Vehicles undergoing PA Safety Inspection that are registered in one of the 42 non-emission regulated counties shall be checked visually for the presence of emission control components. Listed below are all PA 67 counties according to emission regulated status.
NON-Emission Regulated Counties
Adams
Armstrong
Bedford
Bradford
Butler
Cameron
Carbon
Clarion
Clearfield
Clinton
Columbia
Crawford
Elk
Fayette
Forest
Franklin
Fulton
Greene
Huntingdon
Indiana
Jefferson
Juniata
Lawrence
McKean
Mifflin
Monroe
Montour
Northumberland
Perry
Pike
Potter
Schuylkill
Snyder
Somerset
Sullivan
Susquehanna
Tioga
Union
Venango
Warren
Wayne
Wyoming
Emission Regulated Counties
Northern
Eight
Blair
Cambria
Centre
Erie
Lackawanna
Luzerne
Lycoming
Mercer
South
Central
Berks
Cumberland
Dauphin
Lancaster
Lebanon
Lehigh
Northampton
York
Philadelphia
Bucks
Chester
Delaware
Montgomery
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Allegheny
Beaver
Washington
Westmoreland
The visual inspection shall be performed through direct observation or through indirect observation by using a mirror or other visual aid.
Provided the make and model year of the vehicle would have originally been equipped with the device, reject if one or more of the following apply:
1. The catalytic converter has been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified vehicle configuration.
2. The EGR valve has been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified vehicle configuration.
3. The PCV valve has been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified engine configuration.
4. The fuel inlet has been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified engine configuration.
5. The air pump has been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified engine configuration.
6. The evaporative control system components have been removed, disconnected or is the wrong type for the certified engine configuration.
These components may be original vehicle equipment or an aftermarket replacement component meeting the same standards.
This applies to all registered vehicles moved upon a public highway that are required to be PA Safety Inspected and registered in one of the 42 non- emission regulated counties, up to and including 11,000 lbs. GVWR, except classics and collectibles registered and titled as classics and collectibles.
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers:
Q. Does this apply to all vehicles required to be Safety Inspected and registered in all 42 non-emission related counties?
A. This applies to ALL vehicles gasoline or diesel powered, that had emission components installed as original equipment except: Registered classic and collectible vehicles and vehicles greater than 11,000 lbs. GVWR as indicated on a plate affixed to the vehicle.
Q. Does this apply to all vehicles registered in one of the 42 non-emission counties with a GVWR up to and including 11,000 lbs. even if it is Safety Inspected in one of the 25 emission regulated counties?
A. The provision applies to all vehicles registered in the 42 non-emission counties no matter where the vehicle is Safety Inspected.
Q. Does this provision apply to diesel vehicles?
A. Yes. This provision applies to ALL vehicles, including diesel vehicles, up to and including 11,000 lbs. GVWR registered in non-emission counties except registered classics and collectibles.
Q. Does this provision apply to vehicles registered in one of 25 emission regulated counties?
A. No. The safety inspection emission component check does not apply to vehicles registered in one of the 8 Northern Region counties or one of the 17 OBDII emission regulated counties.
Q. Do diesel vehicle components get checked for the PA emission test in any of the 25 emission regulated counties?
A. No. Only gasoline powered or gasoline enhanced subject vehicles up to and including 9000 lbs. GVWR are required to be emission tested. An example of an enhanced gasoline vehicle would be a full electric BMW with an exception. If the vehicle is equipped with an option called “Range Extender”, it has a small gasoline engine coupled with an electric generator that charges the batteries. So, a BMW without the range extender does not get an emission test. A BMW with a range extender is required to have the small engine emission tested. This vehicle configuration is not considered a hybrid.
FEDERAL AND STATE EMISSION LAWS
– that do not affect PA safety inspection
No person shall disable, change or alter the emission control system of a vehicle.
No person shall knowingly sell or operate a vehicle whose emission control system has been disabled, changed or altered from its original design specifications.
The two laws do not preclude a vehicle from receiving a renewed PA safety inspection sticker nor does it preclude a vehicle from receiving a renewed emission inspection sticker providing all emission testing requirements are satisfied.
Courtesy of PAA Special Bulletin No. 5, 5/24/2018
