Arizona emissions test — who has to test in Phoenix and Tucson, and how to pass.
Arizona tests vehicles only where the air needs it: the Phoenix area (Area A) and the Tucson area (Area B). If you live in either, a 1967 or newer car, truck or SUV needs to pass before you can renew its registration, once it's past its first 5 registration years. Most cars in Phoenix test every two years, and most in Tucson every year. The test costs $16.15 for the common OBD plug-in, there's no appointment and no safety check, and a failing car gets one free retest within 60 days. Here is the fee for each test, when a test counts, how waivers work, and what changes hands with a used car.
Buying a Used Car in Arizona?
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Quick Answer
- Who needs an emissions test in Arizona?
- Vehicles registered in the Phoenix (Area A) or Tucson (Area B) emissions areas, plus vehicles registered elsewhere but used to commute to work inside them, and those of students covered by A.R.S. 15-1444 or 15-1627. ADEQ's FAQ: model year 1967 and newer vehicles more than 5 years old, gasoline and diesel, including hybrids and flex-fuel cars. Vehicles registered outside both areas don't test.
- How much is an emissions test in Arizona?
- ADEQ lists $16.15 for the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) test in both areas. In Phoenix the IM147 dynamometer test is $16.15 and the steady-state loaded/idle test $15.20; in Tucson the loaded/idle test is $12.25. Stations take cash, Arizona-bank checks and credit or debit cards, and a fee isn't refunded once the test is done.
- How often do you need an emissions test in Arizona?
- ADEQ: 1981 and newer light-duty vehicles (not diesel) every two years; vehicles from 1980 and older, and most vehicles in Tucson, every year. Your MVD renewal notice says whether a test is due. A test counts for renewal only if it's done in the 90 days before the registration expires.
Four steps to an Arizona emissions test
Read the renewal notice first. It says whether this year's renewal needs a test at all.
- 1Check the renewal noticeMVD's notice says whether your vehicle requires emissions this year.
- 2Test in the 90-day windowEarlier tests are allowed, but only one in the window counts for renewal.
- 3Go to a station in your areaNo appointment, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring the fee.
- 4Then renewResults go to MVD right away. Renew online, by mail with the certificate stub, or in person.
How Arizona's Emissions Program Works
ADEQ, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, runs the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program, and a contractor, Gordon-Darby Arizona Testing Inc., operates the stations. Testing is required only "in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, where ozone and particulate matter pollution are a problem." In law these are Area A (townships in Maricopa, Pinal and Yavapai counties) and Area B (in Pima County). Which area applies depends on where the owner actually lives; MVD presumes it's the permanent address on file, and a P.O. box doesn't count.
The test is a condition of registration: A.R.S. § 49-542 says "A vehicle shall not be registered until such vehicle has passed the emissions inspection and the tampering inspection" or has been issued a waiver. And it's emissions only. ADEQ's FAQ: "Arizona does not require a Safety Check."
Test Fees by Area
ADEQ's fee table on myazcar.com, read on 22 October 2026. The test type depends on the vehicle's age, weight and fuel.
| Test | Phoenix (Area A) | Tucson (Area B) |
|---|---|---|
| On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) | $16.15 | $16.15 |
| IM147 (dynamometer) | $16.15 | Not used |
| Steady state loaded/idle | $15.20 | $12.25 |
| Loaded opacity (diesel) | $15.20 | $12.25 |
| Snap opacity (diesel) | $23.75 | $20.45 |
| Waiver or compliance document | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Out-of-state exemption application | $9.50 | $9.50 |
Fees are set in the state's contract with the testing contractor and paid at the station. A test fee is not refunded once the test is done, including a test outside the renewal window.
Arizona Emissions Rules at a Glance
The areas, the timing, the free retest and the waiver, on one card.
From ADEQ's myazcar.com pages and Arizona law, read on the date shown.
