N.J. Will Stop Tailpipe Emission Testing For Older Cars: Kiss Your Inspection Sticker Goodbye

If you have an older model car in New Jersey, you’re about to catch a break.

Beginning May 1, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) will change the inspection requirements for certain older passenger vehicles, which will no longer have to undergo tailpipe emission testing.

The following types of cars will be exempted from inspection:

• Gasoline powered passenger vehicles, model year 1995 and older with a GVWR 8,500 pounds or less.
• Gasoline powered passenger vehicles, model year 2007 and older with a GVWR 8,501 to 14,000 pounds.
• Gasoline powered passenger vehicles, model year 2013 and older with a GVWR 14,001 pounds or more.

The NJMVC defines a “passenger vehicle” as a car with the following registration codes (see a diagram of where to find this information here):

• 1 through 9
• 12 (not utilized to transport passengers as in the manner of a bus)
• 15
• 31
• 73

According to the NJMVC, law enforcement agencies throughout the state have been advised of these changes “in an effort to prevent unnecessary stops for vehicles which do not display inspection stickers.”

Even though exempt vehicles no longer need to be inspected, car owners still are required to maintain all mechanical and emissions equipment and can still be cited for malfunctioning or missing required equipment, authorities emphasized.

Any vehicle that fails inspection before May 1 will still be required to be repaired and pass a reinspection before it can be issued a certificate of approval, the NJMVC stated.

For more information about the inspection process in New Jersey click here.

NO STICKER NEEDED, BUT KEEP YOUR CARD HANDY

Are you wondering if your vehicle is exempt? There may be an easy answer… did you get a notice in the mail?

The NJMVC plans to send owners of newly exempted vehicles a written notice about the changes and an exemption card between six to eight weeks before their vehicle would have been due for inspection.

Owners should remove their current inspection sticker once it expires and keep the exemption card with their vehicle, authorities say.

OTHER EXEMPT VEHICLES

The following types of vehicles are also exempt from inspection requirements, according to the NJMVC:

• Diesel powered passenger vehicles, model year 1996 or older with GVWR of 8,500 lbs or less
• Electric vehicles and other vehicles not fueled by hydrocarbon based fuel
• Collector Vehicles- odometer and credential verification at a Specialty Inspection Site every five years (collector vehicle sticker)
• Farm Use
• Farm Tractor
• Historic Plated Vehicles (QQ)
• Motorcycles
• Mopeds
• Vehicles with a general registration and plates with the “D” markings.

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