Illinois Emissions Test
Through the Illinois Air Team program, gas and hybrid cars get tested across 2 areas of Illinois. That covers model years 1996 to 2022 for 2026. Even-year models are due in even years and odd-year models in odd years, repeating after 2 years, in the month your plates expire.
What cars have to be tested?
For 2026, the green band marks which model years Illinois tests. There's an exemption for the 4 newest model years. Cars from 1995 and older don't need testing.
Look up your car using its model year and fuel type.
Illinois emissions test at a glance
| Program | The Illinois Air Team program |
|---|---|
| Where | 2 areas: Chicago area, Metro-East St. Louis area |
| Fuels tested | Gas, hybrid |
| Model years tested in 2026 | 1996 to 2022 |
| How often | Testing every 2 years, during the month your plate expires: even-year models in even years, odd-year models in odd years |
| The test | An OBD plug-in test |
| Fee | Free |
| New cars | The 4 newest model years are exempt |
| Older cars | 1995 and older are exempt |
| Waiver | Illinois offers a repair waiver once emissions repairs reach at least $1,176, done by a recognized repair technician, and the retest still fails. |
How the test works, and what if the car fails?
The inspector connects a reader to the port beneath the dashboard during an OBD check, then reads the data the car's computer has saved. Make sure the check engine light is off; the car's self-checks (readiness monitors) also need to be complete.
After a fail, the report spells out what went wrong. Before any retest, take care of that problem first. Fix it, then go back.
When the car still fails after those repairs, Illinois offers a waiver. It's a repair waiver once at least $1,176 has gone to emissions repairs by a recognized repair technician, plus a retest that fails.