If your car needs to pass a North Carolina inspection but your check engine light is on, your vehicle likely won’t pass. However, some NC residents can pass a vehicle inspection with a check engine light on if their county doesn’t require emissions testing. As you prepare for your NC state vehicle inspection, take a minute to learn more about why a check engine light can cause you to fail your inspection and how to solve the issue.
What Types of Vehicle Inspections Do Vehicles Need in North Carolina?
If you live in North Carolina, your vehicle will need to pass a safety inspection annually. Many NC counties also require vehicle owners to pass an emissions inspection alongside the safety inspection. Below, you can find a brief overview of what each inspection involves:
- Safety inspection: A safety inspection is focused on checking that your vehicle is safe to drive. During this inspection, a technician will check your headlights, tires, brakes, turn signals, windshield wipers, brake lights, accessory lights, horns, steering system, rearview mirrors, and window tints for their safety.
- Emissions inspection: As the name suggests, an emissions inspection is focused on checking that your vehicle is complying with the state’s emissions standards. The emissions inspection will involve checks of your engine, sensors, monitors, and dashboard lights to ensure they’re working appropriately.
Can a Vehicle Pass Inspection With a Check Engine Light On in NC?
If you live in a county that only requires a safety inspection and not an emissions inspection, your vehicle can pass an NC inspection even if the check engine light is on. However, if you live in a county that requires an emissions inspection, you will fail your inspection if your check engine light is on.
What NC Counties Require Emissions Inspections?
19 counties in North Carolina require emissions testing for most vehicles. The NC counties that require emissions testing include:
- Alamance
- Buncombe
- Cabarrus
- Cumberland
- Davidson
- Durham
- Forsyth
- Franklin
- Gaston
- Guilford
- Iredell
- Johnston​
- Lincoln
- Mecklenburg
- New Hanover
- Randolph​
- Rowan
- Wake
- Union
If you’re a resident of one of the above counties, your vehicle will not pass its emissions test if the engine light is on.
Get a State Emissions Inspection
What Types of Vehicles Are Exempt From Emissions Inspections?
North Carolina exempts some types of vehicles from emissions inspections. The following vehicles do not need emissions inspections in North Carolina:
- Diesel-operated vehicles
- Vehicles registered as a farm vehicle
- Vehicles that are 20 years old or older
- Some light-duty vehicles that have fewer than 70,000 miles or are less than three years old
- Antique vehicles
How to Pass State Inspection With Check Engine Light On in North Carolina
Unless you live in an NC county that only requires safety tests, you can’t pass your inspection with a check engine light on. Instead of trying to get around the test’s requirements, you should bring your vehicle to a mechanic. They can pinpoint the reason for the engine light being on and fix the issue for you. If they also offer NC state inspections, you can have them perform the inspection after they’ve finished the repair process.
Choose Chapel Hill Tire for NC Vehicle Inspections in the Triangle
If you need a North Carolina state inspection in Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, or the surrounding Triangle area, Chapel Hill Tire can help. Our certified technicians regularly perform safety and emissions inspections for Triangle-based drivers. With our affordable prices, thorough inspections, and commitment to providing excellent service to our customers, we’re ready to become your go-to NC state inspection location. We also offer several coupons you can take advantage of to save on many of our services.
Learn more about our NC state vehicle inspection services today. If you need maintenance or repairs, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area.
