Which PA Counties Require Emissions Testing? (Map)

Not all Pennsylvania counties require emissions testing. Learn which 25 of PA's 67 counties mandate emissions inspections and why these areas were chosen.

The 25 Counties Requiring Emissions Testing

Pennsylvania's emissions testing program focuses on the state's most populous urban and suburban areas.

Philadelphia Metropolitan Area (5 Counties)

Bucks County - Levittown, Bensalem, Bristol
Chester County - West Chester, Coatesville
Delaware County - Upper Darby, Chester
Montgomery County - Norristown, Cheltenham
Philadelphia County - City of Philadelphia

Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area (4 Counties)

Allegheny County - Pittsburgh, Penn Hills
Beaver County - Aliquippa, Beaver Falls
Washington County - Washington, Canonsburg
Westmoreland County - Greensburg, Latrobe

Other Metropolitan Counties (16 Counties)

Berks, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin
Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne
Lycoming, Mercer, Northampton, York

Why These Counties Were Selected

Selection criteria included:

Population density
Historical air quality issues
Ozone levels from vehicle emissions
Metropolitan Statistical Areas with commuter traffic

Which Vehicles Are Exempt?

Brand-new vehicles: Current model year, registered for the first time with under 5,000 miles — exempt until the first annual inspection (about one year)
Low-mileage vehicles: Driven under 5,000 miles in the previous 12 months and owned by the same person for at least 1 year
Classic, antique, or collectible vehicles registered as such with PennDOT
Other exemptions: Vehicles over 9,000 lbs GVWR, motorcycles, diesel-powered vehicles, and electric vehicles

Common misconception: Vehicles under 5 years old are not automatically exempt. Senate Bill 149, which would exempt vehicles for 5 years after manufacture, passed the PA Senate in February 2025 but has not been enacted — under current law (67 Pa. Code § 177.51), only current model year vehicles and low-mileage vehicles qualify for age- or use-based exemptions.

Moving Between Counties

Requirements are based on where your vehicle is registered, not where you get it inspected. Moving to an emissions county means you'll need testing at your next inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need emissions testing if I work in Philadelphia but live elsewhere?

No. Requirements are based on where your vehicle is registered, not where you drive or work.

Can I get inspected in a different county than where I live?

Yes, but you'll still need emissions testing if your registration address is in an emissions county.

Are vehicles less than 5 years old exempt from emissions testing in PA?

No. Only brand-new current model year vehicles (first-time registration, under 5,000 miles) are exempt, and only until their first annual inspection. A proposed 5-year exemption (Senate Bill 149) passed the PA Senate in 2025 but has not become law.