Which Test Your Vehicle Gets
From ADEQ's "Why and How We Test" page and A.A.C. R18-2-1006, read on 22 October 2026. Gasoline vehicles also get a gas-cap pressure test, and vehicles made after the 1974 model year a tampering check.
| Vehicle | Phoenix (Area A) | Tucson (Area B) |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 and newer, 8,500 lb or less | OBD plug-in, every 2 years | OBD plug-in, every year |
| 1981 to 1995, 8,500 lb or less | IM147 on a dynamometer, every 2 years | Loaded test, every year |
| 1975 to 1980, and heavier gasoline vehicles | Loaded test, every year | Idle or loaded test, every year |
| 1967 to 1974 | Loaded test, every year | Every year |
| 1997 and newer light diesels | OBD test | Opacity test |
| Other diesels | Snap opacity | Loaded or snap opacity |
A 1996 or newer vehicle "CANNOT PASS" with the Check Engine light on, ADEQ says. A 1996–2000 vehicle with more than two monitors "not ready", or a 2001 or newer one with more than one, can't be tested.
The 90-Day Window
Timing matters in Arizona. Under A.R.S. § 49-542 a test counts for renewal only if it's done "not more than ninety days before each registration expiration date." You can test earlier, and ADEQ will test any vehicle at any time, for instance one you're thinking of buying, but "only vehicles tested during the 90-day window or when due for renewal will count for registration renewal." The fee isn't refunded either way.
If the car fails, there's no late-renewal penalty as long as the first test happened before the registration expired and MVD receives the renewal within 30 days of that test. Results go to MVD electronically right after the test, though a VIN that doesn't match MVD's record stops the upload.
Timing in short
- Counts: tests in the 90 days before expiration.
- Early tests: allowed, but don't count.
- After a fail: no late penalty within 30 days of the first test.
- Results: sent to MVD immediately.
Testing a Car Before You Buy It?
An emissions pass tells you about the engine today. Enter the VIN for a free preview of the title brands and junk and salvage records on file.
If Your Vehicle Fails
From ADEQ's FAQ and waiver pages, A.R.S. § 49-543 and A.A.C. R18-2-1008 and -1010.
A free retest within 60 days
Make the repairs and bring the original inspection report with the repair section on the back filled in.
Stations don't repair
You choose the repair shop. Inspectors aren't allowed to recommend repairs or facilities.
The waiver route
Fail at least twice in the cycle, have it diagnosed and tuned after the first fail, and bring receipts to a waiver station.
One waiver per car
A $15.00 waiver, valid for the current registration period; a vehicle can get only one after January 1, 1997.
No waiver for these
A catalytic converter failure, emissions over twice the standard, or removed or defeated emission equipment.
Repairs from 60 days before
Repairs made up to 60 days before the first failure can count toward a waiver.
Repair Cost Limits for a Waiver
The spend that qualifies a vehicle for a waiver, from ADEQ's waiver page and A.A.C. R18-2-1010, read on 22 October 2026.
| Vehicle | Phoenix (Area A) | Tucson (Area B) |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 and newer | $450 | $300 |
| 1975 to 1979 | $300 | $200 |
| 1974 and older | $200 | $50 |
| Heavy-duty diesel (over 26,000 lb or tandem axles) | $500 | $300 |
Warranty coverage must be used first, and repairs to tampered equipment don't count toward the limit.
Buying or Selling a Used Car in Arizona
In a private sale the test travels with the car. ADEQ: "If you purchase a used vehicle from a private owner and the previous owner had an emissions test done on the vehicle, that emissions test will be valid when transferring ownership. If they did not have the vehicle tested, you will have to have the vehicle tested yourself."
Dealers carry more of the load. A dealer pays for any test and any repairs needed to pass, and a dealer based in Area A or B "shall not deliver any vehicle to the retail purchaser until the vehicle passes," with exceptions for exempt and insured collectible vehicles. Delivering a vehicle that doesn't conform can cost the dealer $1,000, or $2,000 and a 90-day license suspension for a second violation in a year. And a seller who knows the car has had a waiver must tell the buyer before the sale.
The sale rules
- Private sale: a valid test carries over.
- No test on record: the buyer tests.
- Dealer sale: the dealer pays to pass first.
