How Important Are Emissions Tests?
You may have heard of emissions testing or received a notice with your car’s registration information, but do you know why emissions testing is important? How does it affect you?
The purpose of emissions testing is to ensure vehicles meet environmental standards regulated by the EPA through the Clean Air Act. These tests measure the levels of pollutants coming from a vehicle’s exhaust system. These pollutants can impact public health, especially for people with respiratory diseases, and cause environmental harm by breaking down the ozone layer, producing acid rain, contaminating soil, and damaging wildlife, trees and plants.
Aside from the environmental and health impact, how this affects you is when you have to register your vehicle. If your car registration is up for renewal, you bought a used car or you’re moving to a new state, you may need to have emissions testing done. Each state has different requirements, and in many states, testing is required in order to register your vehicle.
To get your car tested, visit a licensed inspection station. They will perform a test to measure the pollution levels emitted from your vehicle. Then you will either receive a passing certificate or a failure report. If your vehicle fails to pass testing, you will need to make repairs and then pass another test. The test should take around 15-20 minutes and cost varies by state.
How Do I Know if I Need Emissions Testing?
Over half the states require emissions testing for vehicle registration. Some states have annual requirements and others require them every two years. Some states require vehicle inspections in addition to emissions testing. There are exemptions to testing in most states. Electric vehicles do not require testing, and most newer vehicles or very old vehicles don’t require testing. Visit your state’s DMV website to determine the exact requirements for your state.
| States that require testing* |
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Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson only – every two years)
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California
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Colorado
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Connecticut (every two years)
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Delaware
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Washington D.C. (every two years)
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Georgia (metro Atlanta only)
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Illinois (Chicago and East St. Louis metro areas only)
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Indiana (Lake and Porter counties only – every two years)
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Louisiana (certain counties)
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Maine (Cumberland county only)
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Maryland (every two years)
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Massachusetts
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Missouri (St. Louis metro area only)
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Nevada (certain counties)
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New Hampshire
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New Jersey (every two years)
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New Mexico (Bernalillo county only)
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New York
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North Carolina (certain counties)
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Ohio
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Oregon (Portland and Medford areas only)
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Pennsylvania (certain counties)
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Rhode Island (every two years)
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Tennessee (certain counties)
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Texas (certain counties)
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Utah (certain counties – every two years)
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Vermont
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Virginia (certain counties – every two years)
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Wisconsin (certain counties)
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| States that do NOT require testing* |
| Alabama |
| Alaska |
| Arkansas |
| Florida |
| Hawaii |
| Idaho |
| Iowa |
| Kansas |
| Kentucky |
| Michigan |
| Minnesota |
| Mississippi |
| Montana |
| Nebraska |
| North Dakota |
| Oklahoma |
| South Carolina |
| South Dakota |
| Washington |
| West Virginia |
| Wyoming |
*Updated August 2024. Information is for personal vehicles. Commercial vehicles may have different requirements.
Emissions testing helps protect people and the environment by identifying vehicles that are emitting high levels of pollutants and requiring repairs. Although it may seem inconvenient to wait in lines for testing or have repairs made, it’s better for the planet and better for you.