Massachusetts Emissions Test
Statewide, gas, hybrid, and diesel cars in Massachusetts are tested through Massachusetts Vehicle Check. For 2026, the tested model years run from 2012 to 2026. Every year the test comes due, along with the safety inspection.
What cars need the test?
Look at the green band for the model years Massachusetts tests in 2026. Once you register a new car, its first inspection comes due soon. The emissions part doesn't apply to cars older than 15 years.
Use the model year and fuel type to check your car.
Massachusetts emissions test at a glance
| Program | Massachusetts Vehicle Check |
|---|---|
| Where | Statewide |
| Fuels tested | Gas, hybrid, diesel |
| Model years tested in 2026 | 2012 to 2026 |
| How often | Every year, with the safety inspection |
| The test | The inspector runs an OBD plug-in test (heavy diesels without OBD get a smoke test) |
| Fee | $35 for the combined safety and emissions inspection |
| Retest | Return to the same station within 60 days for one free re-inspection |
| New cars | Soon after registration, a new car needs its first inspection |
| Older cars | The emissions part doesn't apply once a car is older than 15 years |
| Waiver | Repairs from a Registered Emissions Repair Technician, then a failed retest, can earn a one-year waiver |
How the test works, and what if the car fails?
For an OBD plug-in test, the inspector connects a reader to the port under the dashboard and reads the data the car's computer has stored. Your check engine light must stay off, and the self-checks (readiness monitors) must be complete.
A tailpipe test, used mostly on older cars, puts a probe in the exhaust to measure what comes out.
When a car fails, what failed is named in the report. Fix that first, then return for the retest: at the same station, one free re-inspection if you come back within 60 days.
When the car still fails after the repairs, Massachusetts offers a waiver. It lasts one year, once a Registered Emissions Repair Technician has done the work and the retest also fails.