Does Tennessee Have Emissions Testing?
No, Tennessee does not currently require emissions testing. The state discontinued its vehicle emissions testing programs in 2022.
Tennessee's Emissions Testing Policy
Tennessee law does not currently require emissions testing of motor vehicles. According to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, vehicle emissions testing programs were removed from the state's federally-approved air quality plan following EPA approval in 2021.
This policy applies uniformly across the state:
- No counties require emissions testing
- All vehicle types are exempt from emissions testing requirements
- No testing is required for initial registration or annual renewal
Previous Emissions Testing Programs
The Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) programs were established in the mid-1980s to address air quality concerns in the state's most heavily polluted urban areas.
Middle Tennessee Area: Davidson, Sumner, Rutherford, Williamson, and Wilson counties operated emissions testing programs for vehicles registered in these areas. The program was suspended on January 14, 2022, though Davidson County (Nashville) initially chose to continue its program before ending it on February 5, 2022.
Hamilton County (Chattanooga Area): Hamilton County maintained a separate emissions testing program that was also suspended on January 14, 2022.
The emissions testing programs required gasoline and diesel vehicles weighing less than 10,500 pounds and manufactured in 1975 or newer to undergo annual testing. Vehicles more than 25 years old were exempt from testing requirements under legislation signed into law in 2011.
