Emission check program ended

Driving a vehicle with modified emissions equipment or a vehicle that smokes is still illegal in Washington. Keeping your car’s emissions system running well saves you money in vehicle repairs. Ignoring your check engine light can cause damage to your engine. The computer that runs your car relies on the data coming in from the emission controls to keep the engine operating properly. If you don’t fix a problem in one part of the system, you’ll start to see problems crop up elsewhere.

We expect air quality to continue to improve as older vehicles are replaced with newer, cleaner cars. We'll continue to monitor air quality conditions throughout Washington. If we see reasons for concern, we'll take steps to protect air quality.

Tampering with emissions controls is illegal in Washington. The Washington State Patrol and local police can ticket vehicles that are a safety threat.