Emissions Test Checker
Start with the state, then enter the car's model year. It gives you a yes or no answer, plus the due date and the price.
- 27 states + D.C.
- test cars in some or all of the state
- 1996 and newer
- most of these cars get a plug-in test of the car's computer
- Light on = fail
- a lit check engine light fails the plug-in test
- Electric cars
- never need an emissions test
Test due soon?
Answer three questions to learn what to fix first, so your car passes on the first try.
Did your car fail?
Select a line from the report or enter its code to see the likely fix and what it costs.
Repair bill too high?
Enter the repair quote and what the car is worth to see whether a repair, a waiver or a sale makes sense.
Emissions test rules by state
Want to find an emissions test near you? Open a state's page to see how often cars are tested, what it costs and the state's official station list.
- ArizonaEvery 2 years · Some areas
- CaliforniaEvery 2 years · Some counties
- ColoradoEvery 2 years · Some counties
- ConnecticutEvery 2 years · Whole state
- DelawareEvery 2 years · Whole state
- GeorgiaEvery year · Some counties
- IllinoisEvery 2 years · Some areas
- IndianaEvery 2 years · Some counties
- LouisianaEvery year · Some parishes
- MaineEvery year · Some counties
- MarylandEvery 2 years · Some counties
- MassachusettsEvery year · Whole state
- MissouriEvery 2 years · Some areas
- NevadaEvery year · Some areas
- New JerseyEvery 2 years · Whole state
- New MexicoEvery 2 years · Some counties
- New YorkEvery year · Whole state
- North CarolinaEvery year · Some counties
- OhioEvery 2 years · Some counties
- OregonEvery 2 years · Some areas
- PennsylvaniaEvery year · Some counties
- Rhode IslandEvery 2 years · Whole state
- TexasEvery year · Some counties
- UtahEvery 2 years · Some counties
- VermontEvery year · Whole state
- VirginiaEvery 2 years · Some areas
- Washington, D.C.Every 2 years · Whole state
- WisconsinEvery 2 years · Some counties
In the other 23 states there is no emissions test: see states with no emissions testing. One map and one table cover every state and D.C.: state-by-state emissions test requirements.
Do I need an emissions test?
It comes down to three facts about your car: the state (sometimes the county) it is registered in, its model year, and its fuel. Some states test in every county, others only in and around certain cities. Hybrids (a gas engine paired with an electric motor) are tested in most testing states, and a few states test diesels as well. Look for the model year on your registration card, since it can differ from the year you bought the car.
In most states the test comes every 2 years, while Georgia, New York and Texas are among the states that test annually. The new cars, older cars and fuels that skip the test are listed on emissions test exemptions.
Answers to common emissions test questions
What do they check in an emissions test?
One of three checks applies to most cars. For cars built in 1996 or later, the inspector does a plug-in test, connecting a reader to the car's computer; that computer turns the check engine light on if it finds a problem. Older cars usually get a tailpipe test instead, with a thin tube in the tailpipe measuring the exhaust gases. Some states look for every part that cuts pollution. Many also check the gas cap, since a loose or cracked one lets fumes escape.
Do I need an emissions test for registration renewal?
In most testing states, yes. The state looks for a passing result before it renews the registration, and the renewal notice tells you when a test is due. Many states won't renew until the car passes, so book the test a little before the renewal date. Your state's page says how often the test comes up.
What makes you pass an emissions test?
For a plug-in test, the check engine light has to be off and the car's self-checks (readiness monitors) have to be finished. Close the gas cap until it clicks. A new battery or a code clear starts those self-checks over: drive the car normally for several days, in town and on the highway, then confirm they are done with a code reader or the station's pre-check before you go. To learn which repair comes first, use the how to pass checker.
What if my car fails?
Your report shows which items failed. Have it fixed and retested before your state's deadline; many states make the first retest free. Ask about a waiver once your state's set repair amount is spent and the car still fails. With one, you can renew the registration without a pass. Open the failed-test tool to see what each code means and what the repair usually costs.