Hawaii
Required- Cadence
- annual (PMVI)
- Typical fee
- Fee set by administrative rules (HAR); confirm current fee with stati…
State safety inspection hubs
As of 2026-10-01, 12 states in FindSafetyStations’s coverage set run an active periodic or transfer-related vehicle safety inspection program for most passenger vehicles. Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Texas document eliminated, suspended, or phasing-out programs — emissions or commercial rules may still apply there. Use the cards below, then open each state hub for statutes, official locators, and city station lists.
States with active safety inspection
Maine
Required- Cadence
- annual
- Typical fee
- Inspection fee rules are in statute/rules administered with the Maine…
Maryland
Required- Cadence
- typically at sale/transfer and when required by program rules
- Typical fee
- Labor-hour formula under COMAR 11.14.01.10; confirm with licensed sta…
Massachusetts
Required- Cadence
- annual
- Typical fee
- $35
Missouri
Required- Cadence
- biennial (odd/even model year)
- Typical fee
- See RSMo §307.365 and MSHP MVI FAQ for current fee rules.
New York
Required- Cadence
- annual (and on ownership transfer)
- Typical fee
- See NY DMV Inspection Groups and Fee Chart (VS-77); fees vary by insp…
North Carolina
Required- Cadence
- annual (with emissions overlay by county)
- Typical fee
- Fees governed by G.S. §20-183.7; confirm current amounts in statute.
Pennsylvania
Required- Cadence
- annual
- Typical fee
- Fees are set and posted by each official PennDOT inspection station; …
Rhode Island
Required- Cadence
- biennial for light-duty (≤8,500 lbs GVWR); annual for many heavy-duty/other classes
- Typical fee
- $55
Vermont
Required- Cadence
- annual
- Typical fee
- Station charges are subject to DMV Commissioner approval; sticker/sta…
Virginia
Required- Cadence
- annual
- Typical fee
- $20
West Virginia
Required- Cadence
- biennial (every 24 months)
- Typical fee
- Up to $19
Eliminated, suspended, or phasing out
Louisiana
Not required- Status
- No periodic safety (see hub)
- Cadence / notes
- periodic safety sticker being eliminated for most personal vehicles (see summary)
New Hampshire
Not required- Status
- No periodic safety (see hub)
- Cadence / notes
- not currently required (program suspended; status may change)
Texas
Not required- Status
- No periodic safety (see hub)
- Cadence / notes
- periodic safety inspection eliminated for non-commercial vehicles (effective 2025-01-01)
- Texas: Non-commercial periodic safety ended Jan 1, 2025 (HB 3297); emissions continue in designated counties.
- New Hampshire: Annual state inspection suspended; stickers not issued — status may change with litigation/EPA developments.
- Louisiana: HB 1085 phases out most personal safety stickers (full effect Jan 1, 2027); parish I/M may continue.
States with no periodic safety in this set
FindSafetyStations currently publishes deep hubs only for states with active programs or recent program changes in our seed set. Most other U.S. states do not require a periodic passenger safety inspection sticker; many still require emissions (for example California Smog Check) or commercial inspections under federal rules. For a national overview of our covered states, see which states require safety inspection.
How we classify requirements
Cadence, fees, and “required yes/no” come from statutes, administrative rules, and official agency manuals — in that order.Read our data sources and methodology →
Tools
FAQ
Which states in this directory require periodic safety inspection?
12 states in our coverage set currently require a safety inspection program for most passenger vehicles: Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia. Three states document eliminated or suspended programs (Louisiana, New Hampshire, Texas).
How often is this list updated?
State hubs carry individual lastReviewed dates (newest in this set: 2026-10-01). We update when statutes or agency pages change — for example Texas HB 3297, Louisiana HB 1085, and New Hampshire program suspension.
Why list states that no longer require inspection?
Drivers still search “Texas safety inspection” and similar queries after program changes. Accurate “not required” answers with primary sources prevent bad appointments and registration mistakes.
Is emissions the same as safety?
No. Several states combine them at one visit (for example New York NYVIP or Rhode Island light-duty). Others keep emissions in separate counties or programs. Each hub explains the relationship for that state.
How do you decide if a state “requires” safety?
We classify from statute, administrative code, and official agency program pages — not from repair-shop marketing. See our methodology on the data sources page.
Where should I start if I am new to a state?
Open your state hub for cadence, fees, official locator links, and city directories — then use /find/ or the do-I-need-inspection quiz for your situation.