page_title: Vehicle inspection in the United States
section_title: Jurisdictions requiring periodic vehicle emissions inspections
hierarchical_section_title: Vehicle inspection in the United States / Jurisdictions requiring periodic vehicle emissions inspections
caption_attribution_description: The Wisconsin Department of Transportation vehicle emissions inspection station in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA.
context_page_description: In the United States, vehicle safety inspection and emissions inspection are governed by each state individually. Fifteen states have a periodic safety inspection program, while Maryland and Alabama require a safety 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, in all major metropolitan areas whose air quality failed to meet certain federal standards. New York's program started in 1982, California's program 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. Some states, including Kentucky and Minnesota, have discontinued their testing programs in recent years with approval from the federal government.
context_section_description: Arizona—biennially, in Phoenix and Tucson metro areas only, depending on age and type of vehicle.
  California—biennially for all vehicles from out-of-state, regardless of age; and all vehicles made after 1975 which are more than six years old in all or some zip codes in 41 out of 58 counties.
  Colorado—biennially, except for vehicles 7 years old and newer. Required in Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties, and parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Larimer, and Weld Counties.
  Connecticut—biennially.
  Delaware—annually or biennially.  Older cars registered as antiques are exempt from emissions testing.
  District of Columbia—biennially.
  Georgia—annually for gasoline-powered cars or light-duty trucks (8,500 pounds GVWR or less), required only in the 13 metro Atlanta counties (Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale). The three most recent model year vehicles and those that are 25 model years or older are exempt from emissions testing, as well as all motorcycles, recreational vehicles (RVs), motor homes and diesel-powered vehicles.
  Idaho—required in Ada County and Canyon County only.
  Illinois—biennially after the vehicle is four years old.  Required only in the Chicago metropolitan area and eastern suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri.
  Indiana—biennially, required in Lake County and Porter County (Chicago metropolitan area)/Northwest Indiana only.
  Louisiana—annually, only in the Baton Rouge metropolitan area parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, and West Baton Rouge. Cars registered in these five parishes must be inspected in one of the five parishes; cars from outside those parishes (excluding the cities of New Orleans, Kenner and Westwego) may be inspected in the Baton Rouge area.
  Maine—annually, only in Cumberland County. Also required by ordinance in Sanford, Maine but unenforced as many go to other towns to get inspected car and police cannot arrest or decline registration or inspection of Sanford car as its not mentioned in state law .
  Maryland—biennially, required in 13 (out of 23) counties and the independent city of Baltimore.  The most recent two model years of vehicles are exempt from emissions testing.
  Massachusetts—annually, as of 2008. Vehicles less than 15 years old must pass an OBD-2 scan for emissions system compliance. Vehicles over 15 years old receive a visual check and must not 'produce visible smoke'. Prior to 2008, an emissions inspection was required biennially based on the vehicle's model year (odd-numbered model years were inspected in odd-numbered years, even-numbered model years were inspected in even-numbered years).  Also in 2008, the tailpipe test for 1995 model year and older vehicles was discontinued.
  Missouri—biennially, based on the vehicle's model year, required only in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Franklin County, and Jefferson County.
  Nevada—required only in the urban areas of Clark County (Las Vegas) and Washoe County (Reno) for most vehicles. New vehicles in their first or second years of registration, hybrid vehicles five model years old or less, diesel vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 14,000 lb. or more, 1967 or older vehicles, motorcycles/mopeds, and certain other vehicles are exempt.
  New Hampshire—annually, except the first inspection of a new vehicle or upon an ownership transfer is adjusted to expire in the month of the registrant's birthday and is therefore valid for 4 to 15 months.  Emissions inspection is required only for model year 1996 and newer vehicles that are less than 20 years old.
  New Jersey—biennially.  Effective January 1, 2010, commercial vehicles (including taxis, limousines, jitneys, and buses) are subject to an annual inspection.  Effective August 1, 2010, new non-commercial vehicles are exempt for the first five years.  Used non-commercial vehicles are also exempt for the first five model years, as indicated on the New Car Dealer inspection decal.  Used non-commercial vehicles originally purchased outside of New Jersey will receiv
caption: Vehicle emissions inspection station in Wisconsin
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