What You Need to Know About Emissions Testing in Illinois
In Illinois, vehicles more than four years old that were built in 1996 or later require emissions testing every two years.
Written by David Ghanizadeh-Khoob
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Illinois law requires emissions testing every two years in its most populous counties. With some exceptions, vehicles that are more than four years old, but built after 1996 must pass emissions testing to have their registration renewed.
Buying your first car? Moving to Illinois or to a new county? Just want to check if you are due for a test? Whatever your reason you’re looking for an emissions test, we’ve got you covered.
We understand that needing regular emissions tests can be annoying, but these tests can do a lot of good. They help regulate the number of pollutants in the air, make your car more fuel efficient, and force you to keep an eye out for any failing components.
To help you stay up to date on Illinois’ emission testing laws, the team at
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversIllinois emissions testing regulations
Not all states have laws governing emissions testing, but Illinois does. To meet the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
throughout the state, Illinois requires emissions tests for vehicles in counties that fail to meet these standards. Most counties are exempt from smog testing requirements, as the required zip codes tend to be in metropolitan areas. Further, certain types of vehicles are exempt from testing as well. Let’s go over these exemptions in more detail.
Which counties in Illinois require emissions testing?
The answer isn’t quite as simple as you might think. Since emissions testing in Illinois focuses on counties that fail to meet national air quality standards, the list gets a little complicated.
Let’s start with the counties in which every zip code requires smog testing. If you live in one of these counties, your vehicle will require emissions testing:
- Cook
- Dupage
- Lake
Now, there are a handful of counties where most vehicles require emissions testing unless they are registered under certain zip codes. If you live in one of the following counties, you can check the list of exempted zip codes
here
.- Kane
- Kendall
- McHenry
- Madison
- Monroe
- St. Clair
- Will
Finally, if you live in one of the counties not mentioned at all, then your vehicle does not need to be tested.
Which cars need emissions testing in Illinois?
If you do live in one of the areas that require emissions testing, your vehicle most likely requires testing. In general, all gasoline-powered vehicles made in 1996 or newer, that are more than four years old, require emissions testing every two years.
In addition to being required every two years, a passed emissions test is needed if you’re transferring ownership. If you buy your car from a dealer, the dealership is required to provide a valid emissions check. If you are buying from a private seller, though, you will have 20 days to register your vehicle, and once it is registered you will receive a test notice in the mail.
Exemptions from Illinois emissions testing
There is a pretty hefty list of vehicles that are exempt from Illinois’ emissions testing requirements. If your vehicle falls into one of the categories below, you won’t need to get it tested:
- Motorcycles, mopeds, and motorized bicycles
- Vehicles made in 1995 or earlier that are compliant with the February 1, 2007 Illinois Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law.
- Street rods
- Diesel powered vehicles
- Fully electric vehicles
- Vehicles only used in parades or other ceremonies
- Designated farm equipment
- Vehicles registered in another state that have already passed their state’s emissions check
- Vehicles used in amateur or professional sports
- Vehicles with a junk title issued by the Illinois Secretary of State
- Vehicles made in the 2006 model year weighing between 8,501 and 14,000 lbs
- Vehicles weighing more than 14,000 lbs
How does Illinois emissions testing work?
If you have received a test notice, or if you are within four months of renewing your registration, here is what you’ll need to do to get tested:
- Locate a testing center. There are testing centers all over the state. You can use thissearch toolto help you find one close to home.
- Bring your car in for an inspection. Inspections are usually pretty quick, typically only taking a few minutes (though, of course, wait times can affect this).
- Pay the fee at the testing center. It typically costs $20 for an emissions check in Illinois.
Types of emissions tests
The 2007 update to the Illinois emission inspection laws simplified the emissions testing procedure. While a few different types of testing were employed before 2007, most testing sites now use an OBD inspection.
Tests usually start with a basic inspection to ensure that your car is safe to inspect and a quick check of your dashboard lights and gas cap.
Then, the tester will use an OBD-II reader to see if there are any flagged issues with emissions related components. The main components tested are:
- Catalytic converter
- Exhaust gas recirculation valve
- Positive crankcase ventilation system
- Air injection system
- Evaporative emissions control
- Fuel inlet restrictor
- Thermostatic air cleaner
For any vehicles older than 1995 that are getting tested, Illinois law also requires that the inspection includes a check to ensure the gas cap seals properly.
What happens if you fail emissions testing in Illinois?
If any issues are discovered, your car will fail the emissions test. You will then need to make all required repairs to pass another test.
You can be fined up to $250 if you are caught driving with a car that hasn’t passed emissions testing. The bigger issue, though, is that you won’t be able to renew your registration without a passed smog test.
If you complete a bunch of repairs and your car still fails, then you might be eligible for a repair waiver. To apply for a repair waiver, the vehicle must have had the maximum number of repairs allowed under the vehicle’s emissions performance warranty.
Illinois Hardship Waivers are available for individuals who cannot afford the repairs needed for cars to pass the emissions test. This is a waiver designed to help low-income residents by giving them a one-year waiver to extend the due date for their smog test. You can apply for the hardship extension through the
Illinois Air Team website
. How to save on car insurance in Illinois
Emissions tests in Illinois usually only take a few minutes—but shopping for car insurance normally takes a lot longer. With the
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Do you need an emissions test every year in Illinois?
No. In Illinois, emissions tests are required every other year for vehicles more than four years old. Models older than 1996 are exempt altogether.
How do I avoid emissions testing in Illinois?
It is best to not try to avoid an emissions test if you are required to get one. If you want to avoid emissions tests, your best bet is to buy a car that is older than 1996, that is fully electric, or that runs on diesel.
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