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.
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 ]
State | Periodic safety inspections | Periodic emissions inspections |
Alabama | no | no |
Alaska | no | no |
Arizona | no | biennially for Phoenix and Tucson metros |
Arkansas | no | no |
California | no | biennially 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 |
Colorado | no | biennially in all or parts of 9 out of 64 counties, except for vehicles 7 model years old and newer |
Connecticut | no | biennially |
Delaware | biennially | biennially |
District of Columbia | no | biennially |
Florida | no | no |
Georgia | no | annually for Atlanta metro |
Hawaii | annually | no |
Idaho | no | no – (since July 1, 2023 [61] ) |
Illinois | no | biennially for Chicago and St. Louis metros (1996 model year and newer) |
Indiana | no | biennially for Lake and Porter counties |
Iowa | no | no |
Kansas | no | no |
Kentucky | no | no |
Louisiana | annually [a 1] /biennially | annually for Baton Rouge metro |
Maine | annually | annually (for Cumberland County only) |
Maryland | no | biennially for 13 of 23 counties and Baltimore |
Massachusetts | annually | annually |
Michigan | no | no |
Minnesota | no | no |
Mississippi | no | no |
Missouri | biennially | biennially for St. Louis metro |
Montana | no | no |
Nebraska | no | no |
Nevada | no | annually for urban areas of Clark and Washoe counties for most vehicles |
New Hampshire | annually | annually (Models less than 20 years old) |
New Jersey | no | exempt for first five years, then biennially |
New Mexico | no | biennially for Bernalillo county only |
New York | annually | annually |
North Carolina | annually | annually for 19/100 counties |
North Dakota | no | no |
Ohio | no | odd/even for Cleveland metro |
Oklahoma | no | no |
Oregon | no | yes for Portland and Medford metros |
Pennsylvania | annually | annually in 25 of 67 counties |
Rhode Island | biennially | biennially |
South Carolina | no | no |
South Dakota | no | no |
Tennessee | no | no – (since February 5, 2022 [62] ) |
Texas | annually (As of January 1, 2025, vehicle safety inspections are no longer required for non-commercial vehicles) | annually for large urban areas Bexar County (San Antonio) emissions testing beginning on November 1, 2026 |
Utah | no | yes for four most populated counties |
Vermont | annually | annually |
Virginia | annually | biennially for urban and suburban northern Virginia |
Washington | no | no – (since Jan 1, 2020 [63] ) |
West Virginia | biennially | no |
Wisconsin | no | biennially for select counties |
Wyoming | no | no |
A classic car is typically described as an automobile 25 years or older, although a car's age is not the only requirement it must meet before being considered a "classic." However, a standard criteria for recognizing cars as classics does not exist, since different countries use their own rules and have their own regulations for classifying potential cars. Despite this, a common theme is that an older car of historical interest becomes collectible and tends to be restored rather than scrapped.
The California Air Resources Board is an agency of the government of California that aims to reduce air pollution. Established in 1967 when then-governor Ronald Reagan signed the Mulford-Carrell Act, combining the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board, CARB is a department within the cabinet-level California Environmental Protection Agency.
A department of motor vehicles (DMV) is a government agency that administers motor vehicle registration and driver licensing. In countries with federal states such as in North America, these agencies are generally administered by subnational entities governments, while in unitary states such as many of those in Europe, DMVs are organized nationally by the central government.
The MOT test is an annual test of vehicle safety, roadworthiness aspects and exhaust emissions required in the United Kingdom for most vehicles over three years old. In Northern Ireland the equivalent requirement applies after four years. The requirement does not apply to vehicles used only on various small islands with no convenient connection "to a road in any part of Great Britain"; no similar exemption is listed at the beginning of 2014 for Northern Ireland, which has a single inhabited island, Rathlin. The MOT test was first introduced in 1960 as a few basic tests of a vehicle and now covers twenty different parts or systems on or in the vehicle.
In the United States, vehicle registration plates, known as license plates, are issued by a department of motor vehicles, an agency of the state or territorial government, or in the case of the District of Columbia, the district government. Some Native American tribes also issue plates. The U.S. federal government issues plates only for its own vehicle fleet and for vehicles owned by foreign diplomats. Until the 1980s, diplomatic plates were issued by the state in which the consulate or embassy was located.
