Vermont does not require drivers to submit to annual or semiannual emission tests. But it still lives up to its name as the "Green Mountain State" by adopting its own version of California's groundbreaking Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) program.

The LEV program requires that all new vehicle models 1996 and newer with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less must have their on-board diagnostic (OBD) system checked.

The burden of this does not fall on you, the driver, but on dealers who must be certain that the vehicles they are selling meet this standard.

You can read about this law in full legal-speak on page 125 of Vermont's Air Pollution Control Regulation booklet. Or for more facts and figures on Vermont's pollution control policies, visit the Web page for the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

Safety and OBD Inspections

While smog and emissions checks aren't required in Vermont, annual safety inspections are. For cars manufactured since 1996, these inspections include an evaluation of the vehicle's on-board diagnostic system, or OBD.

A vehicle's on-board computer monitors engine performance and alerts the driver when that performance begins to deteriorate due to wear and tear of parts or other reasons. This early-warning system helps vehicle owners get the problem repaired before it causes excessive engine emissions.

By making sure a vehicle's OBD system is working correctly, the OBD inspection helps keep Vermont cars clean. Read more about this aspect of the annual safety inspection on the DMV's OBD FAQs page.

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