Here’s every states’ safety and emissions inspection laws
Every state requires slightly different vehicle inspections. I grew up in Vermont which has increasingly strict safety inspections, and will fail any vehicle with rust holes in the body panels. So imagine my shock when I moved to California and found it didn’t require any safety inspection whatsoever. Instead, California requires every vehicle pass one of the strictest emissions inspections in the country.
One of the most unique states is Massachusetts. On paper, MA has an emissions inspection. But in practice, no pre OBD-II car can produce “visible smoke.” That’s right, it’s just a visual emissions inspection. You definitely want to read the fine print.
Note that if your state doesn’t have a safety inspection, your vehicle must still be safe to drive. A cracked windshield can get you pulled over by police in some states. In other states, bald tires can land you a fat ticket if you’re pulled over for something else.
Finally, emissions and safety inspections are not the only types of inspections states require. Many states require confirmation of a car’s VIN when it’s first registered in that state.
Now, without further ado here are the emission and safety guidelines for each state.
Every US states’ safety and emissions inspection guidelines
| Name of State | Inspection Requirements | Fine Print |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Biennial emissions inspections | Phoenix and Tucson metro areas |
| California | Biennial emissions inspections | For out-of-state cars or in-state vehicles seven years or older, certain counties |
| Colorado | Biennial emissions inspections | Only 9 out of 64 counties. Some exceptions for vehicles 7 model years old or newer |
| Connecticut | Biennial emissions inspections | |
| Delaware | Biennial safety and emissions inspections | Antiques are exempt from emissions |
| District of Columbia | Biennial emissions inspection | |
| Georgia | Annual emissions inspections | Atlanta metro area only |
| Hawaii | Annual safety inspections | Rental cars and many govt vehicles inspected every 6 months |
| Idaho | Periodic emissions inspections are required | Lake and Porter counties |
| Louisiana | Annually and Biennial safety inspections are required, in addition to annual emissions inspections | Baton Rouge metro area. Also: Brake tag inspections are required for New Orleans area vehicles |
| Maine | Annual safety inspections are required. Annual emissions some places | The emissions inspections are for vehicles registered in Cumberland County |
| Maryland | Biennial emissions inspections are required | Only in 13 of 23 counties |
| Massachusetts | Annual safety and emissions inspections | Pre-OBDII vehicles with “no visible smoke” pass emissions |
| Missouri | Biennial safety inspections everywhere. Emissions in some places | Emissions inspections required for the St. Louis metro area |
| Nevada | Annual emissions inspections some places | Emissions in urban areas of Clark and Washoe County (with some vehicle exceptions) |
| New Hampshire | Annual safety inspections are required for all vehicles, annual emissions inspections | Emissions inspections required for models less than 20 years old |
| New Jersey | Biennial emissions testing | Vehicles are exempt from inspections for the first five years |
| New Mexico | Biennial emissions testing | Only in Bernalillo County |
| North Carolina | Annual safety inspections are required, annual emissions inspections some places | Emissions in 22 out of 100 counties |
| Ohio | Odd/even emissions testing required | Cleveland metro area only |
| Oregon | Periodic emissions inspections | Portland and Medford metro areas only |
| Pennsylvania | Annual safety inspections are required, annual emissions inspections some places | Emissions in 25 of 67 counties |
| Rhode Island | Biennial safety and emissions inspections | New vehicles exempt for 2 years. Registered antiques exempt from emissions |
| Texas | Annual safety inspections are required, annual emissions inspections some places | Emissions in large urban areas |
| Utah | Periodic emissions testing some places | Only in the four most populated counties |
| Vermont | Annual safety and emissions testing required | Cars with OBDII systems (1996 and newer) are exempt |
| Virginia | Annual safety inspections are required, biennial emissions testing some places | Emissions for urban and suburban areas of northern Virginia |
| West Virginia | Annual safety inspections required | |
| Wisconsin | Biennial emissions inspections are required | Only in select counties |
