Car Inspections in Missouri: Cost, Regulations & 2026 Requirements

How much does a car inspection cost in Missouri?

State law caps the safety inspection fee at $12. If your vehicle fails, you get a free reinspection as long as you make the repairs and return to the same station within 20 working days. Weekends and state holidays don't count against that window.

If you live in an area that requires emissions testing, that test is capped at $24, so a combined safety and emissions inspection tops out at $36.

How often do I need to get my car inspected in Missouri?

Once your vehicle is no longer exempt, Missouri requires a safety inspection every two years, timed to your registration renewal. Vehicles with even model years are inspected in even calendar years, and odd model years in odd calendar years.

Which vehicles are exempt from Missouri safety inspections?

The big exemption covers newer, lower-mileage vehicles. Your car or truck is exempt if both of the following are true:       

• It is within ten years of its model year of manufacture
       
• It has fewer than 150,000 miles on the odometer
   

Both conditions have to hold. A 2018 model with 160,000 miles needs an inspection even though it's within the ten-year window. A 2014 model with only 80,000 miles also needs one, because it's past the ten-year mark. The clock runs from the model year, not from when you bought the vehicle.

A few other categories skip the safety inspection entirely:

• Trailers of all kinds, including boat, cargo, and travel trailers
       
• Vehicles registered with historic license plates. This isn't automatic for every older car. To qualify for historic plates, the vehicle must be more than 25 years old, owned as a collector's item, and driven no more than 1,000 personal miles per year. A 25-year-old daily driver still needs its inspection.
   

Motorcycles follow the same rules as cars and trucks: exempt while they meet the ten-year and 150,000-mile conditions, then inspected every two years.

Do I need an inspection when buying or selling a used car in Missouri?

Usually, yes. When a vehicle changes hands, the new owner needs a valid inspection certificate to title and register it, unless the vehicle still qualifies for the ten-year, 150,000-mile exemption. How that plays out depends on where you buy.

Buy from a Missouri dealer and the paperwork works in your favor. When the dealer provides a certificate showing the inspection was completed within 60 days before your purchase date, that certificate is valid for 90 days from the inspection date, so you're not racing the clock to get the title transferred. Every used vehicle on our lot is inspected before it's listed, and certified pre-owned vehicles go through a much longer multi-point check on top of the state requirements.

Private sales put the work on you. If the vehicle isn't exempt, get it inspected at a licensed station before you head to the license office, since you'll need the certificate to complete the title transfer. And a pre-purchase inspection is cheap insurance on any private sale, required or not.

One more thing to check before you buy: how close the vehicle is to losing its exemption. A car at 140,000 miles or in year nine of its model year will be in the inspection cycle soon, so you'll be paying for inspections sooner than the seller might mention. If you're registering the vehicle in the St. Louis emissions area, remember the emissions test applies at the time of sale as well. Browse our used inventory if you'd rather skip the private-sale legwork altogether.

Does Missouri require an emissions inspection?

Only in the St. Louis region. The Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program covers vehicles registered in the City of St. Louis and in St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson counties. That includes Ellisville, Ballwin, Chesterfield, Wildwood, and the surrounding communities we serve. If your vehicle is registered anywhere else in Missouri, you only need the safety inspection.

The two tests check different things. The emissions inspection measures what's coming out of your tailpipe and fails the car if it's dirtier than the state allows. The safety inspection checks whether the vehicle is safe to drive: brakes, lights, steering, tires, and so on. In the St. Louis area, both are typically done in the same visit.

What are the rules if my vehicle is registered out of state, or if I'm out of state at inspection time?

If your title was issued in another state and you're registering the vehicle in Missouri, it needs an inspection to verify the vehicle identification number and odometer reading.

The reverse situation works differently. If your Missouri-registered vehicle is outside the state when its inspection comes due, you'll need to submit a notarized affidavit explaining why the vehicle isn't in Missouri, along with proof of an inspection from the state where it's located. The Missouri Department of Revenue has details on the process.

