Safety Testing

Safety and Emissions Inspections

Safety Inspections: Missouri law requires all motor vehicles to pass a vehicle safety inspection performed by an authorized inspection station, unless exempt.

Emissions Inspections: If the vehicle is registered to operate in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Franklin County, or Jefferson County, the vehicle is also subject to an emissions inspection. (See below for exemptions from the emissions inspection requirement.)

The inspection station will issue a Certificate of Inspection and Approval that must be presented to an office of the Department of Revenue when the motor vehicle is registered. Vehicle safety and emissions inspections should not be made more than 60 days prior to the date the owner submits an application for title and license or registration renewal.

Exemption from Safety and Emissions Inspections

The following vehicles are exempt from the safety and emissions inspections:

• New motor vehicles (not previously titled) during the model year of the vehicle and first annual renewal the following year;
• All trailers;
• Motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce and registered with the Missouri Department of Transportation;
• Motor vehicles that display historic plates;
• Motor vehicles sold for junk, salvage or rebuilding; and
• Motor vehicles sold from dealer to dealer; and
• Low speed vehicles as defined in Section 304.029, RSMo.

The Missouri Department of Revenue does not operate the safety inspection program. The Missouri State Highway Patrol administers this program. Please check your local phone book business pages for names and locations of safety inspection stations.

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