Emissions Test Cost by State
How much an emissions test costs in 2026 across the 27 states that check cars, plus Washington, D.C., and how often each one requires it. Each state's page lists its retest rules.
A state-by-state breakdown
| State | Fee | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Both areas charge $16.15 for an OBD plug-in test; older cars pay $15.20 for tailpipe testing near Phoenix, or $12.25 near Tucson | Cars from 1981 and newer need a test every 2 years; 1980 and older cars, along with most Tucson-area cars, need one every year |
| California | Each station sets its own price, with an $8.25 certificate fee on top | Test when you renew the registration every 2 years, when the vehicle is sold, and at first registration in California. |
| Colorado | $35 ($20 for 1981 and older cars) | Cars from 1982 and newer test every 2 years; 1981 and older cars test every year |
| Connecticut | $20 | Every 2 years |
| Delaware | Free | Every 2 years |
| Georgia | Set by the station, up to $25 | Every year, before your registration renewal |
| Illinois | Free | Testing falls in the month your plate expires, every 2 years: even-year models in even years, odd-year models in odd years |
| Indiana | Free at Clean Air Car Check stations | Testing runs on a 2-year cycle: odd-year models test in odd years, even-year models in even years |
| Louisiana | $18 ($10 safety inspection plus $8 emissions charge) | Every year, with the safety inspection |
| Maine | The emissions test is part of the state's yearly inspection fee, so there's no separate charge for it | Every year, with the state safety inspection |
| Maryland | A station charges $30, while a self-serve kiosk charges $26 | Every 2 years |
| Massachusetts | $35 for the combined safety and emissions inspection | Every year, with the safety inspection |
| Missouri | Up to $24 | A test is due every 2 years, with odd model years testing in odd years and even ones in even years, and again when the car is sold |
| Nevada | Stations set the price for gas cars: as much as $75.50 in Clark County, and up to $71.50 in Washoe County | Every year |
| New Jersey | No charge at state inspection stations; private inspection facilities set their own prices | Testing comes every 2 years, though you may test up to two months ahead of time |
| New Mexico | Stations set the price, with tax added to the usual charge of about $30 | Due every 2 years, and again at sale |
| New York | For the OBD test, the cap is $27 in the New York City area and $11 elsewhere, with the safety inspection fee added | Every year, with the safety inspection |
| North Carolina | The safety and emissions inspection is priced by each station, up to $30 | Every year, with the safety inspection |
| Ohio | Your first 3 tests in 365 days are free; from the fourth test on, the cost is $18 | Testing runs every 2 years: even-year models in even years, odd-year models in odd years |
| Oregon | Payment is due only when the car passes: $25 in Portland, $20 in Medford | Every 2 years, before registration renewal |
| Pennsylvania | Set by the station and posted | Every year, with or before the safety inspection |
| Rhode Island | $55 | Every 2 years |
| Texas | Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth area drivers pay up to $18.50; the cap is $11.50 across El Paso, Travis and Williamson counties | Every year, before registration renewal |
| Utah | Set by the station and posted | A car under 6 years old tests every 2 years, with even model years going in even years, then every year after that; Cache County stays every 2 years |
| Vermont | Set by the inspection station | Every year, with the safety inspection |
| Virginia | The test costs up to $28, and registration adds a $2 yearly emissions fee | Every 2 years |
| Washington, D.C. | $35 every 2 years, paid with your registration | Personal cars test every 2 years; commercial and for-hire vehicles test yearly |
| Wisconsin | Free | Testing is due every 2 years before registration renewal, plus at each change of ownership |