Vehicles manufactured before 1996 2. Beginning Dec. 1, North Carolinaâs vehicle inspections requirement will exempt vehicles 20 years old from obtaining a yearly emissions test in the 22 counties which emissions testing is required. The change is part of the passage of Senate Bill 131, which was signed into law in 2017 and then approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. State inspections got easier for some vehicle owners in 2015, but many are still confused about whether they qualify for an emissions test exemption. Wake County is one of 22 in North Carolina where annual emissions tests are still required. If your vehicle was made before 1995, it is exempt from having an emissions inspection. However, it will still need to have a state vehicle inspection. All 2007 model year and newer diesel powered vehicles with a GVWR of up to 14,000 lbs are required to undergo emissions inspections. NC § 20-183.2 a1) Safety Inspection Exception. Although you worry about catching COVID-19, you still must get your annual car inspection or face ticketing by a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper, according to the NC ⦠Exemptions: 1. Starting Dec. 1, any vehicle 20 years or older is exempt. The following year, a 2000 model [â¦] Vehicles older than 35 years are not required to undergo any type of inspection in any NC county. Motorcycles, recreational vehicles (RVs) and motor homes are exempt from emissions testing for vehicle registration purposes. Cars and trucks that are 35 years old or older are exempt from North Carolina state vehicle and emissions inspections. Beginning Dec. 1, North Carolinaâs vehicle inspections requirement will exempt vehicles 20 years old from obtaining a yearly emissions test in the 22 counties which emissions testing is required. On Dec. 1, 2019, North Carolinaâs Vehicle inspections requirement began exempting vehicles 20 years old from obtaining a yearly emissions test in the 22 counties in which testing is required. Vehicles that were produced within three years of the current year and have less than 70,000 miles on the odometer are exempt from the annual emissions inspection since they are covered by a warranty and very seldom have emission component failures. Vehicles manufactured after 1996 that are not OBDII-compliant (must be verified at a test station). For example, a 1999 model year vehicle would be exempt from obtaining an emissions inspection ⦠For example, a 1999 model year vehicle is exempt from obtaining an emissions inspection as of Dec. 1, 2019. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) â Beginning December 1, North Carolinaâs vehicle inspections requirement will exempt vehicles 20 years old from obtaining a ⦠3. If your vehicle is light-duty, gasoline powered, three years old or less with less than 70,000 miles and registered in one of the 22 emissions counties , it may be exempt from an emissions inspection under General Statute 20-183.2 (link is external).Exempted vehicles will receive a safety-only inspection. The exemption of historic motor vehicles, 35 years or older, from NC safety inspections became law on January 1, 2005. Although these vehicles are exempt from emissions checks, they still must obtain an annual safety inspection. The newest 3 model year vehicles 2. CHARLOTTE, N.C. â Vehicles 20 years old or older will soon be exempt from the annual emissions test still required in 22 counties. The North Carolina Department of Transportation said, for example, a 1999 model year vehicle would be exempt from obtaining an emissions inspection starting December 1.