I was wondering what states seem to have very strict or hard to pass laws for the 80s and older cars. :cheers: :blueangel:

 

I was gonna post on the same topic. We could try to put together info on what is tested in each state--both in theory (the law) and what is actually tested in practice.

In MA all cars 15 years or older do not have to pass the emission test, so all C3's are exempt. In theory, they still have a long list of things to check, such as exhaust, horn, parking brake, brake, tires, lights, windshield wiper, windshield washer, etc. In practice, they just test the external lights, and that's it. They do not open the hood, so there's no "visual inspection" or anything of this sort.

-Pedro

 

new jersey sucks for inspections..

 

California and Utah are both strict

 

CT requires all cars 73? and newer to get a dynamic test where they run the car up to a certain speed on rollers while sniffing every two years. They also check your gas cap for leaks. 68-72? only require a static sniffer test, but every year. Good news is cars under 20 years old don't require any safety inspection! And those over 20 years only get inspected once, when first registered. Joe

 

I'll second New Jersey is tough. I have classic plates so no inspection for my Vette. Has to be 25 or older to get these plates.

 

VA, it sucks here!! :mad :cuss

 

The requirements also vary within many states. Here in CA, there are "enhanced" areas with the strictest testing, regular areas, and then there are some rural counties that have no testing. The same standards apply statewide though and only the test requirements vary. Many other states are similar, with tesing being required in more populous or smoggy areas but not in other areas. I'd caution anyone against making illegal mods that can't be readilly changed back to legal. Many areas that don't have routine testing still require inspections when transferring title or may start enforcing the law in the future. You could also have a problem if you tried to sell the car to someone that lives in a stricter area or if you want to relocate.

 

PA sucks too :mad
The only recourse is to get antique tags but the car has to be at least 25 years old. It can not be a daily driver either, only in parades, going to shows or one day a week :bs

Even with classic plates they need emissions. Thank god they are in the process of scrapping it.

 

WA is has no testing (at least in Island county, maybe be different in Seattle area but you would never know it from all the smoke spewing old Volvo's with peacenik bummper stickers on the road down there :rolleyes: )

When I lived in NY (10+ years ago), I believe only the counties close to NYC had testing and upstate was free and clear. I managed to get headers and duals on my '75 Nova by registering it while at school.

 

NC here. I think in raleigh they sniff your car at idel and speed...but here on the ocean, we have friends. And sniffing is not a law, and not practiced anywhere, only visual inspection(cat conerter, horn, lights, wipers, etc). However, if you know the right inspection station, there is no inspection, period, you just pay the $$ and get your new sticker. We have a lot of cars with VERY open exuast. That is mostly the newer mustangs though, because thats the only way them ricer inspired rustangs can get any power :yesnod:

I don't think they are running open headers, but I am pretty sure the cat is gone, and they might evnen be running no muffler(untill they can afford the rustang fart pipe, the clear tailights took all their money).

Anyway, here in my portion of NC, they are VERY easy...you could run open side pipes and say there is a spiral baffle in there, and you'd be ok to go...just as long as you don't go cruise a neighborhood at midnight and wake people up.

Daniel

 

Here in CA all they care about is the smog. They don't check any lights, brakes, or anything else. It can be the biggest jalopy in the world but as long as it passes smog you can title it.

I know that 1973 and prior cars are exempt from all smog tests in CA. I don't know about 1974 and 1975.

I say the above because I remember growing up in NY. Sure, they had an emissions test but they also had a basic safety inspection every year which I thought was a good idea. Sure, we all know when things like that go on our cars but not John Q. Public. Many times a service station would be the one to tell an old lady she had a brake light out or similar and they were simple things to fix on the spot at the time of inspection.

I guess CA cares more about the air than highway safety.

 

Emission testing is not required when you have Classic plates.

 

I should have mentioned that Texas is pretty easy unless you live in the bigger cities, Dallas, Houston etc. Here in west texas, only safety and gas cap, of course my vette never has been driven :cool: because I know the inspector at a local store. :D :blueangel: If you fail in Dallas I was told only have to pay up to $250 to try and fix and if you can't you get exemption, do I hear greedy money politicians. :D

 

Just switched my ITSA7T6 $70 yearly plate to a 10 yr ($35 total) Historic Plate....no testing no nuthin...sure they say its only good for parades etc but if they pull ya over during the week, ya just say you're headin' for an oil change or whatever...no problem :seeya

 

I can vow for new jersey. I have failed twice in the past month, and there freaking strict as hell!

 

No emmision testing in Hawaii. Just lights, signals, horn.

 

North Carolina is mixed still.

Some counties only require saftey inspection no matter what yr, no emission test.

Some counties are strict on emissions on anything 75 and newer.

And like most places you can always buy a sticker, if you go to the rite inspection station.

Went to get mine inspected last month,... the old man at the station couldnt get in the car, so he just had me honk the horn and show him my lights/wipers worked. *shrug*

 

Arizona has strict emissions testing. They've gotten away from most of the visual checking (I heard there were lawsuits), but they're strict here with the sniffing. You can get a waiver if you show $300 in receipts, but it's a one time thing for a vehicle - once for the life of the car and it's good for only one year.

Roger

 

here in Western NY we are not too bad. no sniffer unless the vehicle is new (99 and up?). only visual emissions check ( all the original stuff must be there) until the car is 25 years old. and no emissions over 25. ALL vehicles get a safety check annually.
in reality if you have a car that is obviously a part timer show car, summer vette, the small shop inspectors are pretty understanding.
the bigger stores ( franchise type.. no names mentioned) are pretty crooked and will nail ya every chance they get. after a few cruise nights ya find out who to take your car to for insp....a six-pack and ten bucks gets a sticker... keep your ears open and it's our secret... :-0