Maryland Emissions Test
Through the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP), Maryland checks gas and hybrid cars across 14 counties. For 2026, that covers model years 1996 to 2020. Every 2 years, the test comes due.
What cars have to be tested?
Model years Maryland tests in 2026 appear in the green band. A new car stays exempt for 72 months (6 years) while the first owner has it. A car from 1995 or older that weighs under 8,500 lb doesn't need testing.
Use the model year and fuel type to check your car.
Maryland emissions test at a glance
| Program | The Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) |
|---|---|
| Where | Prince George's County, Baltimore City, Carroll County, and Washington County are part of the 14 counties. The rest are Anne Arundel County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Calvert County, Harford County, Charles County, Montgomery County, and Queen Anne's County |
| Fuels tested | Gas, hybrid |
| Model years tested in 2026 | 1996 to 2020 |
| How often | Every 2 years |
| The test | An idle tailpipe test or an OBD test, plus gas cap and tampering checks |
| Fee | At a station it's $30; at a self-serve kiosk, $26 |
| Retest | The first retest is free |
| New cars | A new car stays exempt for 72 months (6 years) while the first owner has it |
| Older cars | Cars from 1995 or earlier that weigh under 8,500 lb don't need the test |
| Waiver | You can get a waiver after spending at least $450 on emissions repairs within the repair window |
How the test works, and what if the car fails?
In the OBD plug-in test, the inspector connects a reader to the port below the dashboard and reads the data saved by the car's computer. Its self-checks (readiness monitors) must be finished, and the check engine light needs to be off.
A tailpipe test, usually on older cars, uses a probe in the exhaust to measure what comes out.
A loose cap lets fuel vapor escape, so the gas cap check confirms the cap seals.
When a car fails, the report says what didn't pass. Fix that first, and when you go back, the first retest doesn't cost anything.
When a car still fails after the repairs, Maryland allows a waiver once you've spent at least $450 on emissions repairs within the repair window.