Utah Certificate of Inspection Requirements and Fees

Utah certificate of inspection requirements depend on what you drive and where you register it. The state ended mandatory safety inspections for most passenger vehicles in 2018, so a typical driver only needs an emissions certificate, and only if the vehicle is registered in one of five counties. Safety inspection certificates still apply to a narrow set of vehicles, including salvage rebuilds, street-legal ATVs, novel vehicles, and commercial trucks.¹

Vehicles That Still Need a Safety Inspection

Most personal cars and trucks in Utah no longer need a safety inspection to register or renew. The requirement now applies to a specific list:²

Salvage vehicles being rebuilt. Any vehicle with a salvage title must pass a safety inspection before you can apply for a rebuilt title and register it.
Street-legal ATVs being registered for the first time, including ownership transfers of previously registered street-legal ATVs.
Novel vehicles being registered for the first time as street-legal.
Commercial vehicles, which need an annual safety inspection. The certificate stays in the vehicle for law enforcement review and does not have to be submitted to the DMV.³
Ground transportation service vehicles.
Multi-axle vehicles, combination units, buses or vans for hire, and taxicabs.
Motorhomes with three or more axles, classified as “Class 6,” which require an annual inspection to display to law enforcement.

If your vehicle isn’t in one of those categories, you can skip the safety inspection.

Emissions Inspection Requirements

Emissions inspections are required in five Utah counties: Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber, and Cache.¹ If your vehicle is registered in any of those counties, you’ll need a passing emissions test to register or renew. Register anywhere else in Utah and no emissions certificate is required.

How Often You Test

Testing frequency depends on model year. Vehicles less than six model years old test every other year; older vehicles test every year. On Salt Lake County’s 2026 schedule, model years 2026 and 2025 aren’t yet required, model year 2024 tests in even years, and everything from 2020 back to 1968 tests annually.⁴ Vehicles model year 1967 and older are exempt entirely.

Diesel Vehicles

Diesel rules vary slightly by county. Generally, diesels model year 1997 and older are exempt, as are diesels with a gross vehicle weight rating above 14,001 pounds. In Utah County, diesels model year 1998 through 2021 test, and 2022 and newer are exempt.¹ Check your county’s specific cutoffs before scheduling.

Who’s Exempt From Emissions Testing

Even in the five testing counties, several categories don’t test:⁴

New vehicles being registered for the first time with a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin.
Fully electric vehicles.
Vehicles model year 1967 and older.
Vehicles registered outside the five testing counties.

Vintage vehicles, defined under Utah law as vehicles 30 years old or older used primarily as collector’s items for exhibitions, club activities, parades, and occasional transportation, are a separate registration class and cannot be used for daily general transportation.⁵

How the Test Works

Gasoline vehicles go through an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) test, where equipment reads the vehicle’s computer for emissions fault codes. Older vehicles without OBD may get a tailpipe test instead. Diesels are tested for opacity, a measure of particulate density in the exhaust.

Where to Get Inspected

Both safety and emissions inspections must be done at state-authorized stations, which include private repair shops, dealerships, and some government facilities. The Utah DMV lists approved stations by county.¹

For an emissions test, bring your registration or renewal notice, which usually shows whether testing is required. For a safety inspection on a salvage rebuild, bring the salvage title and supporting documents like the bill of sale or rebuilt title application.³ Commercial vehicles must keep their certificate in the vehicle at all times.

Safety inspections cover brakes, tires, lights, steering, suspension, and other core systems, following the equipment standards in Utah Administrative Code R714-160.⁶ If the inspector finds problems, you get a written report listing what to fix. When the vehicle passes, the station issues the Certificate of Inspection. Emissions results are transmitted electronically to the DMV, but hold on to your receipt.

Inspection Fees

Utah caps what stations can charge for safety inspections:

Motorcycles and street-legal ATVs: $14
Standard motor vehicles: $30
Four-wheel-drive, split-axle, and vehicles requiring hub disassembly or axle removal: $40

Emissions testing fees vary by county and vehicle type, and stations set their own prices within any applicable limits. Call ahead for a quote. If your vehicle fails, some stations give a free retest within a set window; others charge a reduced fee.

How Long the Certificate Is Valid

An emissions inspection is valid for two months from the date of issue.⁷ That’s a tight window, so time the test close to your registration renewal rather than months ahead. If the certificate expires before you finish registering, you test again.

Safety inspection certificates for commercial and other annually inspected vehicles are valid for one year. There is no grace period for expired certificates.

What Happens If Your Vehicle Fails

A failed safety inspection means completing the listed repairs and returning for reinspection before the vehicle can be registered. On a salvage rebuild, that can mean substantial work on brakes, frame, or lighting.

A failed emissions test is more common and less serious. You’ll get a report identifying the problem, which might be anything from a faulty oxygen sensor to a loose gas cap triggering a check-engine light. Fix it and return to any authorized station for a retest.

Emissions Waiver for Costly Repairs

If your vehicle keeps failing after you’ve spent significant money on repairs, Utah counties offer a waiver. The thresholds depend on vehicle age:

1996 and newer: at least $450 in emissions-related repairs
1984 to 1995: at least $350
1968 to 1980: at least $250
Heavy-duty diesel: at least $1,500

All repair work must be done by a licensed repair business to count, and the vehicle cannot have visible smoke coming from the exhaust. Even with a waiver, tailpipe emissions must fall below relaxed cutpoints. Your county health department handles waiver applications.

Penalties for Skipping the Inspection

The most immediate consequence is procedural: the DMV won’t process a registration renewal without a valid emissions certificate for vehicles registered in testing counties. You simply can’t renew until you pass.

Driving a vehicle without required registration is an infraction under Utah law, with fines up to $750.⁸ Operating a vehicle without a required safety inspection certificate is also an infraction if you’re notified by law enforcement and fail to obtain the certificate within 14 days.⁹

A harsher penalty applies to Utah residents who fail to register after establishing residency. That is a class C misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $1,000, though a court can reduce it to $200 if you register before the hearing and the violation hasn’t gone on for more than a year.¹⁰

Commercial Vehicles and Federal Inspections

Commercial motor vehicles are also covered by federal inspection rules under 49 C.F.R. Part 396, administered by the FMCSA.¹¹ Utah accepts a valid federal inspection that complies with 49 C.F.R. Section 396.17 in place of the state’s annual safety inspection, so carriers already complying with FMCSA rules don’t need to duplicate the process at a Utah station.² An expired or missing safety inspection certificate on a commercial vehicle can trigger roadside enforcement, delays, and out-of-service orders, and inspection-related violations count against a carrier’s Vehicle Maintenance BASIC score in the FMCSA’s Safety Measurement System.¹²

1
Utah DMV. Vehicle Inspections
2
Utah Legislature. Utah Code 53-8-205 – Safety Inspection
3
Utah Division of Motor Vehicles. Utah Vehicle Registration and Titling Guide
4
Salt Lake County Health Department. Vehicle Emissions Program
5
Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-21-1 – Definitions
6
Utah Office of Administrative Rules. Utah Administrative Code R714-160 – Equipment Standards for Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Safety Inspections
7
Utah State Tax Commission. Utah Vehicle Registration and Titling Guide
8
Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-1a-1303 – Driving Without Registration or Certificate of Title
9
Utah Legislature. Utah Code 53-8-209 – Safety Inspection Violations
10
Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-1a-1303.5 – Driving Without Registration or Certificate of Title – Class C Misdemeanor
11
eCFR. Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance – 49 CFR Part 396
12
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. SMS Methodology