Does Your Car Need an Emissions Test in Utah? (2026)

Utah requires emissions testing in only five counties — Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber. If you live anywhere else in the state, no test is needed. Inside those five, frequency turns on model year: vehicles under six years old test every other year, older vehicles usually test annually. Safety inspections ended for passenger vehicles in 2018.

Verified September 2026 against the Utah DMV, Utah Code §41-6a-1642, and the five county health departments. These rules roll forward every January — see the note at the end.

Emissions is the part of a Utah registration renewal that actually stops people. The DMV will not renew without a passing certificate transmitted from the county, so no certificate means no decal. The good news is that the rule is narrow, and the answer to "does this apply to me" is usually one line long.

One thing to get straight before the tables: what decides your obligation is the county where the vehicle is registered — your bona fide residence — not where you bought the car and not the air quality on your street.

Which Utah counties require an emissions test?

County	Emissions test required?	Who administers it	What's different here
Salt Lake	Yes	Salt Lake County Health Department, Air Quality Bureau	Annual back to model year 1968; light- and medium-duty diesels 1998 and newer are tested
Davis	Yes	Davis County Health Department	Same model-year pattern as Salt Lake; runs the state's only active vehicle repair assistance program
Utah	Yes	Utah County Bureau of Air Quality	Diesels model year 1998–2021 tested, 2022 and newer exempt; nearly 200 certified stations
Weber	Yes	Weber-Morgan Health Department	Floor is model year 1996 — anything 1995 or older is exempt; The Board of Health caps station fees
Cache	Yes	Bear River Health Department	Biennial only. No annual testing at all, and vehicles six model years and newer are exempt
All 24 other counties	No	—	No emissions certificate is needed to register

Everywhere else in Utah — the other 24 of the state's 29 counties — no emissions test is required to register a vehicle.

The five-county line isn't arbitrary. The EPA designated Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties as non-attainment areas for fine particulate (PM2.5), which obligated Utah's Division of Air Quality to adopt control strategies; a county-run inspection and maintenance program was one of them, and state law hands administration to the county. Wintertime inversions explain why those counties, and not the rest, matter: pollution that would otherwise blow out sits in the valley for days. Davis County puts the vehicle share of it plainly — vehicles produce approximately 50% of the air pollution along the Wasatch Front. Salt Lake County estimates its program keeps 82 tons of carbon monoxide, 4 tons of hydrocarbons and 4 tons of nitrogen oxides out of the valley's air every day.

How often does my car need an emissions test?

Utah Code §41-6a-1642(9) sets the default at annual, then carves out an every-other-year schedule for vehicles less than six years old on January 1. The alternation is by model year: even model years test in even calendar years, odd in odd.

Here's how that lands in 2026.

Vehicle model year	How often it tests	Which counties
2026, 2025	No test — under two years old	All five
2024 and 2022 (even, under six years)	Every other year — due in 2026	Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber
2023 and 2021 (odd, under six years)	Every other year — due in odd years	Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber
2020 back to 1968	Annually	Salt Lake, Davis, Utah
2020 back to 1996	Annually	Weber
2020 back to 1996	Every other year, even/odd	Cache
2026 back to 2021	No test	Cache
1967 and older	No test	Salt Lake, Davis, Utah
1995 and older	No test	Weber, Cache

Cache is the deviation worth knowing. Its program started after December 1, 2012 without a federally approved implementation plan in place, and in that situation state law lets the county set its own frequency (§41-6a-1642(9)(c)(iii)). Bear River chose biennial testing for everything seven model years and older — so a Logan resident with a 2010 pickup tests half as often as the same truck in Ogden.

Test early. The inspection can be done up to two months before your registration renewal (§41-6a-1642(10)(a)), and that cushion exists so a failure doesn't turn into an expired registration while you wait on parts.

Which vehicles are exempt from Utah emissions testing?