A vehicle licence is issued by a motor registration authority in a jurisdiction in respect of a particular motor vehicle. A current licence is required for a motor vehicle to be legally permitted to be used or kept on a public road in the jurisdiction. Usually a licence is valid for one year and an annual licence fee is payable before a new one is issued.
Antique vehicle registration is a special form of motor vehicle registration for vehicles that are considered antique, classic, vintage, or historic. The specific term used and the definition of a qualifying vehicle vary widely from country to country, as well as within a country, especially in federations like the United States, Germany, and Australia.
Shaken (車検), a contraction of Jidōsha Kensa Tōrokuseido, is the name of the vehicle inspection program in Japan for motor vehicles over 250 cc in engine displacement.
Motor vehicle registration is the registration of a motor vehicle with a government authority, either compulsory or otherwise. The purpose of motor vehicle registration is to establish a link between a vehicle and an owner or user of the vehicle. While almost all motor vehicles are uniquely identified by a vehicle identification number, only registered vehicles display a vehicle registration plate and carry a vehicle registration certificate. Motor vehicle registration is different from motor vehicle licensing and roadworthiness certification.
Hoy No Circula is the name of an environmental program intended to improve the air quality of Mexico City. A similar coordinated program operates within the State of México, which surrounds Mexico City on three sides. Mexico City and Mexico State have reciprocal agreements with surrounding states that also have emissions testing programs to permit their residents to travel freely without restriction.
Vehicle inspection is a procedure mandated by national or subnational governments in many countries, in which a vehicle is inspected to ensure that it conforms to regulations governing safety, emissions, or both. Inspection can be required at various times, e.g., periodically or on the transfer of title to a vehicle. If required periodically, it is often termed periodic motor vehicle inspection; typical intervals are every two years and every year. When a vehicle passes inspection, often a sticker is placed on the vehicle's windshield or registration plate to simplify later controls, but in some countries—such as the Netherlands since 1994—this is no longer necessary. Most US inspection decals/stickers display the month's number and the year.
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The equivalent of the Department of Motor Vehicles in other states, it is responsible for titling, registering and inspecting automobiles, and issuing driver's licenses.
United States vehicle emission standards are set through a combination of legislative mandates enacted by Congress through Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments from 1970 onwards, and executive regulations managed nationally by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and more recently along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These standards cover tailpipe pollution, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate emissions, and newer versions have incorporated fuel economy standards. However they lag behind European emission standards, which limit air pollution from brakes and tires.
Japanese used vehicle exporting is a grey market international trade involving the export of used cars and other vehicles from Japan to other markets around the world since the 1980s.
Vehicle registration plates of Canada, also known as licence plates, are issued by provincial or territorial government agencies. Registration plates in Canada are typically attached to motor vehicles or trailers for official identification purposes. Some Canadian registration plates have unique designs, shapes, and slogans related to the issuing jurisdiction. For example, registration plates issued in the Northwest Territories are shaped like a polar bear. In Alberta, registration plates typically display the words "Wild Rose Country."
The U.S. state of California first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1914, when the state began to issue plates. Plates are currently issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the governmental agency responsible for registering and inspecting automobiles and other motor vehicles as well as licensing drivers in the U.S. state of Vermont.
Vehicle inspection in Australia is generally done on a state basis. Each state or territory has the authority to set its own laws pertaining to vehicle inspections, all have some form of inspection, either periodically or before a transfer of ownership.
The California Smog Check Program requires vehicles that were manufactured in 1976 or later to participate in the biennial smog check program in participating counties. The program's stated aim is to reduce air pollution from vehicles by ensuring that cars with excessive emissions are repaired in accordance with federal and state guidelines. With some exceptions, gasoline-powered vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and alternative-fuel vehicles that are eight model-years old or newer are not required to participate; instead, these vehicles pay a smog abatement fee for the first 8 years in place of being required to pass a smog check. The eight-year exception does not apply to nonresident vehicles being registered in California for the first time, diesel vehicles 1998 model or newer and weighing 14,000 lbs or less, or specially constructed vehicles 1976 and newer. The program is a joint effort between the California Air Resources Board, the California Bureau of Automotive Repair, and the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
North Carolina Safety and Emission Vehicle Inspection is responsible for ensuring that vehicles in North Carolina meet the safety and in some counties emissions standards. A fee is charged for the inspection of vehicles, and an extra fee if your vehicle has after-market window tinting.
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