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Utah emissions test: the official wording
Everything in quotation marks here is from 2 sources and was matched to them on November 11, 2026. The quotes are the sources’ words; ours only label them.
About these quotes.
Several lines below are printed for one county each and carry that county’s label. We do not quote the page’s county-by-county lists of exemptions or its county tables, because a line taken from one would not show which county it belongs to.
On this page: where · how often · fee · new and older vehicles · diesel, electric, hybrid · check a vehicle · sources
What does the text call it?
If you are a Utah resident and temporarily residing outside of Utah, your vehicle may be required to receive an emissions inspection.
The page we point to: Utah DMV, Vehicle Inspections.
Which counties does the text name?
The quoted text names 5 counties:
- Cache County
- Davis County
- Salt Lake County
- Utah County
- Weber County
Utah law requires all licensed Utah dealers to assure vehicles they sell to residents of Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, or Weber counties meet emissions testing requirements prior to issuing a temporary permit.
How often is the test?
Salt Lake County
Vehicles registered in Salt Lake County with model years less than six years old are required to have an emissions test once every two years.
Salt Lake County
Listed under:
Vehicles registered in Salt Lake County with model years less than six years old are required to have an emissions test once every two years.
Vehicles in this category that have even-numbered model years must have an emissions test in even-numbered years, and vehicles that have odd-numbered model years must have an emissions test in odd-numbered years.
Davis County
Vehicles registered in Davis County with model years less than six years old are required to have an emission test once every two years.
Weber County
Vehicles registered in Weber County with model years less than six years old are required to have an emission test once every two years.
Cache County
Vehicles registered in Cache County with model years less than six years old are not required to have an emission test.
An emission inspection may be made no more than two months prior to the renewal of the registration.
What does the test cost?
We found no fee on the pages we could read for Utah. That is a gap in what we could quote, not a statement about the rule.
What does the text say about new and older vehicles?
Salt Lake County
Vehicles registered in Salt Lake County with model years less than six years old are required to have an emissions test once every two years.
Davis County
Vehicles registered in Davis County with model years less than six years old are required to have an emission test once every two years.
Weber County
Vehicles registered in Weber County with model years less than six years old are required to have an emission test once every two years.
Cache County
Vehicles registered in Cache County with model years less than six years old are not required to have an emission test.
What about diesel, electric and hybrid vehicles?
Every current line we hold for Utah that uses the word diesel, electric or hybrid. Some are about one place or one kind of test; each speaks for itself.
Utah County
Diesel powered vehicles with model years 1998 – 2021 require an emissions inspection in Utah County.
What else does the text say?
For more information about emissions test requirements contact the appropriate County Health Department below:
Listed under:
Do dealers perform required inspections?
Yes. Dealers must assure vehicles meet all inspection requirements before the vehicles are sold, and a copy of the required certificate(s) must be given to the customer at the time of sale. Emissions testing, if required, must have been done within eleven months prior to sale.
Shown with it, so that neither is read alone:
Listed under:
Do dealers perform required inspections?Listed under:
Exceptions
New Vehicles with an MSO are exempt from emissions testing.
Listed under:
Does my vintage vehicle need an emissions inspection?
Vintage vehicles with model years 1982 & older do not require an emissions inspection.
Shown with it, so that neither is read alone:
However, Senate Bill 51 changed the requirements for vintage vehicles with model years 1983 & newer that are located in a county where emissions inspections are required.
If your vehicle is required to receive an emissions inspection you may be eligible for a deferment from your Utah resident county.
Salt Lake County
Independent testing facilities located throughout Salt Lake County perform the emissions testing. The Vehicle Emissions Program licenses and regulates the facilities.
Check a vehicle against these quotes
Enter a model year, a fuel, and choose the county. The checker repeats the quotes above and, where a figure can be compared, says where your entry falls against it. It does not decide anything about your vehicle.
Where do these quotes come from?
- Utah DMV, Vehicle Inspections (dmv.utah.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
- Salt Lake County Health Department, Vehicle Emissions Program (saltlakecounty.gov; city or county government page; read November 11, 2026)
Spotted a quote that has changed at its source? Tell us. See also the comparison table for the other states.