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

For North Carolina, counties where testing is required is 19 counties; how often is emission systems tests for cars and light-duty trucks as part of the annual safety inspection in 19 counties; vehicles covered / exempt is cars and light-duty trucks; recent or pending change is Section 12.7 of Session Law (S.L.) 2023-134 (House Bill 259) of the 2023 session of the North Carolina General Assembly, passed into law October 3, 2023, will remove 18 counties from the I&M program. Section 12.13.(b) of Session Law (S.L.) 2026-41 (Senate Bill 257) of the 2026 session of the North Carolina General Assembly, passed into law July 7, 2026, will also remove Mecklenburg County from the program; program / authority is Inspection / Maintenance (I/M) Program, verified against its source on 2026-08-18.

- **State:** North Carolina _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Counties where testing is required:** 19 counties _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **How often:** emission systems tests for cars and light-duty trucks as part of the annual safety inspection in 19 counties _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Vehicles covered / exempt:** cars and light-duty trucks _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Recent or pending change:** Section 12.7 of Session Law (S.L.) 2023-134 (House Bill 259) of the 2023 session of the North Carolina General Assembly, passed into law October 3, 2023, will remove 18 counties from the I&M program. Section 12.13.(b) of Session Law (S.L.) 2026-41 (Senate Bill 257) of the 2026 session of the North Carolina General Assembly, passed into law July 7, 2026, will also remove Mecklenburg County from the program. _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Program / authority:** Inspection / Maintenance (I/M) Program _(verified: appears in the quote below)_

## What the source says

> North Carolina requires emission systems tests for cars and light-duty trucks as part of the annual safety inspection in 19 counties. Vehicles from 1996 and newer are usually equipped with On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) systems, which help inspectors check that the vehicle's pollution controls are working. <https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/motor-vehicles-air-quality/inspection-maintenance-program/emissions-inspection-results-information> Emissions Testing FAQ <https://www.deq.nc.gov/mitigation-services/publicfolder/library/news/brochures/doudrive1996ornewercar/download> Do you drive a 1996 or newer car or light truck? <https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/motor-vehicles-and-air-quality/smoking-vehicle-complaint-form> Smoking Vehicle Complaint Form Update: Inspection & Maintenance Program Set to End Statewide Recent changes to state law may soon terminate the vehicle Inspection & Maintenance (I&M) Program in the 19 counties that are currently subject to the program. Section 12.7 of Session Law (S.L.) 2023-134 (House Bill 259) of the 2023 session of the North Carolina General Assembly, passed into law October 3, 2023, will remove 18 counties from the I&M program. Section 12.13.(b) of Session Law (S.L.) 2026-41 (Senate Bill 257) of the 2026 session of the North Carolina General Assembly, passed into law July 7, 2026, will also remove Mecklenburg County from the program.

## Source

- https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/motor-vehicles-air-quality/inspection-maintenance-program

Last verified: 2026-08-18. Review by: 2027-08-18.
Part of [Vehicle emissions testing: which counties require it, in which states](https://referencesource.org/vehicle-emissions-testing-by-state/).