How much is a NY state inspection?

A NY state inspection for a car or light truck costs at most $37 in the New York metro area and $21 in the rest of the state. Both totals are the $10 safety inspection plus an OBD II emissions test, which costs $27 inside the metro area and $11 outside it.

These are maximums set by the DMV. A station may charge less but not more. 3,471 licensed stations are inside the metro area and 4,557 are outside it.

Which counties are in the New York metro area?

The DMV's inspection regulations (CR-79, section 79.1(m)) define the New York Metropolitan Area as these nine counties. The $27 OBD II fee applies at stations located in them.

Fishers Island in Suffolk County is excluded from the metro area.

Maximum fees in the New York metro area

Maximum fees inside the New York metro area. Source: DMV fee chart VS-77, checked Nov 9, 2026. Stations may charge less. No sales tax.
Inspection	Maximum fee
Car or light truck, safety plus OBD II emissions	$37
Car or light truck, safety plus low enhanced emissions	$21
Safety only (emissions-exempt vehicle)	$10
Motorcycle	$6
Trailer under 18,001 lb	$6
Heavy vehicle safety	$20

Maximum fees in the rest of New York

Maximum fees outside the New York metro area. Source: DMV fee chart VS-77, checked Nov 9, 2026. Stations may charge less. No sales tax.
Inspection	Maximum fee
Car or light truck, safety plus OBD II emissions	$21
Car or light truck, safety plus low enhanced emissions	$21
Safety only (emissions-exempt vehicle)	$10
Motorcycle	$6
Trailer under 18,001 lb	$6
Heavy vehicle safety	$20

Other vehicles

Motorcycle: $6. Motorcycles are exempt from the emissions test.
Trailer under 18,001 lb: $6. Heavier trailers and all semi-trailers: $12.
Vehicle from 10,001 to 18,000 lb: $15, or $20 if the owner asks for a heavy vehicle inspection.
Heavy vehicle (over 18,000 lb, or more than 14 passengers): $20.
Diesel emissions test (smoke opacity): $25, added to the safety fee.

Why was my inspection only $10?

If your vehicle is exempt from the emissions test, you pay only the $10 safety inspection. The DMV lists these exemptions: motorcycles, vehicles less than two model years old, vehicles more than 25 model years old, most diesel vehicles, electric vehicles, vehicles with historical plates and vehicles that get the heavy vehicle safety inspection. Emissions vs safety inspection.

Fees when a vehicle fails

These are maximum fees. A station may charge less, never more.
A station may charge the fee whether the vehicle passes or fails.
A reinspection fee may be charged only when the vehicle leaves the station and comes back.
There is no sales tax on inspection fees.
If you come back within 30 days of a rejection, only the failed safety or emissions part is inspected again. After 30 days, the full inspection is repeated.

Questions