Making Sense of Salt Lake City Car Inspection Laws

Car Inspections in Utah

There are different laws regarding car safety and emissions in each state. Your vehicle could be impounded, and a Utah peace officer could fine you for failing to comply.

Two types of car inspections are required in Utah county. The first is a safety inspection, and the second is an emissions inspection. Safety inspections are performed to ensure that vehicles are safe on the road. Emission inspections ensure that your vehicle complies with current EPA emission standards.

If you are unsure about the types of car inspections required, you can reach out to a car accident lawyer for more information.

General Utah Inspection Laws

Before January 1, 2018, Utah required safety checks on all new vehicle registrations. In addition, all commercial vehicles were required to undergo security inspections for registration.

Until January 1, 2018, new vehicle registrations in Utah were subject to safety checks and security inspections for commercial vehicles. Safety checks are now only needed for the registration of commercial vehicles, first-time street legal ATV registrations, and rebuilt salvage vehicles.

Utah requires emission inspections bi-annually for vehicles under six years old. Vehicles over six years are subject to emission inspection annually. A car built during or before 1968 does not require an emission certificate.

Car Safety Inspections in Utah

Commercial vehicles, first-time street legal ATVs, and rebuilt salvage vehicles must undergo vehicle safety inspections. Some additional vehicles require safety certificates. Although commercial vehicles do not need a safety inspection to register, a safety inspection certificate must be in the car at all times for presentation to a police officer if requested. 

Almost all repair shops offer safety inspections for cars as a standard service, and owners can visit them at any time. A safety inspection is required for all vehicles with more than three axles, including trailers – buses, trucks, taxis, and ground transportation service providers. Buses and vans hired by the school and taxi cab operators must pass annual security checks and display the inspection certificate.

Utah Smog Check / Emissions Inspection

Utah requires certain vehicles to undergo emission test inspections for registration and license renewal. All newly registered residents must be given a vehicle registration test and meet the same test requirements as the rest of Utah residents.

Utah Smog Check Requirements

In Utah counties, including Davis, Salt Lake, Weber, and Cache, all vehicles must pass the following tests:

• Vehicles under six years old must pass an emissions test every two years.

• Vehicles manufactured in even-numbered model years must have emissions inspections in even-numbered calendar years. Likewise, those manufactured in odd-numbered years must have an emission test during odd calendar years.

• Vehicles 6 years or older must renew their emission certificate annually before registration.

When vehicles fall under any of the above categories, they must have also passed a Utah safety examination.

Performing Emissions Testing in Utah

As a Utah resident, you have 60 days from the due date on your car’s registration sticker to pass a vehicle safety inspection, pass a vehicle emissions test (if required), and get the vehicle’s registration renewed. Utah vehicle owners must take their cars to a Utah DPS-certified check-in point, pay the testing fees and provide the necessary paperwork.

Sales in Counties Requiring Emission Testing

All licensed Utah dealers must ensure that vehicles sold to residents in the five counties mentioned above meet emissions testing requirements. The state’s Air and Water Conservation Commission is now investigating the possibility of requiring emissions testing equipment to be used in areas that do not require emissions testing.

Emission tests are necessary within the first twelve weeks of the sale. A two-year emissions inspection must be carried out within one month of registration. The emissions certificate is required during the registration at the Utah Division of Motor Vehicle (DMV) office.

Upon transfer of title, the vehicle must pass a smog check within 30 days from the transfer date to the vehicle’s current owner. Vehicle registration cannot take place unless the owner has proven that it has passed safety checks.

Smog Check Exemptions for Utah Drivers

The following are exempt from emission checks:

• Vehicles made in the last 2 model years

• Newly manufactured vehicles with a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSOs)

• Motorcycles

• Diesel-powered vehicles

• Vehicles made in the 1968 model year and registered in Cache County

• Vehicles made in or before 1967 and registered in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, or Weber counties

Need to Know More?

For a full run-down on these regulations, visit the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles website. Emissions.org also offers excellent tips on preparing for your emissions inspection.

Where the law requires safety and emissions inspections, non-compliance is a punishable offense. Failing to comply may present other complications too. For example, if you are in a car accident and your vehicle does not have a valid safety inspection certificate, you may be found to be partly responsible for the accident. This could significantly reduce your claim.

If you are in a tricky situation regarding safety or inspection certificates, America’s accident attorneys are here to help. Our firm offers personal injury services for various accidents, including those caused by negligence. Get in touch with us today for a consultation with a car accident lawyer, and let us take your fight forward for you.