Missouri · MO · Vehicles
Missouri: Is there an annual vehicle safety inspection?
Regular safety inspection
Missouri requires a safety inspection every two years, but most cars under ten years old with under 150,000 miles are exempt.
Registered cars must pass an inspection of their mechanism and equipment every two years. Cars are exempt for the ten years after their model year if they have fewer than 150,000 miles, so the rule mainly affects older or high-mileage cars. A 2026 House effort to end most inspections did not become law: the bill that passed (SB 1408) changed only the speed-limit law, and the inspection statute is unchanged.
Conditions
- Inspection every two years
- Exempt for ten years after model year if under 150,000 miles
What the law says
The owner of every motor vehicle as defined in section 301.010 which is required to be registered in this state, except: ... shall submit such vehicles to a biennial inspection of their mechanism and equipment
Sources
- RSMo § 307.350 Official · revisor.mo.gov
- Missouri State Highway Patrol, Motor Vehicle Inspection Section Official · mshp.dps.missouri.gov
- Missourinet: Missouri House passes legislation to end most vehicle inspections (Feb. 17, 2026) Secondary · missourinet.com
- SB 1408 (2026), truly agreed and finally passed Official · senate.mo.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Missouri State Highway Patrol, Motor Vehicle Inspection Section
- Phone
- (573) 526-6132
- Website
- mshp.dps.missouri.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arkansas No safety inspectionArkansas does not require safety inspections for private passenger cars, either regularly or at registration.
- Illinois No safety inspectionNo. Illinois safety-tests trucks, buses, taxis and other commercial-type vehicles, but not ordinary private passenger cars.
- Iowa No safety inspectionNo. Iowa does not require safety inspections of private passenger cars to register them or on a regular schedule.
- Kansas No safety inspectionNo. Kansas does not require safety inspections of private cars; cars titled in another state get a Highway Patrol VIN check.
- Kentucky No safety inspectionNo. Kentucky does not require safety inspections of private cars; cars brought from other states get a VIN and odometer check.
- Nebraska No safety inspectionNebraska has no safety inspection; cars titled from another state get only an identification inspection of the VIN and odometer.
- Oklahoma No safety inspectionOklahoma does not require safety inspections of passenger cars to register or transfer them.
- Tennessee No safety inspectionTennessee does not require safety inspections of private passenger cars, including when a car is sold or brought from another state.