Can I get an extension on my inspection if I'm temporarily out of state?

No. Missouri doesn't grant extensions for travel, deployment, or anything else. The affidavit route above is the only out.

Where can I get my car inspected?

Inspections must be performed at a station licensed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Most established repair shops and dealership service centers qualify, including our service center here in Ellisville.

What do mechanics check during a Missouri safety inspection?

The inspector works down a state checklist: steering, brakes, the exhaust system, tires and wheels, exterior lights and turn signals, the horn, mirrors, glazing and window tint, seat belts, and suspension parts like shocks and coil springs. It's a visual and mechanical check, not an engine diagnostic or a road test.

What happens if my vehicle fails the inspection?

You'll get a rejection slip listing exactly which items failed, and the station can quote you for the repair on the spot. You're not obligated to fix it there. You can take the quote, shop it around, or do the work yourself if you're handy. The catch is the reinspection: return to the same station within 20 working days and it's free, but go anywhere else or miss the window and you're paying for a brand-new inspection.

About that window: 20 working days is more time than it sounds like. Weekends and state holidays don't count, so a failure on the first of the month usually gives you until close to the end of it. The trap is fixing something small right away and then letting the car sit until the deadline slips past. Book the reinspection the same day you make the repair.

Driving on a failed inspection isn't a workaround, either. Without a valid certificate you can't renew your registration, and expired tags are grounds for a ticket.

What level of window tinting does Missouri allow?

Missouri checks tint as part of the safety inspection. The rules:       

• Front-side windows must let in at least 35% of visible light
       
• Rear and back-side windows can be tinted to any darkness
       
• Windshield tint is only allowed above the AS-1 line
       
• Tint reflectance can't exceed 35%
   

Aftermarket tint on a used car is a common surprise failure, so check the front windows before you buy.

Can a car pass a Missouri inspection with the check engine light on?

Not in the emissions area. An illuminated check engine light is an automatic failure on the emissions test, so St. Louis-area drivers need the underlying problem diagnosed and repaired before testing. The light is your car reporting a fault code, and the test reads those same codes.

Will worn tires fail a Missouri inspection?

They can. The inspection covers tire tread depth and condition, so tires that are worn to the wear bars, cracked, or damaged are a common failure point. If yours are borderline, replace them first and skip the second trip.

For more on tire wear and age, read How Old Can Tires Be and Still Be Safe? You can also check current offers on our service and parts specials page.

Can a car pass inspection with the airbag light on?

Yes. Airbags aren't part of Missouri's safety inspection checklist, so an airbag warning light won't fail you. Still, get it looked at. An airbag throwing a fault code can't be counted on in a crash.

Can I dispute the results of a safety inspection?

If you believe a station failed your vehicle improperly or is running questionable practices, you can report it to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which licenses and audits inspection stations. The Patrol will review whether your inspection was done right.

What if I can't afford the repairs needed to pass?

You have a few places to start. Dialing 211 (or visiting 211helps.org) connects you with United Way resources in the St. Louis region, including organizations that help cover car repair costs when money is tight. Some repair shops, ours included, also offer financing on larger repairs, and it never hurts to ask about current service specials.

What happens if I drive with an expired inspection?

Expired tags give an officer a reason to pull you over, and fines vary by municipality, commonly in the $75 to $150 range. You also can't renew your registration without a valid inspection certificate, which means the tickets and late fees keep stacking until you deal with it.

And if the car would genuinely fail on brakes or steering, the ticket is the least of it.

Is there a grace period for expired inspections in Missouri?

No. Even one day overdue can mean a fine.

Will Missouri end vehicle inspections?

Maybe eventually, but not yet. The Missouri House passed a bill in 2026 that would eliminate most mandatory safety inspections, and the measure is now with the Senate. Until a bill is signed into law, every requirement on this page still applies. We'll update this article if the law changes.

Ready to get your inspection done? Schedule an appointment with Bo Beuckman Quality Ford, one of the best-reviewed service centers in the Greater St. Louis region.