Updated October 2026

Vehicle Inspection and Emissions Testing by State (2026)

Only a minority of states still require regular safety inspections, and the list keeps shrinking: Texas dropped them for passenger vehicles in 2025, and New Hampshire voted in 2025 to end them. About half the states require emissions tests, many only in metro areas with air quality problems.

Tap any state on the map for vehicle inspection for that state, or use the table to compare them.

Our overview of vehicle inspection includes all 50 states and DC, with a map, a sortable table and a page for each state.

Look up a state

Safety + emissions (11) Safety only (2) Emissions only (17) No regular inspection (21)

Vehicle inspection and emissions testing: all states

State	Requirement	Safety inspection	Emissions testing
Alabama	No regular inspection	No	No
Alaska	No regular inspection	No	No
Arizona	Emissions only	No	Some areas
Arkansas	No regular inspection	No	No
California	Emissions only	No	Statewide
Colorado	Emissions only	No	Some areas
Connecticut	Emissions only	No	Statewide
Delaware	Safety + emissions	Every 2 years	Statewide
District of Columbia	Emissions only	No	Statewide
Florida	No regular inspection	No	No
Georgia	Emissions only	No	Some areas
Hawaii	Safety only	Every year	No
Idaho	No regular inspection	No	No
Illinois	Emissions only	No	Some areas
Indiana	Emissions only	No	Some areas
Iowa	No regular inspection	No	No
Kansas	No regular inspection	No	No
Kentucky	No regular inspection	No	No
Louisiana	Safety + emissions	Every year	Some areas
Maine	Safety + emissions	Every year	Some areas
Maryland	Emissions only	Some cases	Some areas
Massachusetts	Safety + emissions	Every year	Statewide
Michigan	No regular inspection	No	No
Minnesota	No regular inspection	No	No
Mississippi	No regular inspection	No	No
Missouri	Safety + emissions	Every 2 years	Some areas
Montana	No regular inspection	No	No
Nebraska	No regular inspection	Some cases	No
Nevada	Emissions only	No	Some areas
New Hampshire	No regular inspection	No	No
New Jersey	Emissions only	No	Statewide
New Mexico	Emissions only	No	Some areas
New York	Safety + emissions	Every year	Statewide
North Carolina	Safety + emissions	Every year	Some areas
North Dakota	No regular inspection	No	No
Ohio	Emissions only	No	Some areas
Oklahoma	No regular inspection	No	No
Oregon	Emissions only	No	Some areas
Pennsylvania	Safety + emissions	Every year	Some areas
Rhode Island	Safety + emissions	Every 2 years	Statewide
South Carolina	No regular inspection	No	No
South Dakota	No regular inspection	No	No
Tennessee	No regular inspection	No	No
Texas	Emissions only	No	Some areas
Utah	Emissions only	No	Some areas
Vermont	Safety + emissions	Every year	Statewide
Virginia	Safety + emissions	Every year	Some areas
Washington	No regular inspection	No	No
West Virginia	Safety only	Every 2 years	No
Wisconsin	Emissions only	No	Some areas
Wyoming	No regular inspection	No	No

Map of vehicle inspection and emissions testing by state in 2026: 11 safety + emissions, 2 safety only, 17 emissions only, 21 no regular inspection — Vehicle inspection and emissions testing in all 50 states and DC, October 2026.

Safety vs. emissions inspections

A safety inspection checks brakes, lights, tires, steering and other equipment. An emissions (smog) test checks exhaust or, in newer cars, the on-board diagnostics system. Some states require one, some both, and some neither.

Bringing a car from another state

Even states without regular inspections frequently require a one-time VIN verification when you register a vehicle titled elsewhere.

Regional patterns in vehicle inspection

By census region, vehicle inspection break down this way:

The sortable table lists vehicle inspection and links to every state guide.

Midwest: 1 safety + emissions, 4 emissions only, 7 no regular inspection.
Northeast: 6 safety + emissions, 2 emissions only, 1 no regular inspection.
South: 4 safety + emissions, 1 safety only, 4 emissions only, 8 no regular inspection.
West: 1 safety only, 7 emissions only, 5 no regular inspection.

The stricter and lighter states on vehicle inspection

The stricter states are Delaware (Safety + emissions), Louisiana (Safety + emissions), Maine (Safety + emissions) and Massachusetts (Safety + emissions).

The lighter states you find Wyoming (No regular inspection), Washington (No regular inspection), Tennessee (No regular inspection) and South Dakota (No regular inspection).

Each state guide explains vehicle inspection in more detail, with nearby states and practical tips.

Recent changes to vehicle inspection

Jun 2026 — Louisiana: Law signed to end annual "brake tag" inspections on January 1, 2027.
Jan 2026 — New Hampshire: Mandatory annual inspections ended (still being challenged in court).
Jan 2025 — Texas: Safety inspections ended for passenger vehicles.

Questions about vehicle inspection

Which states require annual safety inspections?

Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia.

Which states have no car inspections?

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wyoming have no regular safety or emissions inspection.

Does California require a safety inspection?

No. California has no safety inspection, but most vehicles need a Smog Check every two years.

Where can I check vehicle inspection for my state?

Pick your state from the table or map; each state page links to the agencies and shows the review date.

How frequently do vehicle inspection change?

Most changes take effect on January 1 or July 1 following a legislative session; we review the data at least twice a year and show the date on every page.