Emissions vs safety inspection in New York

Every vehicle registered in New York needs a safety inspection at least every 12 months. Most cars and light trucks also need an emissions inspection, done at the same visit. Which emissions test you get depends on the model year, weight and fuel.

The three emissions tests

Who is exempt from the emissions test in 2026?

• Motorcycles.
• Vehicles less than two model years old: model year 2025 or newer in 2026.
• Vehicles more than 25 model years old: model year 2001 or older in 2026.
• Diesel vehicles, except 1997 and newer diesels under 8,501 lb.
• Electric vehicles.
• Vehicles with historical plates.
• Vehicles that get the heavy vehicle safety inspection.

Exempt vehicles still need the yearly safety inspection. That is why some drivers pay only $10.

What the DMV records show

In DMV inspection records from Oct 2025 to Oct 2026, 7,542 licensed public stations recorded OBD II inspections and 155 recorded diesel emissions tests. Every station page in this directory lists the inspection types it recorded.

Registration depends on it

You cannot renew a registration unless the DMV has a record that the vehicle passed the required emissions inspection within the last 12 months, or you show the vehicle inspection report.

What the safety inspection checks · What each test costs