In Colorado, vehicle inspections are conducted by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Your inspection requirements vary based on where you live and what type of vehicle you drive.

State Of Colorado Auto Emissions Program. Describes the mandatory vehicle emissions testing program in the Denver-Boulder area of Colorado, including maps to emissions stations, testing requirements, help for. State of Energy in Colorado event highlights Colorado’s role in America’s energy renaissance.

New to Colorado?

Once you become a resident, you have 30 days to get a Colorado driver's license and 90 days to register your vehicle.

You may need to get an emissions inspection before you can register your vehicle. Whether or not you need an emissions inspection depends on where you live or what type of vehicle you might have. All the requirements and exemptions are listed below.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Verification

Any vehicle purchased in another state and being registered in Colorado must have a VIN verification performed, UNLESS:

• It was purchased from a dealer or out-of-state seller as brand new;
  AND
• Your Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO), dealer receipt, or bill of sale clearly states that the vehicle was purchased as new.

Otherwise, you can get a VIN verification done at all law enforcement offices, car dealerships, and certain automotive care and repair businesses. There will be fees charged for VIN verifications, and prices vary from place to place.

Go to the Colorado State Patrol website to find your district and an office to visit for the VIN verification.

CO Smog Check Requirements

Whether you are required to get a Colorado emissions test depends on where you live. If you either reside or work in the emissions testing area, your vehicle will need to be inspected. Some counties require testing throughout the entire county, while others only require it in parts of the county. For more information, please call (303) 205-5603.

The following counties require emissions testing throughout the entire county:

• Boulder.
• Broomfield.
• Denver.
• Douglas.
• Jefferson.

Counties that only require emissions testing in certain parts of the county are:

• Adams.
• Arapahoe.
• Larimer.
• Weld.

El Paso County requires ONLY diesel inspections and those are limited to certain parts of the county.

There are maps available to see if you live or work in an emissions testing area. You may also contact your county Division of Motor Vehicles office to see if your vehicle requires an emissions test. For other questions about emissions call (303) 692-3121.

Vehicles Requiring Emissions Testing

The type of test you receive, and how often you get it, depends upon the type and model year of your vehicle.Hybrids follow the same emissions requirements as gas powered vehicles.

• Passenger cars and light trucks:
  • Model year 1988 to 2012: OBDI test every 2 years.
  • Model year 1982 and newer: I/M 240 emissions test, performed every 2 years.
  • Model year 1981 and older: The two-speed idle test, performed annually.
• Heavy duty vehicles (must weigh over 8,500 lbs.)
  • NOTE: Testing must be completed at an I/M 240 testing station, even though you are getting an idle test.
• Diesel vehicles:
  • New diesel vehicles with a gross weight over 14,000 lbs. or less are exempt from emissions testing for 4 years. After that, they must be tested every 2 years.
  • Any diesel vehicle model year 2004 or newer needs to be tested every 2 years.
  • Any diesel vehicle model year 2003 or older is required to undergo emissions testing annually.
  • Large fleets of diesel vehicles (9 vehicles or more) are subject to self-inspection and certification.
  • Small fleets and individual diesel vehicles must be inspected at a diesel inspection station.
• Collector vehicles (defined as vehicles at lease 1975 or older and meeting other specific requirements): Testing varies by vehicle. Vehicles built in 1975 and before can be registered as collector and may not be required to have an emissions inspection Please contact the Colorado Department of Revenue a (303) 205-5603 for more information.

CO Emissions Testing Exemptions

If you do not live within the inspection areas listed above, you are exempt from emissions testing.

There are very few vehicle exemptions to the emissions testing program within the inspection areas. Exempt vehicles include:

• Vehicles for the first7 model years.
• Motorcycles.
• Vehicles registered as:
  • Horseless carriages.
  • Street rods.
  • Kit cars.

Colorado Emissions Inspection Fees

The amount you will pay for your emissions inspection depends on the model year of your vehicle, and whether it is gasoline or diesel powered.

• Gasoline vehicles model year 1982 and newer: $25.
• Gasoline vehicles model year 1981 and older: $15.
• Heavy duty trucks: $25.
• Diesel vehicles: cost is determined by inspection station.
• VIN verification: $20.

Failed CO Emissions Tests & Waivers

Your vehicle will fail the emissions inspection if:

• It fails any one of the standards being tested for.
• Any of your emissions equipment is not working properly.

Your vehicle inspection report will explain what part of the test your vehicle failed. You will need to make repairs to your vehicle and get it retested, and pay any fees charged by the inspection center for the retest.

