Emissions inspections are required for vehicles prior to registration and every two years thereafter.
Diesel Vehicles:
Diesel vehicles are not tested for emissions.
Exemptions:
1. New personal vehicles that have a manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin do not need to be inspected and will receive a 4 year new car inspection sticker upon registration through the dealership. The law still requires all vehicles to display the valid inspection sticker.
2. Personal vehicles that are manufactured pre-1968 do not need to be inspected.
3. Designated as a zero emissions vehicle.
For more information visit: https://dmv.dc.gov
D.C. Mun. Regs. Tit. 20
§ 2812 ALTERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE EXHAUST SYSTEM
2812.1 No person shall modify or alter the exhaust system of a motor vehicle or motorcycle in a manner that will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the vehicle above the level permitted under § 2811 of this chapter.
2812.2 No person shall use or operate a motor vehicle or a motorcycle having an exhaust system that has been modified or altered in a manner that will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the vehicle above the level permitted under § 2811 of this chapter.
§ 2811 OPERATIONAL LIMITS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES
2811.1 No person shall operate a motorcycle, motor vehicle, or combination of motor vehicles of a type subject to registration under D.C. Code § 40-103 (1990 Repl. Vol.) at any time, or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration, or deceleration in a manner that exceeds the maximum noise limits designated in the table of this subsection for the specified speed limits, measured at a distance of fifty feet (50 ft.) from the center line of travel by a sound level meter switched to the A-weighting network, in accordance with such nationally recognized test procedures as the administering agency may prescribe in accordance with § § 2700.7 through 2700.9 of Chapter 27 of this subtitle.
(a)Any motor vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) or more, and any combination of vehicles towed by that motor vehicle: 35 MPH or less: 86 dB(A) Over 35 MPH: 90 dB(A) Stationary Run-up: 88 dB(a)
Washington, D.C. DMV:
No historic motor vehicle shall be required to comply with any performance standard with which it was not legally required to achieve or comply when it was manufactured. Performance standards shall include, but not be limited to, standards or requirements for exhaust and noise emissions and for fuel usage.
Historic
Available for vehicles registered as Historic. There are two types: F(I) Historic Vehicles- any motor vehicle whose manufacturer's model year is at least 25 years old or any motor vehicle which is at least 15 years old and is a make of motor vehicle no longer manufactured; not exceeding a total mileage of 1,000 miles annually and F(II) Historic Vehicles - any motor vehicle whose manufacturer's model year is at least 25 years old or any motor which is at least 15 years old and is a make of motor vehicle no longer manufactured, and is used on the public highways for the transportation of passengers or property in conjunction with exhibitions, expositions, parades, tours, club activities, or similar activities or events, including transportation directly to or from such activities or events, but in no event used for general transportation.
YOM
Vintage license tags shall be permitted on historic motor vehicles in place of historic motor vehicle license tags if approved by the Director. A person who seeks to display vintage license tags shall submit an application to the Director by letter, or at the discretion of the Director, by email or through the Department's website. The application shall include the applicant's name, address, vehicle information number (“VIN”), make, model, year of manufacture, and a color photograph of the vintage tag. The Director may request the applicant to appear in person with the vintage tag for the purposes of inspection.