NC Registration and Inspection Summary
A North Carolina Vehicle Inspection is required in order for a motor vehicle titled in NC to be registered for a road use license (see NCDMV online for all exceptions). Exceptions include: vehicles older than 35 yrs are exempt; vehicles older than 20 years or less than 3 yrs/70,000mi are exempt from emissions testing regardless of the county of registration. Per NC DMV: Question: I’m moving to North Carolina from another state. Will my vehicle need to be inspected before I obtain my North Carolina license plate? You will be allowed to register the vehicle without an inspection. When your next annual registration renewal is due, you must have the vehicle inspected first (up to 90 days before) NC DMV: click here The certificate is valid for one year expiring at the end of the month of registration with NO GRACE PERIOD. The renewal is allowed starting 90 days prior to the expiration date. There are two types of Certificates issued after passing inspection: Safety only, and Safety/Emissions for the 19 counties that still require emissions testing. The local counties of Moore, Chatham, Richmond, Montgomery, Scotland, Lee, Harnett and Hoke require safety only inspections. The fee is $13.60, ($12.75 + $0.85 virtual "decal/certificate"). Re-inspection for Failure correction within 60 days at the same facility that performed the original inspection is at no-charge regardless of where the correction is made. Only the corrected item is inspected. There is a fee of $10 for checking the darkness of aftermarket window tinting. NOTE: window tint rules are best viewed at NCDMV website.
Emissions Test is not required for Moore County and the surrounding counties..
What is required: emission equipment presence confirmed, but not for function.