Indiana vehicle inspection requirements

Frequency and due triggers

Emissions inspection · renewal: Every two years in the matching model-year/calendar-year parity year; Before renewal in the matching model-year/calendar-year parity year.

Emissions inspection · move in: Once before the applicable first Indiana registration, then every two years; Before the first Indiana registration when the vehicle is due in the matching parity year.

Emissions inspection · private sale: Once before the applicable registration after purchase, then every two years; Before registration after purchase when the vehicle is due in the matching parity year.

Emissions inspection · dealer: Once before the applicable registration after dealer purchase, then every two years; Before registration after dealer purchase when the vehicle is due in the matching parity year.

Emissions inspection · retest: One emissions retest after a failed Clean Air Car Check; After emissions repairs and before the failed Clean Air Car Check can be cleared.

VIN / identity inspection · move in: transaction-only; Before the out-of-state vehicle is titled and registered.

VIN / identity inspection · private sale: transaction-only; Before the out-of-state vehicle is titled and registered.

VIN / identity inspection · dealer: transaction-only; Before the out-of-state vehicle is titled and registered.

VIN / identity inspection · retest: transaction-only; Before the out-of-state vehicle is titled and registered.

Fees

Emissions inspection: Amount set or confirmed by the listed authority. Official BMV guidance reviewed here does not state the test fee.

VIN / identity inspection: Maximum fee: $5. Indiana BMV branches and BMV-certified service providers perform the VIN inspection at no charge; a law-enforcement officer may charge no more than $5.

What to bring

Indiana registration renewal notice or current registration; Vehicle, or completed State Form 39530 when the vehicle cannot be brought to a BMV branch; Out-of-state certificate of title or other accepted ownership document

High-impact exceptions

• Indiana has no periodic safety inspection program.
• Indiana exempts the four newest model years from the Lake and Porter County emissions test.
• A vehicle registered as an antique is exempt from Indiana's emissions testing requirement.
• Indiana's passenger/light-duty emissions program exempts diesel, battery-electric, and qualifying dedicated alternative-fuel vehicles.
• Indiana ordinary registration/renewal has no VIN inspection step; IC 9-17-2-12 covers out-of-state first-title VIN as a separate transaction situation.
• Indiana's physical VIN inspection trigger applies to a vehicle coming from another state, not to an ordinary Indiana-title transfer.