Ohio requires emissions tests for vehicles every other year in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit counties (Cleveland Metropolitan area). Even model year vehicles must be tested during even-numbered years and odd model year vehicles must be tested during the odd-numbered years.
Diesel Vehicles:
All diesel-fueled vehicles equaling 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or less must be tested.
Exemptions:
1. New vehicles for the newest four (4) model years
2. Vehicles that are 26 model year old or older
3. Vehicles with a GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs
4. Vehicles registered as "historical" or "collector" vehicles
5. Parade and exhibition vehicles
6. Electric vehicles (one-time verification inspection required)
For more information visit: https://epa.ohio.gov/
Ohio Revised Code
§ 4513.22. Mufflers; excessive smoke or gas
(A) Every motor vehicle and motorcycle with an internal combustion engine shall at all times be equipped with a muffler which is in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and no person shall use a muffler cutout, by-pass, or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway. Every motorcycle muffler shall be equipped with baffle plates.
No person shall own, operate, or have in the person's possession any motor vehicle or motorcycle equipped with a device for producing excessive smoke or gas, or so equipped as to permit oil or any other chemical to flow into or upon the exhaust pipe or muffler of such vehicle, or equipped in any other way to produce or emit smoke or dangerous or annoying gases from any portion of such vehicle, other than the ordinary gases emitted by the exhaust of an internal combustion engine under normal operation.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
§ 4513.221 Noise control
(A) The board of county commissioners of any county, and the board of township trustees of any township subject to section 505.17 of the Revised Code, may regulate passenger car and motorcycle noise on streets and highways under their jurisdiction. Such regulations shall include maximum permissible noise limits measured in decibels, subject to the requirements of this section.
(B) Regulations establishing maximum permissible noise limits measured in decibels shall prohibit the operation, within the speed limits specified herein, of a passenger car or motorcycle of a type subject to registration at any time or under any condition of load, acceleration, or deceleration in such manner as to exceed the following maximum noise limits, based on a distance of not less than fifty feet from the center of the line of travel:
(1) For passenger cars:
(a) When operated at a speed of thirty-five miles per hour or less, a maximum noise limit of seventy decibels;
(b) When operated at a speed of more than thirty-five miles per hour, a maximum noise limit of seventy-nine decibels.
(C) Maximum noise limits established pursuant to division (B) of this section shall be measured on the "A" scale of a standard sound level meter meeting the applicable requirements for a type 2 sound level meter as defined in American national standards institute standard S1.4--1983, or the most recent revision thereof. Measurement practices shall be in substantial conformity with standards and recommended practice established by the society of automotive engineers, including SAE standard J 986 A NOV81, SAE standard J 366 MAR85, SAE standard J 331 A, and such other standards and practices as may be approved by the federal government.
(F) Whoever violates any maximum noise limit established as provided in division (B) of this section or any of the prohibitions authorized in division (E) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Fines collected under this section by the county shall be paid into the county general fund, and such fines collected by the township shall be paid into the township general fund.
No regulation adopted under this section shall apply to commercial racetrack operations.
Collector
Available for vehicles that are reference in the National Automobile Dealers Association Classic, Collectible and Special Interest Car Appraisal Guide, or comparable guides including the 4th Edition Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 or the New Complete Book of Collectible Cars 1930-1990. Vehicles not listed in these publications may be eligible if the applicant obtains documentation from the manufacturer that the vehicle was in limited production or is in demand as a collectible vehicle at the time of the application.
Historical
Available for vehicles that are at least 25 years old and used for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, but not for general transportation.
YOM
Vehicles registered as "Historical" may display YOM plates with DMV approval. The historical plates and registration must be carried within the vehicle at all times.