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

For New Mexico, counties where testing is required is Bernalillo county; program / authority is Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board, verified against its source on 2026-08-24.

- **State:** New Mexico _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Counties where testing is required:** Bernalillo county _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Program / authority:** Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board
- **How often:** Every motor vehicle, as defined in 20.11.100.7 NMAC, shall be inspected biennially _(also on this page, in the second passage quoted below)_
- **Vehicles covered / exempt:** (1) all new motor vehicles for four years following initial registration from the date of the manufacturer’s certificate of origin (MCO); (2) vehicles that are fueled by a mixture of gasoline and oil for purposes of lubrication; (3) motor vehicles that are used for legally sanctioned competition and not operated on public streets and highways; (4) implements of husbandry, or road machinery not regularly operated on public streets and highways; (5) other vehicles that are not regularly operated on public streets and highways after providing satisfactory proof to the program manager; (6) vehicles leased by a leasing company whose place of business is Bernalillo county to a person who resides outside of Bernalillo county; however, an exemption shall not be granted if the person resides in an area, that has an EPA-required vehicle inspection program; (7) vehicles that are 35 years old or older; _(also on this page, in the second passage quoted below)_

## What the source says

> (2) Commuter vehicles: All motor vehicles that are more than four years old and are driven into, operated, or are otherwise present in Bernalillo county for 60 or more days per year but are registered in another county or state shall comply with 20.11.100 NMAC.

## The same source also states

> 20.11.100.14 SHEDULING OF INSPECTIONS: A. Inspection and registration: Every motor vehicle, as defined in 20.11.100.7 NMAC, shall be inspected biennially unless it is determined to emit quantities of CO or HC between 75% and 100% of its maximum allowable standard listed in Table I of Subsection A of 20.11.100.17 NMAC, in which case it shall be issued a provisional pass certificate good only for a one year registration and shall be required to be inspected again the following year prior to registration.

Source: https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title20/20.011.0100.html

## The same source also states

> B. Exempt vehicles: (1) all new motor vehicles for four years following initial registration from the date of the manufacturer’s certificate of origin (MCO); (2) vehicles that are fueled by a mixture of gasoline and oil for purposes of lubrication; (3) motor vehicles that are used for legally sanctioned competition and not operated on public streets and highways; (4) implements of husbandry, or road machinery not regularly operated on public streets and highways; (5) other vehicles that are not regularly operated on public streets and highways after providing satisfactory proof to the program manager; (6) vehicles leased by a leasing company whose place of business is Bernalillo county to a person who resides outside of Bernalillo county; however, an exemption shall not be granted if the person resides in an area, that has an EPA-required vehicle inspection program; (7) vehicles that are 35 years old or older;

Source: https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title20/20.011.0100.html

## Source

- https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title20/20.011.0100.html

Last verified: 2026-08-24. Review by: 2027-08-24.
Part of [Vehicle emissions testing: which counties require it, in which states](https://referencesource.org/vehicle-emissions-testing-by-state/).