# Delaware — Vehicle emissions testing: which counties require it, in which states

For Delaware, how often is biennial, requiring vehicles to pass safety and emission inspections once every other year; vehicles covered / exempt is The first seven model years are exempt from emissions testing; program / authority is Inspection and Maintenance program, verified against its source on 2026-08-19.

- **State:** Delaware _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **How often:** biennial, requiring vehicles to pass safety and emission inspections once every other year _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Vehicles covered / exempt:** The first seven model years are exempt from emissions testing _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Program / authority:** Inspection and Maintenance program
- **Recent or pending change:** On Dec. 14, 2022, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin signed three Secretary’s Orders approving amendments to the regulations and upgrading the program in Sussex County to match the program in Kent and New Castle Counties _(also on this page, in the second passage quoted below)_

## What the source says

> The inspection requirement is biennial, requiring vehicles to pass safety and emission inspections once every other year. Inspections are performed at no charge to the vehicle owner. The first seven model years are exempt from emissions testing.

## The same source also states

> Upgrading the Inspection and Maintenance Program On Dec. 14, 2022, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin signed three Secretary’s Orders approving amendments to the regulations and upgrading the program in Sussex County to match the program in Kent and New Castle Counties.

Source: https://dnrec.delaware.gov/air/mobile-sources/inspection-maintenance/

## Source

- https://dnrec.delaware.gov/air/mobile-sources/inspection-maintenance/

Last verified: 2026-08-19. Review by: 2027-08-19.
Part of [Vehicle emissions testing: which counties require it, in which states](https://referencesource.org/vehicle-emissions-testing-by-state/).