Virginia emission testing is required for all gasoline, diesel, and property-carrying vehicles in multiple counties throughout the state. If your vehicle is less than 25 years old, an emissions inspection will likely be needed annually or biannually.

There’s a lot to keep track of when owning a vehicle, we know. There are the easy tasks, like oil changes and filling up tires, but what about emissions and smog testing? It might not be at the front of your mind when you think about your car’s maintenance—and we’re here to help.

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Virginia emissions testing regulations

While not every state requires vehicle emissions inspections, Virginia does. These inspections help the environment and air quality by keeping tabs on the pollutants that exit cars and trucks.

Emissions inspections aren’t required for every vehicle in Virginia, however. Let’s break down the exemptions so you can determine if you’ll need regular emissions testing.

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Which counties in Virginia require emissions testing?

Virginia's emissions inspection

protocol varies based on location, meaning that where you live can be the difference between having to go in for an inspection or not.

If your vehicle is registered in one of the following counties, you’ll be required to get your car an emissions inspection:

Arlington

Fairfax

Loudoun

Prince William

Stafford

In addition, some cities mandate emissions inspections. These cities are:

If your vehicle is registered in one of the above areas, it must pass a smog test when you’re obtaining its initial registration and then again every two years when its registration needs to be renewed.

MORE: How to pass emissions testing

Which cars need emissions testing in Virginia?

If you live in a county or city that requires emissions inspections, the type of vehicle you drive will be the next factor that dictates whether or not you need testing. All gasoline, diesel, passenger, and property-carry vehicles made in a model year less than 25 years old must get an emissions inspection every two years.

Let’s dissect the rules even further:

Diesel vehicles made in the model year 1997 or newer that weigh less than 8,500 pounds must get tested

All gasoline vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds must get emissions inspections

All non-exempt vehicles are required to complete a safety inspection every year

Your vehicle’s registration renewal card should clearly lay out the required testing for your car. The maximum amount a driver in Virginia will have to pay for a smog check is $28. Safety inspection fees range from $16 to $51, depending on the type of vehicle.

New Virginia residents will have 30 days to get their vehicles titled and registered with the appropriate testing completed. You can use this

testing guide

to find qualified testing centers in all of the required counties and cities. If you are a new resident coming from a state with a reciprocating vehicle testing program and have passed a smog check within the last year, a new test will not be required.

Exemptions from Virginia emissions testing

There are exceptions to the testing rules, and certain vehicles will not need to be inspected for emissions. If you own any of the following types of vehicles, you are exempt from Virginia emissions inspections:

New vehicles with a manufacturer’s certificate of origin being titled for the first time

Gasoline vehicles older than 25 years

Gasoline vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 pounds

Diesel vehicles made before 1997 and that weigh more than 8,500 pounds

Clean fuel vehicles, such as electric and solar

Qualifying hybrid vehicles

Motorcycles

MORE:

Car loan in Virginia

How does Virginia emissions testing work?

If you have a non-exempt vehicle, here is what you’ll have to do to get it inspected:

Locate an inspection center. All of the testing sites can be found

here

Bring in your car for testing. Your car’s age, weight, and fuel type may require additional tests.

Pay the inspection fee. The costs are listed above, but you are guaranteed that they are $28 or less for emissions testing.

Types of emissions tests

A manual emissions inspection begins with a pre-inspection safety check. Here, the inspector will look at things like your dashboard lights and gas cap to ensure your vehicle is safe to test. If your car passes this initial inspection, it will be run through one of the following types of tests depending on your vehicle:

Acceleration Simulation Mode Test puts a probe in your tailpipe and runs your car on a dynamometer (similar to a treadmill).

Two-Speed Idle Test inspects tailpipe emissions while your car’s engine is idling at both low and high speeds.

On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Test uses the information in your car’s internal computer to pull emissions data.

Generally speaking, most vehicles manufactured after the year 1996 only require an OBD test, which takes as little as 15 minutes.

Qualifying vehicles can also have their emissions inspection complete through the

RAPIDPASS program

. This is a more convenient form of testing in which you drive your car through a sensor that measures your vehicle’s emission levels. You can see if your vehicle qualifies for RAPIDPASS by searching its Vehicle Emissions Index

here

What happens if you fail emissions testing in Virginia?

If your vehicle fails its emissions inspection, the repair technician will give you a Vehicle Inspection Report that states the necessary repairs you must address before having your vehicle re-inspected.

Some good news if you are a diligent car owner: the state of Virginia grants owners a free reinspection if they get their vehicle repaired and reinspected within 14 days of the initial test.

But what if you failed your inspection and can’t afford the required repairs? The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality may issue you a waiver to pay for the repairs so you can pass your re-inspection.

MORE:

Does insurance cover repairs?

How to save on car insurance in Virginia

Emissions inspections are designed to protect the environment, and

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FAQs

How often do I need to get an emissions inspection in Virginia?

If you are registering your vehicle for the first time, you must pass an emissions inspection to obtain its registration. After the vehicle has been registered, an inspection is needed every two years if your car is subject to testing.

How do I know if my vehicle qualifies for RAPIDPASS?

Typically reserved for only the most environmentally-friendly cars, you can see if your vehicle is eligible for RAPIDPASS by searching its Vehicle Emissions Index. To do this, enter your car’s Vehicle Identification Number

here

to see if you fall low enough on the Index to use RAPIDPASS.

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