Can I get my out of state car inspected in PA?
Pennsylvania law allows vehicle owners who are outside the Commonwealth for more than 30 continuous days, to have their vehicle inspected within 10 days upon their return to Pennsylvania.
To avoid a fine, the inspection sticker should not be allowed to expire. If the vehicle owner is out of state for more than 30 days from the expiration of the inspection sticker, an extra 10-day grace period.
Since 2005, Pennsylvania no longer requires that the inspection sticker expiration and vehicle registration expiration coincide for annually inspected vehicles. Vehicle owners can request that their inspection and registration expirations match, but this may result in a shortened inspection cycle initially.
If your vehicle inspection expires, you can legally drive your vehicle to an inspection station within 10 days of the expiration, only if you have booked an appointment at the station and can prove you are driving there. Otherwise, you cannot drive the vehicle.
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person violating this section is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of up to $25.
A police officer may summarily remove an unauthorized, expired or unlawfully issued certificate of inspection from any vehicle or mass transit vehicle.
- PROOF OF OWNERSHIP.
- PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION.
- NOTE: Each of the documents above must be in the same name and address as listed on Form MV-1.
- PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (VEHICLE INSURANCE)
If your vehicle still doesn't pass the inspection, and you can show that you have spent at least $150 on emissions-related repairs, you may be eligible for a one-year waiver.
What is the Pennsylvania Safety Inspection Program? Pennsylvania has mandatory vehicle inspections for vehicles registered within the state. An official PennDOT inspection station must perform vehicle safety inspections.
In addition, the person violating this section commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500.
What will make you fail inspection in PA?
Inspectors will check your car's body to ensure it is in proper working order. Your bumpers, hood, hood latches, and doors must work properly and close properly. Your chassis must also be in perfect condition, have no cracks, and no visible damage.
Be sure to bring a copy of your valid vehicle insurance, your vehicle's title, your vehicle's VIN by an authorized inspection mechanic, notary public, or issuing agent, and your vehicle registration. Ready for your next inspection? Give us a call!

$39.99 PA Inspection & Emissions Test
Pass or fail. 1996 and newer vehicles.
Officers can view the inspection sticker on the stop AND use electronics to check your license plates with almost every state's database.
Harrisburg, PA -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that expiration dates for vehicle registrations and safety and emission inspections will be extended for Pennsylvania residents in response to statewide COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
The vehicle inspection system allows for voluntary participation by stations to order stickers and inserts online and pay by using a credit or debit card. Access process instructions are below.
(1) If a registration is renewed before 2 months have elapsed since its scheduled expiration, the renewed registration shall expire 1 year after the last day of the month in which it had been scheduled to expire.
- The original out-of-state vehicle title.
- A completed application for a certificate of ownership.
- A completed Pennsylvania vehicle registration application.
- Proof of a valid PA vehicle insurance policy.
- Proof of identification (ex. A valid driver's license)
You will need the Pennsylvania Certificate of title, Pennsylvania Driver's License or Pennsylvania Photo Identification, a copy of your current insurance identification card is required if registration is to be issued and Form MV-4ST “Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return/Application for Registration.” Form MV-4ST is only ...
- ALL named parties on existing title must be present. ...
- Title (Original. ...
- Valid PA Driver's License.
- Proof of current PENNSYLVANIA insurance in the name of at least one named party on title.
- Current mileage of the vehicle.
Do you need proof of insurance for PA inspection?
Vehicle inspection stations require all vehicle owners to present proof of insurance before having their vehicles inspected. If an owner fails to present proof of insurance, the inspection official, in addition to denying a certificate of inspection, may notify PennDOT.
A word about the PA State Inspection Emissions Test
If the check engine light is illuminated, it will fail emission inspection. A diagnostic and repair must be performed and the light must be reset before your car will pass the emission inspection.
Are any vehicles exempt from Pennsylvania's emissions program? Yes. Vehicles will be exempt from the program if: • the vehicle has been owned for one year and driven less than 5,000 miles in the prior year.
