Pennsylvania Emissions Test
Gas and hybrid cars get tested through Drive Clean PA in 25 Pennsylvania counties. Model years 1975 to 2025 are the ones covered in 2026. You need the test every year, either with the safety inspection or before it.
Which cars must get tested?
In 2026, the green band marks which model years Pennsylvania tests. You're exempt if your car is brand-new, of the current model year, and under 5,000 miles. Cars with classic, antique, or collectible plates don't need the test.
Use your car's model year and fuel to see where it fits.
Pennsylvania emissions test at a glance
| Program | Drive Clean PA |
|---|---|
| Where | 25 counties: York County, Westmoreland County, Washington County, Philadelphia County, Northampton County, Montgomery County, Mercer County, Lycoming County, Luzerne County, Lehigh County, Lebanon County, Lancaster County, Lackawanna County, Erie County, Delaware County, Dauphin County, Cumberland County, Chester County, Centre County, Cambria County, Bucks County, Blair County, Berks County, Beaver County, Allegheny County |
| Fuels tested | Gas, hybrid |
| Model years tested in 2026 | 1975 to 2025 |
| How often | Yearly, at the same time as the safety inspection or earlier |
| The test | Older cars get a visual check and a gas cap test; in most counties, cars from 1996 and newer get an OBD plug-in test and a gas cap test |
| Fee | Set by the station and posted |
| Retest | You get one free re-inspection at the same station within 30 days |
| New cars | Exempt if brand-new, of the current model year, and under 5,000 miles |
| Older cars | Classic, antique and collectible plates are exempt |
| Waiver | You can get a waiver once you have spent at least $150 on emissions repairs and the retest fails |
How the test works, and what if the car fails?
During 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 car's self-checks (readiness monitors) must be done, and the check engine light must be off.
A loose cap lets fuel vapor escape, so the gas cap check confirms the cap seals.
The report names what failed if the car fails. Fix the problem first, then return for the retest: one free re-inspection at the same station within 30 days.
Pennsylvania has a waiver for cars that still fail after repairs: a failed retest and at least $150 in emissions repairs.