Safety Inspection Failures

Although there is no safety inspection required, the inspection station may fail your vehicle if it has inoperable parts, is unsafe to inspect, or has fluid issues. Some reasons a vehicle may be determined unsafe or inoperable are:

• Alignment issues making it unstable on the dynamometer.
• Dashboard lights warning of an equipment malfunction or low fluid levels.
• Inoperable driver door.
• Ineffective brakes.
• An overheating engine.
• Fluid leaks.
• Transmission issues causing faulty shifting.

This is not a complete list. Each inspection station will determine independently whether the vehicle is unfit to be inspected for any reason.

Completing a Vehicle Inspection Retest

If you had your vehicle tested at an Air Care Colorado testing center, you may be able to get a free retest if you repair your vehicle and return to any one of the Air Care Colorado testing centers within 10 calendar days. If the 10th day falls on a Sunday or holiday on which the testing center is closed, an extension to the 11th day will be granted.

If you do not return within the 10 calendar days, you will be charged the normal fees.

CO Emissions Inspection Waivers

Repair Waiver

If you have made repairs to your vehicle and still fail your emissions retest, you may be able to get an emissions waiver in order to register your vehicle. The waiver is good for one emissions testing cycle.

To apply for a waiver, the repairs must have been made by a professional mechanic, and you must have spent up to or more than the amount required for gas vehicles model year 1968 and newer: $715

If you believe you qualify for the repair waiver, you may contact the CO Division of Motor Vehicles at (303) 205-5603. Make sure to keep all receipts to prove the amount paid.

Economic Hardship Waiver

You may qualify for an economic hardship waiver if you are getting financial aid from an approved program, and your failed vehicle is your only method of transportation. There are no minimum repairs required to qualify.

If you believe you qualify for the hardship waiver, call the Colorado DMV at (303) 205-5603.

CO Emissions Inspection Stations

All gasoline vehicles manufactured since 1982 are required to use the Air Care Colorado inspection stations, which are the official entities contracted by the state of Colorado. Use the interactive Air Care Colorado map to find stations and see what the wait times are at each station.

Gasoline vehicles manufactured through 1981 can go to any of the Air Care Colorado inspection stations or use an approved independent testing station.

Diesel vehicle testing centers can be found on this diesel test centers map.

Out-of-State Emissions Testing in Colorado

Colorado residents who are out of state at the time they are supposed to renew their registration can apply for an extension or get an emissions test from another state.

Many states have their own emissions testing program. Out-of state-residents will need to get an emissions test from the state where they are currently staying.

State Of Colorado Auto Emissions Program

If the state you are in does not have emissions inspection requirements, you can apply for a temporary exemption. The exemption will allow you to renew your registration, but you will be required to pass an emissions test within 15 days of returning to Colorado.

To complete your emissions inspection requirements or apply for a temporary exemption from out of state:

• Fill out the Application for an Affidavit for Emissions Extension (Form DR 2376).
• Get a member of the state law enforcement in the state you are residing to complete the Form Verification of Vehicle Identification Number (Form DR 2698) in order to prove your vehicle is with you in another state.
• Pass an emissions test from the state you are currently in, if applicable (you can find guides to emissions checks for all states).
• Send both forms, proof of the passed emissions test (if applicable), proof of insurance, and payment for your Colorado registration renewal to your Colorado county clerk's office.

Forms

This form is provided by your state's agency/department.

Please select one of the below to continue:

Latest DMV.ORG Articles

All car owners who reside in Colorado must take their car for a regular vehicle inspection, completed at the DMV. Emissions testing is a part of the vehicle inspections done in some counties, and its purpose is to ensure that cars on the road are not emitting a high level of smog. Passing the smog check is mandatory for vehicles before a registration renewal.

The requirements for these inspections differ depending on the vehicle’s model year and fuel type. Vehicles being registered for the first time in emissions testing areas must also undergo testing. Review the following sections for more information on car emissions inspections in CO.

Colorado Emissions and Smog Check Requirements

The emission test requirements in Colorado generally vary depending on the car’s model year and fuel type. The type of inspection conducted will be contingent on these factors, each with slightly different criteria. There are five different types of smog checks that are administered in CO:

• Onboard diagnostics (OBD)
• Two-speed idle test
• I/M 240 dynamometer (treadmill) test
• RapidScreen Roadside test
• Diesel emissions test

The OBD emissions test is conducted on gasoline-fueled or hybrid vehicles that are 8 to 11 years old. The standards for hybrid vehicles are the same as for gasoline-powered vehicles. Through this method of inspection, vehicles that display a “check engine” light will automatically fail.

The vehicle inspection for cars that are at least 12 years old but have a model year no earlier than 1982 will include the I/M 240 dynamometer test. It is possible to pass the treadmill smog test even if the “check engine” indicator is on. Gasoline-fueled cars manufactured before 1982 will undergo the two-speed idle test.