The statutory exemption list in §41-6a-1642(4), plus the county-level additions:

New vehicles — less than two years old on January 1, and any vehicle still on a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin. Utah County states it as exempt for the first two years.
Model year 1967 and older statewide; in Weber and Cache, everything 1995 and older.
Electric vehicles. No tailpipe, no test — and EVs are also exempt from the county air pollution control fee.
Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles. Utah County additionally exempts engines of 650cc or less and two-cycle engines.
Vintage vehicles of model year 1982 and older. Vintage vehicles 1983 and newer must show either an emissions certificate or collector-specific insurance — a change made by SB 51 in the 2022 General Session, documented on form TC-745.
Farm vehicles and implements of husbandry, including a pickup of 12,000 lbs GVWR or less used exclusively on qualifying farm property. Davis County sets the bar at 5.25 acres owned or leased.
Custom vehicles, novel vehicles and roadable aircraft.
Low-mileage collector vehicles. A county may exempt a vehicle 30 years old or older that was driven under 1,500 miles in the preceding 12 months, if the owner signs a statement that it's a collector's item used for club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades or occasional transportation (§41-6a-1642(15)). This is county discretion, not an automatic right.

Diesels are the messiest category, and the rule genuinely differs by county:

Salt Lake exempts diesels 1997 and older under 14,000 lbs GVWR, and diesels 2013 and older at 14,001 lbs and up — so 1998-and-newer light and medium duty diesels are tested.
Davis exempts diesels 1997 and older and anything over 14,000 lbs GVWR.
Utah County tests diesels model year 1998–2021: a visual tampering inspection for 1998–2006, tampering plus OBD for 2007 and newer. Diesels 2022 and newer are exempt, as are heavy-duty diesels over 14,000 lbs GVWR.
Weber exempts diesels 1997 and older and any vehicle over 14,000 lbs GVW.
Cache tests diesels 1998 and newer at 14,000 lbs GVWR or less, on the biennial cycle.

Does a 30-year-old car need an emissions test in Utah?

Usually yes — this is the question people get backwards most often.

A 1996 model-year truck is 30 years old in 2026, and falls squarely within the program. In Salt Lake, Davis and Utah counties every gasoline vehicle back to model year 1968 tests annually. Weber and Cache cut off at model year 1996, so a 1996 still tests in both (annually in Weber, every other year in Cache). The only blanket age exemption statewide is model year 1967 and older.

Vintage plates aren't the workaround people hope for either. Utah does let you register a vehicle at least 30 years old as a vintage vehicle, but the form is explicit that a vintage vehicle "may not be used for general, daily transportation" — it has to be primarily a collector's item used for club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades and occasional transportation, per UCA §41-21-1(5). On top of that, a vintage vehicle of model year 1983 or newer still needs an emissions certificate in all five counties unless it carries insurance written specifically for collector vehicles.

If you're shopping a 1990s truck for a daily driver in Salt Lake County, budget for an annual test and assume it has to pass on its own merits.

Is a safety inspection still required in Utah?

Not for standard passenger cars and light trucks. HB 265, passed in the 2017 General Session, repealed the safety inspection certificate as a condition of registration effective January 1, 2018 — and raised registration fees in the same bill.

Four categories still require one, per the DMV:

Salvage vehicles that have been rebuilt and are applying for a rebuilt title.
First-time street-legal ATV registrations, including ownership transfers of previously registered ones.
Commercial vehicles, annually — for display and to present to law enforcement, not as a prerequisite to registration.
Motor homes with three axles ("Class 6"), annually, on the same display basis.

That first one matters if you're shopping the cheap end of the market: a rebuilt-title vehicle does need a safety inspection, so "Utah doesn't do safety inspections anymore" is not a complete answer for a salvage rebuild. Separately, any vehicle being titled in Utah for the first time — every out-of-state purchase — needs a VIN inspection, which is a different thing entirely and can be done by a DMV employee at no extra charge.

What does an emissions test cost in Utah in 2026?

There is no statewide price. Two counties publish a set fee; the others let stations set their own prices.

County	What you'll pay for the test	Free retest
Cache	$15 OBD, $20 two-speed idle or tampering	Within 15 days at the same station
Davis	$15 OBD, $20 two-speed idle or tampering	Within 15 days at the same station
Weber	Station sets the price but may not exceed the maximum in the Board of Health fee schedule	Two free re-inspections within 30 days (OBD)
Salt Lake	Stations set their own prices	Confirm with the station
Utah	No set fee; stations must post their price	Confirm with the station

For Salt Lake County, the most recent published figure is a $25 average, attributed to the DMV in an August 2022 KSL report that also put Weber's cap at $30. That article is four years old and KSL flags it as archived, so treat $25 as a starting point, not a quote. Call two stations before you drive.

