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

For Tennessee, recent or pending change is EPA is approving the removal of Tennessee's motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program requirements for Davidson, Sumner, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson Counties in Tennessee (also known as the Middle Tennessee Area) and Hamilton County (also known as the Chattanooga Area), from the federally-approved SIP; program / authority is motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program, verified against its source on 2026-08-25.

- **State:** Tennessee _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Recent or pending change:** EPA is approving the removal of Tennessee's motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program requirements for Davidson, Sumner, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson Counties in Tennessee (also known as the Middle Tennessee Area) and Hamilton County (also known as the Chattanooga Area), from the federally-approved SIP. _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Program / authority:** motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program _(verified: appears in the quote below)_

## What the source says

> Specifically, EPA is approving the removal of Tennessee's motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program requirements for Davidson, Sumner, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson Counties in Tennessee (also known as the Middle Tennessee Area) and Hamilton County (also known as the Chattanooga Area), from the federally-approved SIP.

## The same source also states

> Tennessee's requests are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and applicable regulations. DATES: This rule is effective on September 16, 2021.

Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/08/17/2021-17214/air-plan-approval-tn-removal-of-vehicle-im-program-for-the-middle-tennessee-and-hamilton-county

## The same source also states

> Tenn. Code Ann. section 68-201-119(c) allows Tennessee counties to retain local I/M programs under certain conditions. As Tennessee is requesting removal of the I/M program from the SIP, EPA's analysis in this final rule assumes that no I/M program will be implemented in Hamilton County or the Middle Tennessee Area. However, this final action does not preclude local I/M programs from being retained at a local level outside of the SIP.

Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/08/17/2021-17214/air-plan-approval-tn-removal-of-vehicle-im-program-for-the-middle-tennessee-and-hamilton-county

## Source

- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/08/17/2021-17214/air-plan-approval-tn-removal-of-vehicle-im-program-for-the-middle-tennessee-and-hamilton-county

Last verified: 2026-08-25. Review by: 2027-08-25.
Part of [Vehicle emissions testing: which counties require it, in which states](https://referencesource.org/vehicle-emissions-testing-by-state/).