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. [ 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] )
Texasannually (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

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

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

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<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle license plates of the United States</span> American vehicle license plates

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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> An authority to register motor vehicles

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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.

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<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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