Vermont: Is there an annual vehicle safety inspection?
Vermont requires every registered vehicle to pass a safety inspection once a year.
The yearly inspection also includes a visual emissions check. Cars 16 model years old or newer also get an onboard diagnostics (OBD) emissions check. A vehicle newly registered in Vermont must be inspected within 15 days of registration. The DMV says there is no grace period once a sticker expires. A 2026 law (Act 153) directs the DMV to fail cars only for problems that pose an immediate safety risk.
Conditions
- Inspection once a year
- Inspection within 15 days of first Vermont registration
- OBD emissions check for vehicles 16 model years old or newer
What the law says
(a) Except for school buses, which shall be inspected as prescribed in section 1282 of this title, and motor buses as defined in subdivision 4(17) of this title, which shall be inspected twice during the calendar year at six-month intervals, all motor vehicles registered in this State shall undergo a safety and visual emissions inspection once each year and all motor vehicles that are registered in this State and are 16 model years old or less shall undergo an emissions or on board diagnostic (OBD) systems inspection once each year as applicable. Any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer not currently inspected in this State shall be inspected within 15 days following the date of its registration in the State of Vermont.
Sources
- 23 V.S.A. § 1222 Official · legislature.vermont.gov
- Vermont DMV, Vehicle Inspections Official · dmv.vermont.gov
- Act 153 of 2026 (S.326), act summary Official · legislature.vermont.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
- Phone
- 802-828-2000
- Website
- dmv.vermont.gov
How bordering states compare
- Massachusetts Regular safety inspectionMassachusetts requires a yearly safety inspection for registered motor vehicles.
- New Hampshire No safety inspectionNew Hampshire ended its annual vehicle safety inspection on January 31, 2026.
- New York Regular safety inspectionNew York requires every registered vehicle to pass a safety inspection once a year.