Vehicle inspection in the United States

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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 VehicleInspectionLawsByState.svg
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.

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 [60] )
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 [61] )
Texasannuallyannually for large urban areas
Utahnoyes for four most populated counties
Vermontannuallyannually
Virginiaannuallybiennially for urban and suburban northern Virginia
Washingtonnono – (since Jan 1, 2020 [62] )
West Virginiaannuallyno
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

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of motor vehicles</span> Government agency

The 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MOT test</span> Mandatory checkup for UK motor vehicles

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.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motor-vehicle inspection (Japan)</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motor vehicle registration</span>

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.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle inspection</span> Testing for compliance with regulations

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission</span> Government agency

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 standard cover common motor vehicle air pollution, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate emissions, and newer versions have incorporated fuel economy standards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese used vehicle exporting</span> Grey market international trade

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driver's licenses in the United States</span> Drivers licenses as issued by individual states

In the United States, driver's licenses are issued by each individual state, territory, and the District of Columbia rather than by the federal government due to federalism. Drivers are normally required to obtain a license from their state of residence. All states of the United States and provinces and territories of Canada recognize each other's licenses for non-resident age requirements. There are also licenses for motorcycle use. Generally, a minimum age of 15 is required to apply for a non-commercial driver license, and 25 for commercial licenses which drivers must have to operate vehicles that are too heavy for a non-commercial licensed driver or vehicles with at least 16 passengers or containing hazardous materials that require placards. A state may also suspend an individual's driving privilege within its borders for traffic violations. Many states share a common system of license classes, with some exceptions, e.g. commercial license classes are standardized by federal regulation at 49 CFR 383. Many driving permits and ID cards display small digits next to each data field. This is required by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators' design standard and has been adopted by many US states. According to the United States Department of Transportation, as of 2018, there are approximately 227 million licensed drivers in the United States.

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."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle registration plates of California</span> California vehicle license plates

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles</span> U.S. state government agency

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Smog Check Program</span> Vehicle emission inspection program in California

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.

References

Car Inspection Requirements By State

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