Vehicle Emissions Testing Ends In Washington

OLYMPIA, WA — As of Tuesday night, Washington drivers are no longer required to have their vehicles tested for emissions before renewing their registrations. The Department of Ecology said state lawmakers adopted stronger emissions standards for new vehicles in 2005, paving the way for the end of the program.

When the new standards took effect, vehicles from 2009 and later were exempt from the testing requirements, as were vehicles older than 25 years. Ecology said annual tests dropped to 750,000 vehicles in 2018. State law still forbids vehicles with modified emissions controls, and drivers can still get tickets if their vehicle emits smoke or is determined to pose a threat to public health.

Ecology officials said overall strides to get cleaner vehicles on Washington roads made the mandatory testing requirements unnecessary.

“When we began the emission check program back in 1982, air pollution from carbon monoxide and ozone was a serious concern in many of our biggest cities,” said Kathy Taylor, manager of the Air Quality Program. “Today, new cars are much, much cleaner than in decades past, which means we can continue to improve our state’s air quality without these regular tests.”

All of the state's 15 authorized testing stations closed Dec. 31, affecting 180 contractors and about a dozen Ecology employees. Officials said they have been working with all staff members to prepare for the shutdown and find other positions.