Emissions inspections — Missouri Permit Test

Emissions inspections are required for motorists residing in St. Louis City and the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson.

One city and four counties. Everywhere else in Missouri, the emissions test does not apply.

Motorists residing in St. Louis City and the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson are also required to have emissions inspections, if applicable.

The emissions inspection is a two-year inspection, following the same even and odd year pattern as the safety inspection.

Both inspections run on the same cycle, so the car goes in once rather than twice.

The emissions inspection is a two-year inspection.

Gasoline-powered vehicles of 1995 and older are exempt from the emissions inspection requirement.

The equipment being tested was not fitted to those cars in the first place.

1995 and older gasoline-powered vehicles.

Motor vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating over 8,500 pounds are exempt from the emissions inspection.

A truck that heavy is checked under a different set of rules, so this test would not tell you much about it.

Motor vehicles with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 8,500 pounds.

Vehicles driven fewer than 12,000 miles between biennial safety inspections are exempt from the emissions inspection.

A car that barely moves is not the one the program was written for.

Motor vehicles that are driven fewer than 12,000 miles between biennial safety inspections

All vehicles must be emissions inspected at the time of sale regardless of model year, unless an exception applies.

The sale is the moment the car changes hands, and the state checks it then whatever its age.

All vehicles must be emissions inspected at the time of sale regardless of the model year

New vehicles are exempt from the emissions inspection at first retail sale during their model year and the following year, provided the odometer shows less than 6,000 miles.

Six thousand miles is a nearly new car, and the exemption is written to fit that and no more.

provided the odometer reading is less than 6,000 miles at the time of sale

Vehicles powered by fuels other than gasoline, ethanol, or diesel are exempt from the emissions inspection.

The test measures what comes out of a combustion engine burning those three fuels.

Vehicles powered by fuels other than gasoline, ethanol or diesel.

Which area requires Missouri emissions inspections?

St. Louis City and four surrounding counties. One city and four counties. Everywhere else in Missouri, the emissions test does not apply. Missouri Driver Guide, p.85: “Motorists residing in St. Louis City and the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson are also required to have emissions inspections, if applicable.”