Separate from the test itself, the five counties add an Air Pollution Control fee at registration under §41-1a-1223: $3 in Salt Lake, Davis and Cache; $2 in Utah and Weber, with electric vehicles exempt. For the rest of what shows up on a Utah registration — sales tax, the age-based uniform fee, the state fees — see our out-the-door price guide, which breaks down the whole bill including the inspection and emission line item.

Many stations are also On the Spot renewal stations: they'll test the car, renew the registration and hand you the decal in one stop, usually for a small service fee. It's the single biggest time-saver in the process.

What to have ready

Bear River's prep guidance is the clearest published checklist, and it applies anywhere in the state:

Your registration document.
A gas cap that's present and tight — a poor-fitting cap is a common cause of an evaporative-system code.
No excessive fluid leaks. An inspector can refuse to test a vehicle that's leaking coolant, oil or fuel.
Check engine light off. A malfunction indicator lamp that stays lit while the engine is running is a failure on an OBD test, full stop.
Readiness monitors set. If the battery was disconnected or codes were cleared recently, the computer reports "not ready" and the vehicle fails before it's really tested. Drive it for a week first, and ask your mechanic not to clear the memory before a test.

What happens if your vehicle fails?

Start with the retest, because it's usually free. Davis and Cache give you a free retest within 15 days at the station that failed you; Weber's regulation gives an OBD vehicle two free re-inspections within 30 days at the original station. The inspection fee is the same whether you pass or fail, so there's no penalty for testing early.

Then repair. A waiver is a last resort, and it's expensive to qualify for. Davis County publishes its thresholds: $450 in emissions-related repairs for 1996 and newer vehicles, $350 for 1984–1995, $250 for 1968–1980, and $1,500 for heavy-duty diesels. Repairs must be emissions-related and performed within 60 days before the failure, and there's no waiver if emission control components are missing, the catalyst monitor isn't ready, the vehicle smokes, or it has ever had a waiver before. Weber's regulation uses the same $450 figure for 1996 and newer.

Two assistance programs exist if the repair bill is the problem:

VRAP, the Vehicle Repair Assistance Program, covers up to $1,000 toward emissions repairs on a sliding scale for households under 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. Per the Utah Division of Air Quality, Davis County is currently the only active program in the state.
EVRAP, the Electric Vehicle Replacement Assistance Program, offers voucher assistance to income-qualified owners of vehicles eight years or older, or light-duty vehicles that fail an emissions inspection, to replace them with an electric vehicle. Salt Lake County's grant period runs through October 16, 2029.

If the math says the car isn't worth the repair, that's a legitimate answer too. We buy vehicles with mechanical issues, and you don't have to buy a car from us to sell us yours.

New for 2027: a $1,000 penalty for registering out of county

Registering a car at a relative's address in Tooele or Summit County to skip the test has always been against the rules. Starting January 1, 2027, it gets teeth.

SB 208, "Vehicle Emission Inspection Program Revisions", passed in the 2026 General Session with Sen. Stephanie Pitcher as chief sponsor and Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher carrying it in the House. The $1,000 civil penalty for using a false or improper address to avoid an emissions inspection was already in statute. What SB 208 adds is enforcement: the State Tax Commission can revoke or suspend the registration, the Motor Vehicle Division is barred from registering the vehicle until the penalty is paid, and the Tax Commission can keep part of the penalty to fund its investigations.

Buying a used car in an emissions county: who pays for the test?

If you're buying from a licensed Utah dealer, the dealer handles it. Utah dealers must assure a vehicle meets all inspection requirements before it's sold and give you a copy of the certificate at the time of sale, and if an emissions test was required it must have been performed within the 11 months before the sale (§41-6a-1642(10)(b)). If a dealer sends you home and asks you to bring the car back for inspections, that's on them, not you.