According to the Pennsylvania statute Title 75, Chapter 13, antique vehicles are not required to submit to safety and emissions inspections. An antique car is any vehicle 25 years or older from its date of manufacture.
One sticker certifies the car is safe to drive on PA roads. The other sticker certifies the vehicle is not emitting toxic emissions to the environment. Vehicle emissions and safety inspections are performed at official PennDOT Inspection Stations (usually a repair garage or a service station with a repair shop).
When a car fails an inspection, it will receive a failed inspection sticker. You can drive your vehicle home and to a repair facility on a rejection sticker. You'll typically receive a specific time frame to repair any issues outlined in the inspection and to have the vehicle re-inspected.
...
State | Does TPMS have to be functional in order to pass inspection? |
---|---|
Pennsylvania | No. Confirmed by the DMV. |
Miscellaneous Motor Vehicle | Amount |
---|---|
Annual Inspection Sticker: | $9.00 |
Civil Penalty in lieu of Suspension: | $500.00 |
Dealer's Notification: | $5.00 |
Emission Inspection Sticker: | No Fee |
PA Safety Inspection | $47.95 (includes $8 sticker / program management fee) +tax. There is a $10+ surcharge for commercial vehicles, vans, and large trucks. |
---|---|
PA Emissions Inspection | $16.86 (includes $1.57 sticker / program management fee) +tax |
Motorcycle Inspection | $27.78 (includes $8 sticker / program management fee) +tax |
Years | Emissions sticker color | Annual windshield sticker color |
---|---|---|
2020/2021 | Magenta | Green |
2021/2022 | Yellow | Blue |
2022/2023 | Yellow | Magenta |
2023/2024 | Green | Orange |
Can an uninspected car be parked on the street in PA?
Parking and Storage of Unlicensed and Uninspected Vehicles on Streets and Alleys Restricted. § 402. Dismantled Vehicles not to be Stored or Parked on Streets and Alleys. § 403.
Out-of-state inspections
If you are currently living in another state and your vehicle is up for renewal, you can still get your vehicle inspected in that state. However, you will need both a safety inspection as well as an emissions inspection.
A vehicle newly registered in Pennsylvania must have a safety inspection within ten (10) days of the registration date.
- The original out-of-state vehicle title.
- A completed application for a certificate of ownership.
- A completed Pennsylvania vehicle registration application.
- Proof of a valid PA vehicle insurance policy.
- Proof of identification (ex. A valid driver's license)
Be sure to bring a copy of your valid vehicle insurance, your vehicle's title, your vehicle's VIN by an authorized inspection mechanic, notary public, or issuing agent, and your vehicle registration. Ready for your next inspection? Give us a call!
This certificate, displayed on your vehicle at all times, allows you to drive safely and legally on the road. Police officers can stop you and write you a citation if you drive your vehicle without it. Failure to complete a mandatory safety inspection in Pennsylvania will result in a $500 fine for noncompliance.
Vehicle inspection stations require all vehicle owners to present proof of insurance before having their vehicles inspected. If an owner fails to present proof of insurance, the inspection official, in addition to denying a certificate of inspection, may notify PennDOT.
$39.99 PA Inspection & Emissions Test
Pass or fail. 1996 and newer vehicles.
You will need the Pennsylvania Certificate of title, Pennsylvania Driver's License or Pennsylvania Photo Identification, a copy of your current insurance identification card is required if registration is to be issued and Form MV-4ST “Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return/Application for Registration.” Form MV-4ST is only ...
According to PennDot, it costs $58 to do a Pennsylvania title transfer. The fee is the same whether getting an original title, duplicate title, or at a registered dealer. If there's a lien on the vehicle, the cost will be $86.
Can you register a car in Pennsylvania if you live in another state?
Drivers living in two different states can register their vehicle in the state where they drive the most or register in both.
Is There a Grace Period for Expired Inspection Stickers in PA? No. Your PA State Inspection is valid through the last day of the month and year listed on the sticker.
A word about the PA State Inspection Emissions Test
If the check engine light is illuminated, it will fail emission inspection. A diagnostic and repair must be performed and the light must be reset before your car will pass the emission inspection.