurisdictions

Require periodic vehicle safety inspections

PennDOT-issued sign at an auto garage in New Castle, Pennsylvania stating that it does vehicle inspections for cars. PennDOTinspection.jpg
PennDOT-issued sign at an auto garage in New Castle, Pennsylvania stating that it does vehicle inspections for cars.

Require inspection only prior to sale or transfer of ownership

Require safety inspection only when bringing vehicle from another jurisdiction

Require periodic vehicle emissions inspections

Vehicle emissions inspection station in Wisconsin WisconsinDOTEmissionStationSheboygan.jpg
Vehicle emissions inspection station in Wisconsin

Require VIN inspection

No safety, emissions, or VIN inspections

Non-commercial vehicles

StatePeriodic safety inspectionsPeriodic emissions inspections
Alabamanono
Alaskanono
Arizonanobiennially for Phoenix and Tucson metros
Arkansasnono
Californianobiennially for cars from out-of-state or in-state cars 7 or more years old in all or some zip codes in 41 of 58 counties
Coloradonobiennially in all or parts of 9 out of 64 counties, except for vehicles 7 model years old and newer
Connecticutnobiennially
Delawarebienniallybiennially
District of Columbianobiennially
Floridanono
Georgianoannually for Atlanta metro
Hawaiiannuallyno
Idahonono – (since July 1, 2023 [61] )
Illinoisnobiennially for Chicago and St. Louis metros (1996 model year and newer)
Indiananobiennially for Lake and Porter counties
Iowanono
Kansasnono
Kentuckynono
Louisianaannually [a 1] /bienniallyannually for Baton Rouge metro
Maineannuallyannually (for Cumberland County only)
Marylandnobiennially for 13 of 23 counties and Baltimore
Massachusettsannuallyannually
Michigannono
Minnesotanono
Mississippinono
Missouribienniallybiennially for St. Louis metro
Montananono
Nebraskanono
Nevadanoannually for urban areas of Clark and Washoe counties for most vehicles
New Hampshireannuallyannually (Models less than 20 years old)
New Jerseynoexempt for first five years, then biennially
New Mexiconobiennially for Bernalillo county only
New Yorkannuallyannually
North Carolinaannuallyannually for 19/100 counties
North Dakotanono
Ohionoodd/even for Cleveland metro
Oklahomanono
Oregonnoyes for Portland and Medford metros
Pennsylvaniaannuallyannually in 25 of 67 counties
Rhode Islandbienniallybiennially
South Carolinanono
South Dakotanono
Tennesseenono – (since February 5, 2022 [62] )
Texasnoannually for large urban areas

Bexar County (San Antonio) emissions testing beginning on November 1, 2026

Utahnoyes for four most populated counties
Vermontannuallyannually
Virginiaannuallybiennially for urban and suburban northern Virginia
Washingtonnono – (since Jan 1, 2020 [63] )
West Virginiabienniallyno
Wisconsinnobiennially for select counties
Wyomingnono
  1. New Orleans requires a "brake tag". In addition to the state requirements, if the vehicle is registered in New Orleans, the brakes must be tested annually with a short stop test.

See also

References

Car Inspection Requirements By State

  1. "What To Expect At Your Next Auto Inspection". CARCHEX. November 11, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  2. "CT.GOV".
  3. "Vehicle Inspection". Dmv.dc.gov. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  4. Craig, Tim (September 15, 2009). ""D.C. Ending Safety Checks On Private Cars ," The Washington Post, September 15, 2009". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  5. "2-year vehicle inspection option takes effect today". Nola.com / The Times-Picayune / New Orleans Net LLC. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  6. "Title 29-A, §1758: Issuance of sticker; placement on vehicle". legislature.Maine.gov. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  7. "State Police: Vehicle Inspections & Crashes: Motor Vehicle Investigations". Maine.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
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  10. "Massachusetts Vehicle Check". Mavehiclecheck.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
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  12. 1 2 "Motor Vehicle – Additional Help Resource". Dor.mo.gov. January 1, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
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  15. 1 2 "State of New Jersey – Motor Vehicle Commission". State.nj.us. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
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  18. "Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles". Dmv.state.va.us. May 14, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  19. "Virginia State Police – Safety Division". www.vsp.state.va.us. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
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  24. "Vehicle Safety Inspection". Mva.maryland.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  25. "Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles". Dmv.state.ne.us. August 19, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  26. "VEHICLE INSPECTIONS Henderson County". Hendersonky.us. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  27. "Arizona Vehicle Emissions Program". Myazcar.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  28. "Smog Information". Dmv.ca.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  29. "Automobile Inspection Program frequently requested information – Department of Public Health and Environment". www.Colorado.gov. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  30. "CT Emissions Testing". Ctemissions.com. March 17, 2003. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  31. "District of Columbia: Department of Motor Vehicles – Services – Inspections". Dmv.dc.gov. October 1, 2009. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  32. "Georgia Clean Air Force". Cleanairforce.com. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  33. "Treasure Valley Vehicle Emissions Testing". deq.idaho.gov. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  34. "Air Team – Illinois Vehicle Emission Test Program". Epa.state.il.us. May 26, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  35. "Enhanced Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance". Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
  36. "VEIP General Requirements". Mva.maryland.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  37. "General Requirements". Mva.maryland.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  38. "Information for Motorists: Basic Inspection Information". massvehiclecheck.state.ma.us. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  39. "Nevada Emissions Control Program". www.dmvnv.com. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  40. "Saf-C 3200". Gencourt.state.nh.us. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  41. "Big change coming for those who fail N.J. inspection for emissions". NJ.com. April 14, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  42. "Official NCDMV: Vehicle Emission Inspection". NCDOT. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  43. "Oregon DEQ: Air Quality Vehicle Inspection Program". Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  44. (PA DEP I/M – Drive Clean Pennsylvania Program Maps
  45. Chandler, Ryan (July 2, 2024). "Mandatory Texas vehicle safety inspections end in six months". KXAN. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  46. "Texas Department of Public Safety – Inspection Criteria for the Annual SAFETY Inspection". www.txdps.state.tx.us. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  47. "Utah Vehicle Inspections". Dmv.utah.gov. December 29, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  48. Emissions Inspections, Virginia (U.S.A.) Department of Motor Vehicles
  49. "Idaho Transportation Department". Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  50. "Vehicle Emissions Testing FAQs – Illinois AirTeam". Illinois AirTeam. October 13, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  51. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  52. "Nevada DMV New Resident Guide". www.dmvnv.com. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  53. "Oregon Department of Transportation : Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Inspections : Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services : State of Oregon". www.Oregon.gov. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  54. Pennsylvania inspection procedure Retrieved 2014-04-09
  55. "Tennessee VIN Inspections Guide".
  56. "Inspections". Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  57. "Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) – Department of Motor Vehicles". dmv.Vermont.gov. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  58. "WA State Licensing: Title and registration fees". Dol.wa.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  59. "Vehicle Identification Inspections – Washington State Patrol". Wsp.wa.gov. December 21, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  60. "Alaska Emission Inspections and Requirements Information". Emissions.org. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  61. "Vehicle Emissions | Idaho Department of Environmental Quality". deq.idaho.gov. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  62. "Davidson County Vehicle Inspection Program | Nashville.gov". nashville.gov. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  63. "Washington State Department of Ecology – Emission checks ended". ecology.wa.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2020.