Two wrinkles worth knowing:

Dealers in non-emissions counties. A dealer in, say, Tooele or Box Elder selling to a Salt Lake County resident can issue a temporary permit plus form TC-820 instead of testing. The obligation then transfers to you: pass a test within 10 days of returning to your county, and have the results sent to your health department.
Private-party sales. Nobody is assuring anything. On a title transfer, you can use a certificate issued for that vehicle in the previous 11 months, so ask the seller for it before you hand over money. If there isn't one, you're buying the repair risk — and on an older vehicle a failed catalytic converter can cost more than the difference between a private sale and a dealer price. That trade-off is the whole argument in our piece on buying from a dealer versus a private seller.

A cheap car stops being cheap the moment it fails emissions. If you're shopping the under-$10,000 tier, ask when the vehicle was last tested before you ask anything else — and see what Utah dealers actually charge in fees so the sticker isn't the only number you're comparing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an emissions test cost in Utah?

It depends on the county. Cache and Davis post a set fee of $15 for an OBD test and $20 for a two-speed idle or tampering inspection. Weber caps what stations can charge. Salt Lake and Utah counties let stations set their own prices, so call ahead. Every county also adds a $2–$3 air pollution control fee to your registration.

What happens if my car fails the emissions test?

Get the retest — it's free within 15 days at the same station in Davis and Cache, and Weber allows two free OBD re-inspections within 30 days. Fix the underlying problem first. Waivers exist but require several hundred dollars of documented emissions repairs and are denied outright if parts are missing or the car smokes.

Do I need an emissions test to register an out-of-state car in Utah?

If you're registering it in Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah or Weber County and the model year isn't exempt, yes. You'll also need a VIN inspection, which is required for any vehicle titled in Utah for the first time and can be done by a DMV employee at no extra charge. You do not need a safety inspection unless the vehicle has a rebuilt salvage title.

Are electric cars exempt from emissions testing in Utah?

Yes, statewide, and EVs are also exempt from the county air pollution control fee. Hybrids are not — they have a combustion engine and follow the normal rules for their county and model year.

Can I register my car in another county to avoid the emissions test?

No. Registering outside your bona fide county of residence to avoid a test already carries a $1,000 civil penalty. As of January 1, 2027, SB 208 allows the State Tax Commission to revoke your registration and block re-registration until you pay the penalty.

Does my diesel truck need an emissions test?

In most of the five counties, yes, if it's 1998 or newer and under 14,000 lbs GVWR. Utah County tests diesels 1998 through 2021 and exempts 2022 and newer. Salt Lake also tests heavy diesels of model year 2014 and newer. Confirm with your county health department before you buy a work truck — the rules vary more for diesels than for anything else. Call us at (801) 561-2727 if you want help sorting out a specific truck.

Buying a Car That's Ready to Register

The registration math is part of the purchase, not a surprise that shows up two weeks later. When you're comparing used cars in Salt Lake City, the last emissions date belongs in the same conversation as the mileage and the price.

Peterson Auto Sales has been family-owned in Midvale since 1965, and every used vehicle has passed the emission test and comes with a free CARFAX up front — no upcharge, no asking — so the service history and any red flags are on the table before you commit. Our inventory leans toward the dependable nameplates that tend to pass without drama: Honda, Toyota, Subaru and Mazda, with plenty of AWD and 4WD for canyon roads and February mornings. Selection rotates, so call ahead if you're after something specific.

Financing works the same way. We have more than 40 lender relationships, including a First-Time Buyer program for people building credit from scratch, and trade-ins are always welcome with a free same-day appraisal. The only fee on the deal is a flat $289 doc fee — no add-ons, no games, and the number we quote is the number you pay. Our salespeople aren't paid on commission, and every car leaves with a full tank of gas. It's part of why we've been named two-time Utah Quality Dealer of the Year (1989 and 2023).

Take your time and ask hard questions. Stop by our lot in Midvale at 8498 South State Street — Monday through Friday 9am–6pm, Saturday 9am–5pm — or reach us at (801) 561-2727 or through our contact page. If you're still weighing whether used is the right call at all, we made that case with 2026 numbers in our new-versus-used breakdown.

Emissions requirements are set by the Utah Legislature and the five county health departments, and model-year cutoffs roll forward every January 1. This page was verified in September 2026. Confirm current requirements at dmv.utah.gov/register/inspections and with your county health department before you register.

Does Your Car Need an Emissions Test in Utah? A County-by-County Answer for 2026

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