State Inspections

Missouri law requires all motor vehicles to pass a vehicle safety inspection performed by an authorized Missouri inspection station, unless exempt as detailed below. The renewal notice you receive from the Department of Revenue will assist you in determining if your vehicle needs to have a safety inspection.

The inspection station will issue a Certificate of Inspection and Approval that must be presented to a license office when the motor vehicle is registered.  A Certificate of Inspection and Approval is valid for 60 days starting with the date of inspection.  A valid Certificate of Inspection and Approval must be submitted at the time of application for title and license or registration renewal (unless exempt).

A Certificate of Inspection and Approval is valid for 90 days starting with the date of inspection when a motor vehicle is purchased from a Missouri dealer and the Certificate of Inspection and Approval provided by the Missouri dealer indicates the safety inspection was completed within 60 days prior to the purchase date. A valid Certificate of Inspection and Approval must be submitted at the time of application for title and license (unless exempt).

If there is no change in vehicle ownership, even model year vehicles must be safety/emissions inspected (unless exempt) in even calendar years, and odd model year vehicles must be inspected (unless exempt) in odd calendar years.