- Past waiver: the seller must disclose it.
Exemptions and Special Cases
From ADEQ's exemptions page and FAQ, A.R.S. § 49-542 and A.A.C. R18-2-1003.
New vehicles
Exempt before the sixth registration year after purchase or lease. Reconstructed and fuel-converted vehicles aren't.
Older and special vehicles
Model year 1966 and older, golf carts, engines under 90 cc, ATVs and hydrogen-only vehicles.
Electric and hybrid
Zero-emission vehicles are exempt. Hybrids are not: ADEQ says they must be tested.
Motorcycles and collectibles
Motorcycles since June 21, 2013. Collectibles: 15+ years old (or rare) with collectible insurance.
Out of state at renewal
Out of Arizona at least 90 days before expiration? Apply online for $9.50; test there if that state has a program.
Commuters
Registered outside the areas but commuting in to work? You must test. Ignoring it carries a $100 civil penalty, $300 for a second in a year.
Testing Today, and the Change Waiting on EPA
Arizona has rewritten its testing law, but the new version only takes effect if EPA approves it in time.
Today
- Phoenix: IM147 and loaded tests for older cars, OBD for 1996 and newer.
- Tucson: most vehicles every year.
- The gas-cap test in the statute covers every tested vehicle.
- Cranes and oversize permitted vehicles still test.
If EPA approves
- OBD-based testing for OBD-equipped vehicles in both areas, diesels too.
- Biennial OBD tests in Tucson, under the rule's post-approval tables.
- No gas-cap test for diesels.
- A statutory exemption for cranes and oversize permitted vehicles.
The rewritten § 49-542 is "conditionally effective": it applies only if EPA approves the changes into the state plan on or before July 1, 2027.
Related Checks and Guides
Other state inspection and emissions guides, and the checks worth running before you buy.
Where These Facts Come From
From ADEQ's Vehicle Emissions program site (myazcar.com), the Arizona Revised Statutes on azleg.gov and the Arizona Administrative Code (Cornell LII copy), read on 22 October 2026. azdeq.gov itself couldn't be reached from here, and myazcar.com doesn't date its fee table; check it before you go.
CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, its testing contractor or ADOT's Motor Vehicle Division, and does not perform emissions tests. This page is general information; ADEQ is the authority on your vehicle.
Arizona Emissions Test — Frequently Asked Questions
What Arizona drivers ask most.
Does Arizona require a safety inspection?+
No. ADEQ's FAQ says Arizona does not require a safety check. The program is an emissions test, with a quick look for conditions that make a vehicle unsafe to test, such as a fuel leak.
Do I need an appointment for an Arizona emissions test?+
No. Vehicles are tested first come, first served, and stations are open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADEQ says lines are shorter on weekdays from 4 to 5 p.m., Saturday afternoons and mid-month.
What do I need to bring?+
The test fee, and the key if your gas tank locks. If the vehicle is being registered in Arizona for the first time, also bring the previous registration, title or bill of sale. Any licensed driver the owner designates can bring the car in.
Do new cars need an emissions test in Arizona?+
Not at first. State law exempts a new vehicle before the sixth registration year after purchase or lease. ADEQ's FAQ puts it as exempt for the first 5 years of registration.
I'm moving to Arizona. Do I need a test?+
If you'll live in the Phoenix or Tucson area, yes: ADEQ says a vehicle must be emissions inspected before registration when you move into the area, unless it's exempt. Bring the current title or registration and your residence address.
Can I check a car's emissions test history by VIN?+
Yes. ADEQ runs a Vehicle Test History Inquiry that looks up a vehicle's tests by VIN, and Phoenix IM147 drive traces can be reprinted by VIN or plate.
Check the VIN Before You Buy in Arizona
Enter any 17-character VIN for a free preview. The full report lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
CarCheckerVIN is an independent vehicle-history service and is not affiliated with ADEQ or the State of Arizona. This guide summarizes ADEQ's published pages, the Arizona Revised Statutes and the Arizona Administrative Code and is not legal advice. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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