The state sets a maximum price for every inspection. Shops can charge less, but they cannot charge more. Below are the official fees from the NY DMV's fee chart (form VS-77).
The lower number is for a regular car outside the NYC metro area. The higher number is for the same car inside the NYC metro area, where the emissions test costs more. Heavy trucks and diesel vehicles can pay more.
Every car in New York gets a safety inspection. The state groups vehicles by weight and use. Heavier vehicles take more work to inspect, so they cost more. Here is the official chart.
| Group | Includes | Max Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 Light vehicles |
Most cars and SUVs. Pickups under 10,001 lbs. Vans seating fewer than 15 people. | $10.00 |
| Group 1 Medium trucks |
Trucks weighing 10,001 to 18,000 lbs. (Owner can ask for the heavier inspection and pay the Group 2 rate instead.) | $15.00 |
| Group 1 Trailers |
Most non-semi trailers under 18,001 lbs. | $6.00 |
| Group 2 Heavy vehicles |
Big trucks over 18,000 lbs. Vans seating 15 or more people. Anything that the owner asks to inspect at the heavy rate. | $20.00 |
| Group 2 Heavy trailers |
Trailers over 18,000 lbs. All semi-trailers. | $12.00 |
| Group 3 Motorcycles |
Every motorcycle, no matter the size. | $6.00 |
The fee is the same whether your car passes or fails. The shop is paid for the inspection itself, not the outcome. If repairs are needed, you can have them done anywhere, not just at the shop that inspected you.
Most cars also need an emissions test. The fee depends on which test your vehicle gets and where you live. New York charges a higher emissions fee in the NYC metro area than in the rest of the state.
| Test Type | Applies To | Max Fee |
|---|---|---|
| OBD II NYC metro |
1996 and newer gas cars under 8,501 lbs, registered in the NYMA. | $27.00 |
| OBD II Rest of state |
1996 and newer gas cars under 8,501 lbs, registered outside the NYMA. | $11.00 |
| Low-Enhanced Statewide |
1995 and older cars. Also 1996 and newer cars over 8,500 lbs GVWR. Same fee anywhere in NY. | $11.00 |
| Diesel NYC metro only |
Non-exempt diesel vehicles registered in the NYMA, with a max gross weight over 8,500 lbs. | $25.00 |
Three groups of cars skip the emissions test completely: cars less than 2 model years old, cars more than 25 model years old, and electric cars with no tailpipe.
The New York Metropolitan Area, or NYMA, covers nine counties around New York City. This region has stricter air quality rules because of its population density and traffic. Cars registered in these counties pay $27 for the OBD II emissions test instead of the $11 charged elsewhere in the state.
If your car is registered in any other NY county, you pay the lower rate. Your county is the one on your registration, not where you happen to be when you get inspected.
Your inspection bill is two fees added together: a safety fee and an emissions fee. For most cars, that adds up like this.
A standard passenger car (1996 or newer, gas, under 8,501 lbs) registered in one of the nine NYMA counties pays the safety fee plus the higher OBD II emissions fee.
$10 safety + $27 emissions = $37 max
Same car, but registered outside the nine NYMA counties. Safety fee is the same, but the emissions fee drops significantly.
$10 safety + $11 emissions = $21 max
Electric cars skip the emissions test entirely because there is no tailpipe to test. You only pay the safety fee. This is the same whether you live inside or outside the NYMA.
$10 safety + $0 emissions = $10 max
If your car fails the inspection, you get to fix the problem and bring the car back. What you pay for the second visit depends on how long you take.
The shop only has to recheck the part that failed. If your car failed for a bad headlight, they only need to check the lights again. Most shops charge a smaller fee for this partial recheck.
The shop has to do a full inspection again. They check everything, even the parts that passed the first time. They can charge the full inspection fee again.
The reinspection fee only applies if you take the car out of the shop and come back later. If the shop does the repairs the same day and rechecks your car right then, there is usually no second fee.
The numbers on this page are the most a shop can legally charge. A shop can charge less. Some shops use lower fees to draw in customers. It is fine to call around and compare prices before you go.
NY State does not charge sales tax on the inspection itself. If a shop adds tax to your inspection bill, that is a mistake. Ask them to remove it before you pay.
If your car needs repairs to pass, those repairs are not part of the inspection fee. The shop can charge whatever they want for the repair work. You can also take your car somewhere else to get the repair done, then bring it back for the reinspection.
The state sets a maximum price for every inspection. Shops can charge less than the maximum but never more. For most cars, the maximum total is $37 in the NYC metro area or $21 in the rest of the state. The chart on this page shows every category.
The NYC metro area, called the NYMA, has stricter emissions rules than the rest of the state. Cars there get a tougher OBD II test that costs $27 max. The same test costs only $11 outside the NYMA. The NYMA covers nine counties: Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, and Westchester.
No. NY State does not charge sales tax on inspection fees. The price you see is the price you pay. If a shop adds tax to your inspection bill, that is a mistake. Ask them to remove it.
Maybe. If you bring the car back within 30 days of the failed inspection, the shop only has to recheck the part that failed. Most shops charge a smaller fee for this. If you come back after 30 days, the shop has to do the full inspection again and can charge the full fee.
Yes. Electric cars skip the emissions test because they have no tailpipe. You only pay the safety inspection fee. For a typical electric car, that is $10 total. The same car with a gas engine would cost $21 to $37 total.
NY State uses a vehicle's weight to set the safety fee. Light cars and trucks under 10,001 pounds pay $10. Medium trucks from 10,001 to 18,000 pounds pay $15. Heavy trucks over 18,000 pounds pay $20. The heavier the vehicle, the more work the inspection takes.
Use the free calculator on the homepage to find your maximum fee. Enter your vehicle type, model year, fuel, and county. Get your answer in seconds.
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