DMV

Vehicle Inspections

Inspections FAQ

Safety Inspection

Beginning January 1, 2018, ALL commercial vehicles regardless of weight require an annual safety inspection. The safety inspection is not a prerequisite for registration. However, the certificates must be kept in the vehicle at all times.

Emissions Inspection

2025 Salt Lake County Emissions Requirements

Vehicles registered in Salt Lake County with model years less than six years old are required to have an emissions test once every two years. Vehicles in this category that have even-numbered model years must have an emissions test in even-numbered years, and vehicles that have odd-numbered model years must have an emissions test in odd-numbered years.

Vehicle Model Year Emissions Inspection
2025 Not required
2024 Not required
2023 Required
2022 Not required
2021 Required
2020 Not required
2019 to 1968 Required
1967 and older Not required
Exemptions
  • New vehicles with an MSO
  • Any vehicle w/ model year 1967 & older
  • Any diesel vehicle w/ model year 2013 and older with a GVWR 14,001 and greater
  • Any diesel vehicle w/ model year 1997 & older with a GVWR less than 14,000 lbs
  • All implements of husbandry
  • Off highway vehicles
  • Electric vehicles
  • Motorcycles or motor driven cycles
  • Farm vehicles
  • Vintage Vehicles model year 1982 & older or custom vehicles
  • Maintenance or construction vehicles not designed or licensed to operate on a highway

Note: A vintage vehicle that has a model year of 1983 or newer is required to provide proof of an emissions inspection or provide proof of vehicle insurance that is a type specific to a collector vehicle. See form TC-745, Vintage Vehicle Insurance Affidavit for more information.

Note: A restored-modified vehicle is a motor vehicle that has been restored and modified with modern parts and technology, including emissions control technology and an on-board diagnostic system. An owner may request a statement on their registration that indicates to an inspection station that “the vehicle has been restored and modified with modern parts and technology, including emissions control technology and an on-board diagnostic system”.

To add the statement to the registration certificate you will need to complete form TC-569D (Statement of Facts) explaining what changes or modifications have been made to the emissions control system for the vehicle.

Salt Lake County Residents Temporarily Out-of-State

If you are a Salt Lake County resident temporarily residing outside of Utah and your vehicle is required to receive an emissions inspection, you may be eligible for a deferment from Salt Lake County. The emissions inspection or county deferral must be transmitted from Salt Lake County to the DMV prior to a registration being completed.

Please visit the Salt Lake County website to review requirements and obtain forms for submission of inspection and application for deferral.

Easy Ways to Renew Your Registration

You have several options for renewing your registration. Choose the option that is best for you!

Renew Online

 You will need your VIN and a PIN.

Renew Vehicle

Renew at a Service Center

Emissions tests may be done at select locations.

On the SPOT Renewal

Automatic Renewals

Sign up for automatic renewals. 

Automatic Renewal

When to Obtain an Emission Inspection

An emission inspection may be made no more than two months prior to the renewal of the registration. The Division of Motor Vehicles must receive the emission certificate information electronically from the Health Department prior to completing vehicle registration.

Where to Obtain an Emission Inspection

Emission inspections can be completed at any On the Spot Renewal Station, please visit On the Spot Renewal Station locator to find the closest location near you.

Additional Information

For more information about emissions test requirements contact the appropriate County Health Department below:

Cache County 435-792-6579 brhd.org
Davis County 801-525-4975 daviscountyutah.gov/health
Salt Lake County 385-468-3837 slco.org/health
Utah County 801-851-7600 health.utahcounty.gov
Weber County 801-399-7140 webermorganhealth.org

Vehicles Sold by Dealers in Non-Emissions Counties to Emissions County Residents

Utah law requires all licensed Utah dealers to assure vehicles they sell to residents of Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, or Weber counties meet emissions testing requirements prior to issuing a temporary permit. However, because emissions testing facilities are often not available in counties where emissions testing is not required, the air quality administrators from the five emissions-required counties have granted a limited emissions test exemption.

If a vehicle is sold to a resident of Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, or Weber counties by a licensed Utah dealer whose place of business is located in a non-emissions county, the dealer must:

The purchaser must:

  • Obtain an emissions testing certificate of compliance within 10 days of return to county of residence;
  • Provide a copy of Form TC-820, Exemption Affidavit for Utah Emissions Testing to the local motor vehicle office with the application for plate, title and registration, and,
  • Send certificate of compliance and a copy of the TC-820 to the local Department of Health.

