Emission rules in your state / county
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 51
Likes: 3
From: Arlington Texas
Emission rules in your state / county
I live in Texas, specifically in Tarrent county (Fort Worth - west of Dallas), we only do vehicle safety inspections for cars over 25 years old and no emission testing! We can bi-pass the safety inspection if we register our vehicle as an antique or bribe a City official (bribing is easier and cheaper)
What inspections / bribery takes place in your state / county??
What inspections / bribery takes place in your state / county??
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
Here in the Garden State (NJ), there is no inspection on Antique cars, 25 years old or older. The downside of this is that the law says antique cars can only be driven on the street "for exhibition or educational purposes only", meaning, to and from car shows. Lots of people bend that rule, and enforcement is spotty so most owners go that way and just accept that they might get pulled over by a cop asking them where they are going.
My car is 41 years old, but I have it registered as a "regular use" vehicle so I have a regular plate and I don't have to worry about cops when an unusually warm day comes around in December and I want to go out for a ride. NJ did away with the safety inspection last year, so all I have to pass is emissions. I haven't had a problem with that so far, and my current sticker is good until August of 2012.
My car is 41 years old, but I have it registered as a "regular use" vehicle so I have a regular plate and I don't have to worry about cops when an unusually warm day comes around in December and I want to go out for a ride. NJ did away with the safety inspection last year, so all I have to pass is emissions. I haven't had a problem with that so far, and my current sticker is good until August of 2012.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
In RI there is only safety inspection for cars 25 years and older. Though they still have to run the emissions part to get thru the inspection process just can't fail you for it.
In Mass they changed it so that vehicles 95 and older only get safety inspection. Only vehicles with OBDII connections get emissions test.
In Mass they changed it so that vehicles 95 and older only get safety inspection. Only vehicles with OBDII connections get emissions test.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 2
From: PA
In MD we have to get a one-time safety inspection when buying a new car, otherwise it's just emissions. And for being a senior (I think the rule is anyone over 70) my mother doesn't even have to get that, she goes to the testing station, tells them her age and gets a print out saying exempt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 315
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
When I moved to Florida in 1980, they had vehicle inspections, which were replaced with emissions testing. Now they have nothing. 
Our bureaucrats were finally smart enough to realize there was little or no benefit for all the time and money spent..no reduction in traffic accidents and virtually all cars passed the emissions.
Our bureaucrats were finally smart enough to realize there was little or no benefit for all the time and money spent..no reduction in traffic accidents and virtually all cars passed the emissions.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Be aware that the TX safety inspection includes a visual inspection of emissions equipment. You can still fail safety if you remove a cat, thermostatic air cleaner, smog pump, etc.
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 51
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From: Arlington Texas
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 363
Likes: 72
From: Somers New York
In New York north of NYC and Westchester county, cars 25 years or older only have to pass a safety inspection. These are done at your local service station. I asked the garage owner who inspected my 79 with all the emissions stuff removed if the exhaust was checked. He said the only thing they check on the exhaust system is to make sure it is not dragging on the ground.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Boy you guys get hit hard. Only safety required up here is when you buy. No emission test for anything older then 1987. Just an annual plate sticker ($74) and supply of insurance info.
J
J
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,142
Likes: 477
From: NM
Texas law prohibits any person from selling, offering for sale, leasing, or offering to lease any vehicle not equipped with all emission control systems or devices in good operable condition. Violators are subject to penalties under the Texas Clean Air Act of up to $25,000 per violation. Buyers are advised to have the vehicle checked for all required emission control devices prior to purchasing a new or used vehicle.
A vehicle may not be legally sold if its original engine has been replaced with another certified engine but without the related emission control components. Tampering includes the failure to install the emission controls associated with an engine configuration.
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality...tampering.html
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,062
Likes: 103
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
When I moved to Florida in 1980, they had vehicle inspections, which were replaced with emissions testing. Now they have nothing. Our bureaucrats were finally smart enough to realize there was little or no benefit for all the time and money spent..no reduction in traffic accidents and virtually all cars passed the emissions.
Our bureaucrats were finally smart enough to realize there was little or no benefit for all the time and money spent..no reduction in traffic accidents and virtually all cars passed the emissions.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
in indiana, no emissions, no expensive license plates for older cars. I suppose there is a law about not having the original emissions equipment installed and working, and a over zealous LEO may try to drag you to court over it.
I agree with the spirit of the law, but prosecuting a owner with a 40 year old car that he drives 1000 miles a year is just a waste of time. forcing compliance on these old cars just doesn't make sense...
we used to have a annual inspection requirement, but was finally abandoned due to the corruption and back door ways to get a compliance sticker.
one car I had failed inspection due to oil on my shocks showing that they leaked. I had them reject it and give me 30 days to fix, that way I could legally drive while I fixed it. I took the car home, sprayed gumout over my shocks and wiped them down with a towel, took the car back to get reinspected and it passed.. it was a joke... the inspection was 5$ so many shops did not even want to do it..
it was a great program for shops to fail your car due to bad headlight aiming so they could milk you for a repair charge...
I agree with the spirit of the law, but prosecuting a owner with a 40 year old car that he drives 1000 miles a year is just a waste of time. forcing compliance on these old cars just doesn't make sense...
we used to have a annual inspection requirement, but was finally abandoned due to the corruption and back door ways to get a compliance sticker.
one car I had failed inspection due to oil on my shocks showing that they leaked. I had them reject it and give me 30 days to fix, that way I could legally drive while I fixed it. I took the car home, sprayed gumout over my shocks and wiped them down with a towel, took the car back to get reinspected and it passed.. it was a joke... the inspection was 5$ so many shops did not even want to do it..
it was a great program for shops to fail your car due to bad headlight aiming so they could milk you for a repair charge...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 32
From: Bowtie, Pennsyltucky
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15,'21
In Pennsylvania, not all counties require emission testing, and the ones who do have an exemption for less than 5000mi., I believe. Antique plate is a one time fee and no annual safety inspection, with a dawn to dusk rule. Classic plate is a one time fee with annual inspection required and 24/7 legal. 
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
When I moved to Florida in 1980, they had vehicle inspections, which were replaced with emissions testing. Now they have nothing. Our bureaucrats were finally smart enough to realize there was little or no benefit for all the time and money spent..no reduction in traffic accidents and virtually all cars passed the emissions.
Our bureaucrats were finally smart enough to realize there was little or no benefit for all the time and money spent..no reduction in traffic accidents and virtually all cars passed the emissions.and you forgot to add that they did air quality testing and found that there was no significant differences between the times (years) that the testing was in effect and those when there was no emissions testing. i remember more thanonce being stuck in the inspection lines at arch creek, lol. those were the "good old days", LOL!!
BTW, lawmakers have been conferencing with California concerning new testing although that seems to have died for the time being.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 954
Likes: 2
From: San Jose CA
California- must pass smog test for all 1976 or newer cars. Also you can't modify the emissions (no headers,etc) for 1976 and newer cars. I personally only buy classic cars 1975 and older for obvious reasons. No smog plus like my headers and side pipes.