North Carolina Emissions Inspection: Counties, Waiver, New Residents and Out-of-State Vehicles

North Carolina requires an on-board diagnostic (OBD) emissions inspection together with the annual safety inspection in 19 counties.

Information checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

Independent guide. This site is not run by any state DMV, state police or environmental agency, and it is not affiliated with any repair shop or inspection station, including any business with a similar name. Rules and fees change, so confirm anything important with the official source linked at the bottom of each page.

The 19 counties

Alamance, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Cumberland, Davidson, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Johnston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Randolph, Rowan, Union and Wake.

Vehicles registered in other counties need the annual safety (and tamper) inspection only. If you transfer a vehicle's registration from a non-emissions county to an emissions county, you do not have to inspect it until the current registration expires.

Which vehicles are tested

• Gasoline-powered light-duty vehicles of 8,500 lbs GVWR or less, model year 1996 or newer (the 20 most current model years), registered in one of the counties. The GVWR is on the driver's side door.
• Safety inspection only: vehicles older than the 20 most current model years, diesel-powered vehicles, vehicles powered by alternative fuels without gasoline and heavy-duty vehicles over 8,500 lbs GVWR.
• Hybrids and plug-in hybrids with a gasoline engine need the annual emissions inspection in an emissions county. Battery electric vehicles get a safety-only inspection.
• Motorcycles, RVs and motor homes do not require emissions inspections.

Emissions exemptions

• Vehicles within the three most recent model years with less than 70,000 miles on the odometer.
• Vehicles 20 years old or older.
• Diesel-operated vehicles and vehicles registered as farm vehicles.
• Antique-plated vehicles.

The repair waiver

The N.C. State Highway Patrol Investigative Services Unit may issue a waiver if all of these are true:

1. The vehicle passes the safety inspection but fails the emissions inspection (analysis of data from the on-board diagnostic equipment).
2. It has documented repairs costing at least the $200 waiver amount to correct the cause of the failure.
3. It is reinspected and again passes safety but fails the on-board diagnostic analysis.

The owner then brings the vehicle and all the documentation to the Investigative Services Unit. A waiver cannot be issued for a safety failure.

What OBD is

OBD is a system that assesses and monitors the performance of engine components, emissions controls and sensors, and the computer itself, and reports its findings to a technician through diagnostic trouble codes. If the check engine light is on, get it diagnosed before the inspection.

New residents

You are allowed to register the vehicle without an inspection. When your next annual registration renewal is due, you must have the vehicle inspected to renew it.

Vehicle out of state when the inspection or registration is due

If you are in a state with an emissions program, have the vehicle tested there and send the passing results to the NC DMV. If that state has no emissions program, a one-year exemption can be received from the NC DMV. For out-of-state renewals, contact NC DMV Headquarters at 1-877-421-0020.

Out-of-state vehicles temporarily in North Carolina

Vehicles registered in another state may be inspected in North Carolina. This is meant for people living in the state temporarily (college students, military personnel, people on business) who cannot return home in time. You need a valid and current registration from your home state.

Vacation or long trips

You may get the inspection and renew the registration up to 90 days before the expiration date. If you will be away longer than 90 days, contact NC DMV Headquarters at 1-877-421-0020.

Military deployment

A 2007 law allows the penalty to be waived for military personnel on active duty who cannot get the vehicle inspected within the four-month grace period after the electronic authorization expires. A current inspection must be obtained within 30 days after returning to the state. Contact your local NC DMV office to have the penalty waived.

Plates

You can transfer plates. Contact NC DMV registration or the DMV hotline at 1-877-421-0020.

Related guides