Does My Vehicle Need a Test?

You need a test if your vehicle is:

Gas-powered vehicles 1996 and newer or diesel powered vehicles 1997 and newer
8,500 pounds or less.
Registered in the following areas:

Locate a GVIP Station near you

St. Louis City
St. Louis County
St. Charles County
Jefferson County

When do I get a test?

The Department of Revenue sends vehicle registration in the mail 60 days before license plate expiration:

Odd vehicle model years test in odd years.
Even vehicle model years test in even year.

Any vehicle sale or title transfer.

How long is the emissions test valid for registration?

60 days (or 120 for a car dealer).

Special Considerations

Low Mileage-Based (Emissions Inspection Exemption)

Available when a vehicle is:

Two years old with less than 40,000 miles.
Four years or older and driven less than 12,000 miles in past two years. Owner must have owned vehicle for two years and must be tested on-cycle (even model year vehicles test in even years, odd model year vehicles test in odd years). Give approved proof of odometer readings to department.

Form and Additional Information

Switched Engine Vehicles

Switched engine vehicles must have an emissions test even though the original manufacturer’s certified engine configuration has been removed and replaced with another engine. The vehicle’s readiness monitors must be set in order to test. There is no waiver for the cost of fixing and improperly installed or incorrect application engine. It must meet the original manufacturer’s criteria or owner is responsible for cost of returning it to the original manufacturer’s criteria.

Flex-Fuel, Dual Fuel and Hybrid Electric Vehicles

These vehicles are also subject to emissions testing:

Fuel Flex vehicles that burn:

Ethanol (E-10 or E-85)
Methanol (M-10 or M-85)
Biodiesel (B-5, B-20 and B-100)

Dual Fuel vehicles with tanks of:

Propane
Liquefied natural gas
Compressed natural gas
Gasoline or diesel fuel tanks

Hybrid electric vehicles with gasoline or diesel engines.

Gray Market Vehicles

Gray market vehicles were sold in another country and imported into the U.S.
If a vehicle is gasoline-powered and has a 8,500 pounds or less gross vehicle weight rating and is going to be licensed by the Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Bureau, it needs an emissions test. The weight rating is usually found on a label on the inside of the driver’s door.
It is a violation of federal law to import a vehicle into the U.S. that does not meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards. Therefore, gray market vehicles are tested using the same emissions standards as a vehicle sold in the U.S.

Information about imported vehicles

Information about importing Canadian vehicles

What if I don’t test?

Registration will be denied, you will not get new stickers and you won’t be able to legally drive your vehicle.

Vehicles that don’t need emissions testing

Even if you are exempt from emissions inspections you must have a safety inspection. Safety inspections are required every two years (regardless of calendar or model years) except for the vehicle’s first 10 model years or 150,000 miles.

Please call 314-416-2115 for any questions about emissions exemptions. See Waiver Applications and Exemption Requests for conditionally waived vehicles.

New (unused) vehicles within first model year that has an odometer reading of fewer than 6,000 at the time of original sale by a vehicle manufacturer or licensed motor vehicle dealer to the first user;
Plug-In Hybrid Electric and Electric Vehicles;
Motorcycles and motortricycles;
School buses;
Tactical military vehicles; and
Historic Vehicles registered per section 301.131 RSMo;

According to state statutes, any motor vehicle more than 25 years old that is owned only as a collector’s item and is used or intended to be used for exhibition and education purposed can be registered as an historic vehicle. When historic plates are first registered, a vehicles is not necessary.