Safety Inspections

Effective January 1, 2018, the State of Utah removed the safety inspection requirement for most vehicles as a prerequisite for registration. Vehicles that require a safety inspection are listed below.

  • Salvage vehicles that have been rebuilt and are requesting a rebuilt title.
  • First time street legal ATV registrations. This includes ownership transfers for previously registered street legal ATVs.
  • Commercial vehicles are required to obtain a safety inspection for display and presenting to law enforcement, but it is not a prerequisite for registration.
  • Motor homes with three axles are considered a “Class 6” vehicle and require an annual safety inspection for display and presenting to law enforcement.

Vehicle/Hull Identification Number (VIN/HIN) Inspections

Inspections of identification numbers are required for all vehicles or vessels to be titled in Utah for the first time, unless the vehicle is new (MSO) and was acquired from an in-state dealer or in-state manufacturer. Inspection certificates are acceptable means of verification for your cars, trucks, off-higway vehicles and motorcycles providing that the VIN number is accurate on the inspection certificate.

Trailers, boats, off-highway vehicles, and snowmobiles require separate VIN or HIN inspections, which can be completed using a Form TC-661, Certificate of Inspection completed by a DMV employee, designated contractor, Utah peace officer or designated enforcement agency employee, licensed dealer, or a certified safety inspector. Note that this may be completed by a DMV employee at no extra charge.

Utah Residents Living Out-of-State

If you are a Utah resident and temporarily residing outside of Utah, your vehicle may be required to receive an emissions inspection.

This requirement is based on the vehicle year, your Utah resident county, and your current out-of-state location. If your vehicle is required to receive an emissions inspection you may be eligible for a deferment from your Utah resident county. If required, the emissions inspection or county deferral must be transmitted from the county to DMV prior to a registration being completed.

County websites with requirements and forms for submission of inspection or application for deferral for your resident county are listed below.

After receiving confirmation of emissions approval from your county of residence, complete your renewal online or submit to DMV.

See Renew Your Registration for more information.

Renew your vehicle online.


Inspection FAQ

Do dealers perform required inspections?

Yes. Dealers must assure vehicles meet all inspection requirements before the vehicles are sold, and a copy of the required certificate(s) must be given to the customer at the time of sale. Emissions testing, if required, must have been done within eleven months prior to sale.

Exceptions

  • New Vehicles with an MSO are exempt from emissions testing.
  • Vehicles are not required to be inspected if being sold to residents of counties that do not require emissions inspections. Dealers in non-emissions counties have a special exemption when selling to residents of counties that require emission inspections. Dealers must submit form TC- 820, Exemption Affidavit For Utah Emissions Testing, for these vehicles.

What do I do if my vehicle won’t pass inspection because the dealer didn’t fix a mechanical problem?

If the vehicle is titled and registered in your name, you may file a complaint with the emissions officials in the county in which the vehicle was inspected. These agencies will investigate the complaint. If it appears the dealer violated the law, MVED will be contacted, and will investigate and possibly file a criminal complaint. If you are still operating the vehicle on the 45-day temporary permit (you have not yet received your license plate or registration), you may file a complaint with MVED.

For more information on filing a complaint with the emissions official in your county, see our county emissions offices.

I bought a car from a dealer and they want me to bring it back in for inspections. What should I do?

Because the inspections are required for the vehicle to be registered, you will need to bring the vehicle back in for those inspections. If the 45-day temporary permit has expired, you may additionally file a complaint with MVED.

My vehicle will not pass an emissions inspection, what are my options?

If reasonable efforts have been made and your vehicle still will not pass an emissions inspection, you can contact the appropriate county to see if you qualify for an exemption.

  • Cache County – 435-792-6570
  • Davis County – 801-525-4975
  • Salt Lake County – 385-468-3837
  • Utah County – 801-851-7600
  • Weber County – 801-399-7140

Does my vintage vehicle need an emissions inspection?

Vintage vehicles with model years 1982 & older do not require an emissions inspection. However, Senate Bill 51 changed the requirements for vintage vehicles with model years 1983 & newer that are located in a county where emissions inspections are required. At the time of registration, a vintage vehicle that has a model year of 1983 or newer is required to provide proof of an emissions inspection or provide proof of vehicle insurance that is a type specific to a collector vehicle. See form TC-745, Vintage Vehicle Insurance Affidavit for more information.