About a dozen states still require periodic safety inspection. Roughly 29 to 34 require emissions testing, often only in metro counties. The rest require nothing. Two states dropped safety inspection recently: Texas in January 2025 and New Hampshire in February 2026.
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Annual or biennial check of brakes, lights, tires, suspension, and emissions equipment. A sticker goes on the windshield when you pass.
Tailpipe or OBD-II check tied to registration renewal. Typically only required in counties near metro areas, not statewide.
No safety, emissions, or VIN inspection required. Spot checks happen if you\'re pulled over, but there\'s no scheduled cadence.
Based on University of Vermont legislative research (November 2025) and state DMV sources, the following states currently require periodic passenger vehicle safety inspection. Cadence and scope vary.
Commercial vehicles, specialty vehicles, and vehicles over certain weight limits may have different requirements in every state. This list covers passenger cars.
Safety inspection has been on the retreat at the state level. Two states have dropped it outright in the last year, and others are considering it. If you read an article from pre-2025, verify the info against your state DMV before acting on it.
Eliminated safety inspection for non-commercial vehicles. Emissions testing still required in 17 counties. Commercial vehicles still inspected. Source: Texas DPS.
Ended annual safety inspection for most passenger vehicles. Commercial vehicles and specialty categories still covered. Source: NH DMV / Grappone Automotive.
Missouri House approved a bill to end most vehicle safety inspection. Status subject to change — check with the Missouri State Highway Patrol before assuming anything.
Emissions programs are usually tied to metro air quality, so whether you need a test depends on your county more than your state. The biggest examples:
According to Wikipedia\'s list of jurisdictions and Motor.com\'s August 2025 status review, roughly 13 states have no mandatory safety, emissions, or VIN inspection program for resident-owned passenger vehicles. With the New Hampshire change in February 2026, that number is slightly higher.
These states include: Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wyoming, and now New Hampshire. A few others require inspection only for out-of-state transfers or salvage titles.
If you live in one of these states, you don\'t need a reminder for the state requirement. You may still want one for your regular mechanic check or emissions test if your county has one. Some localities and insurance providers recommend annual checks anyway.
If you just confirmed your state has an inspection requirement, the next step isn\'t to close the tab. It\'s to lock the date into something that will email you before it expires. A year is long enough that "I\'ll remember" is a losing strategy.
Put your next expiration date into the form. You get email reminders a few days before the deadline, on the day, and follow-ups until you mark it done. See the full vehicle inspection reminder guide for more on how the pre-reminders and follow-ups work, and the penalties guide for what you\'re avoiding.
As of early 2026, about a dozen states still require periodic safety inspection: Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, North Carolina, and a few others in limited form. Texas eliminated non-commercial safety inspection in January 2025, and New Hampshire ended it in February 2026.
Tennessee does not require a statewide safety inspection. Emissions testing is required in a small number of counties in the Memphis and Nashville metro areas, not statewide. For most Tennessee drivers, no inspection is needed.
Texas eliminated the annual safety inspection for non-commercial vehicles on January 1, 2025. Commercial vehicles still require inspection. Emissions testing is still required in 17 Texas counties for gasoline vehicles 2–24 years old. Drivers pay a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee at registration.
No. As of February 1, 2026, New Hampshire no longer requires annual safety inspections for most passenger vehicles. The change was part of a 2025 legislative update. Commercial vehicles and some specialty vehicles remain subject to inspection.
Emissions testing is separate from safety inspection and is required in roughly 29–34 states, often only in specific counties near metro areas. California's Smog Check, Colorado's front-range program, Illinois's Chicago-area program, and Georgia's Atlanta metro testing are common examples. Your county, not just your state, determines whether you need it.
Most states that require inspection give you 30 to 60 days from registering your vehicle in the new state to get your first inspection done. Miss that window and you're subject to the same fines as any resident driving with an expired sticker.
Put your inspection expiration date in the form. We'll email you a few days before, on the day, and keep nudging if you don't confirm it's done.
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