The EPA has agreed to end annual vehicle emissions testing in Durham, Wake, Johnston and 16 other North Carolina counties, the agency announced Monday. Safety inspections remain required statewide.
Eliminating the program would save North Carolina drivers nearly $20 million a year, the agency said, without significantly harming air quality. EPA Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber said the agency is "committed to eliminating unnecessary burdens to make testing more convenient and affordable for drivers while ensuring clean air for all Americans."
North Carolina regulators first asked the EPA to end the requirement nearly two years ago. State officials argued modern vehicles are far cleaner than older models, making annual inspections less necessary. State air-quality officials point out that North Carolina has met federal ozone standards for the past decade, even as population has grown.
Not everyone is convinced. Environmental groups opposed the rollback when the state first proposed it in 2024, warning that vehicle exhaust remains one of the largest sources of ozone-forming pollution in North Carolina. They link that pollution to asthma, cardiovascular disease and smog. The concern is especially pointed in fast-growing urban areas like the Triangle, where more cars on the road could offset per-vehicle emissions gains.
The current testing requirement applies to 1996 and newer gasoline-powered vehicles across 19 counties, covering the Triangle, Charlotte and Triad regions. Vehicles more than 20 years old are already exempt, as are light-duty vehicles less than three years old with fewer than 70,000 miles.
The EPA's announcement opens a formal approval process. Environmental advocates are expected to push back before any rule takes effect.