50 State Emissions States

The DMV smog test for low-emissions vehicles is the RapidScreen Roadside test. The test for these types of vehicles does not require the car to be taken in for a physical inspection. Independent smog certification providers must be sought for diesel vehicle owners, as the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment does not administer testing for diesel-powered vehicles.

Smog Check Exemptions in Colorado

Emissions testing in Colorado is not required for all vehicles. Vehicle testing is only mandatory in certain counties in the state, particularly those that are at risk for high smog levels. Even within these counties, the vehicle inspections are not mandatory for all vehicles.

Vehicle inspections are only compulsory for certain Colorado counties. Residents living outside of these counties are not subject to Colorado emissions testing, except in very special cases. Car owners living within the following counties are required to take their vehicle in for a smog inspection:

• Boulder County
• Broomfield County
• Denver County
• Douglas County
• Jefferson County
• Some parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Larimer, and Weld County

Emissions testing in Colorado is not required if the vehicle is:

• A motorcycle, farm vehicle, moped or horseless carriage
• 7 model years old or less
• A collector’s vehicle with the model year of 1975 or older
• Completely run by electric power

Out-of-State Emissions Testing in Colorado

The regular emissions testing requirement for Colorado residents is mandatory even if the car owner is living in another state temporarily. However, the state allows for testing to be done outside of CO, with a little extra paperwork.

Colorado residents who need to take have an inspection completed must first find a smog test provider in their temporary place of residence. If this region does not offer testing, any law enforcement officer may complete the inspection.

Once the vehicle inspection is completed, the car owner must send the test results to the Colorado DMV with a completed Application for an Affidavit of Emissions Extension (Form DR 2376). If the test was performed in a state that does not offer emission inspections, a Verification of Vehicle Identification Number (Form 2698) must also be included.

Emissions Waivers in Colorado

Car owners are eligible for CO DMV emissions testing waiver in certain cases. Car owners whose vehicle has failed inspection may be waived from the inspection if they have spent more than $715 in professional auto repairs necessary to pass the test. If the car model year is 1967 or older and did not pass the safety and emissions inspection, the owner must spend over $75 in repairs to be eligible for the waiver. The waiver is valid for one inspection.

A waiver for Colorado emissions testing may also be given to those experiencing economic hardship. The waiver may be awarded to car owners who are enrolled in a financial aid program to pay for car repairs and do not have any other means of transportation. There is no minimum amount of repairs that need to be made on the failed vehicle to qualify for the waiver.

Testing Fees in Colorado

The CO smog check price varies depending on the model year of the car. Most cars will require a $25 fee for testing, while others may subject to different prices. Owners of diesel-powered cars will be subject to the price quoted at the Diesel Emission Testing Center they choose to have their vehicle inspected at.

For emissions testing in Colorado, the cost of inspecting a gasoline powered car that was manufactured in 1982 or later is $25. Gasoline-fueled cars with a model year prior to 1982 will need a smog check more frequently at $15 each inspection. Diesel-powered cars must go to a special Diesel Emission Testing Center for a vehicle inspection, which charge prices independent of state government fees. Diesel testing centers can charge up to one labor hour of service.

Where to Perform an Emissions Check in Colorado

There are several emissions testing locations throughout Colorado, serving cities such as Denver, Boulder, Castle Rock, and Fort Collins. All smog check stations are open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am until 5:30 pm and on Saturdays from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm. No emissions testing centers are open on Sundays or holidays.

Each location is an official Colorado DMV smog check provider and has licensed professionals conducting tests. Inspectors at inspection clinics are certified to perform emissions checks on many different types of vehicles. Employees will conduct the appropriate inspection depending on the make and model of the vehicle.

Failing a Colorado Smog and Emissions Check

The purpose of Colorado emissions testing is to make sure that no car on the road is giving off a dangerously high level of smog. Not every car that undergoes inspection will pass the test, especially if the car is older and has never been inspected before.

The first step to taking care of a failed DMV smog check in CO is to determine why the vehicle did not pass. The reason for a failed test can be found in the Vehicle Inspection Report, which is given to the car owner after the inspection is complete. Common reasons for failure include having a “check engine” indicator on, emitting too much carbon dioxide, the gas cap not functioning properly, or smoke from the tailpipe being thicker than the acceptable standard.

State Of Colorado Auto License Plates

Next, the car owner can resolve the safety and emissions issue by going to a repair facility. The Vehicle Inspection Report will have a list of well-known repair providers, but the car owner can take the vehicle to any licensed auto shop of their choosing. The specific issues that prevented the vehicle from passing the inspection should be addressed. When the problems are fixed, the car owner can return to the vehicle emissions test provider for a retest.

Colorado Emissions Laws