A New Jersey car inspection is an emissions check that most gasoline vehicles from 1996 and later need every two years, once their five-year new-car exemption runs out. You can use one of 23 open state inspection stations, which charge no fee, or one of more than 1,100 private inspection facilities, which set their own fees. Bring your driver’s license, registration and New Jersey insurance card, and know that a lit check engine light means an automatic fail.
New Jersey Car Inspection at a Glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| How often | Every two years; new vehicles get five years before their first inspection |
| What’s checked | The car’s On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) computer, for engine problems that can raise emissions |
| Where | 23 open state inspection stations (no fee) or 1,100+ private inspection facilities (fees vary) |
| State station hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7:00 a.m.–noon |
| Appointments | Needed only at the Washington, Salem and Cape May stations |
| What to bring | Driver’s license, registration and New Jersey insurance ID card |
| How early | Up to two months before the month your sticker expires |
| Expired sticker | Fines of $100–$200 and/or up to 30 days in jail, and the MVC may revoke your registration |
Which Vehicles Need an Inspection
Inspections apply to vehicles with passenger, not-for-profit, governmental, commuter van and farmer or farm truck plates, excluding buses, once they’re five model years old. That covers:
- Gasoline and bi-fuel vehicles from 1996 and later with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 pounds or less, which includes most cars, SUVs and pickups
- Gasoline and bi-fuel vehicles from 2008 and later rated 8,501 to 14,000 pounds, and from 2014 and later rated 14,001 pounds or more
- Diesel passenger vehicles from 1997 and later rated 8,500 pounds or less
Exempt Vehicles
The MVC doesn’t inspect:
- Gasoline passenger vehicles from 1995 and earlier rated 8,500 pounds or less (and 2007 and earlier rated 8,501 to 14,000 pounds, or 2013 and earlier rated 14,001 pounds or more)
- 100% electric vehicles; hybrids aren’t on the exempt list
- Motorcycles and motorized bicycles
- Historic vehicles and approved collector vehicles less than 25 years old
- Diesel vehicles rated 8,501 to 17,999 pounds, which their owners must self-inspect, and diesel passenger vehicles from 1996 and earlier
- Farm tractors and machinery, larger fire trucks, construction equipment in transit, and buses inspected under other MVC programs
New Vehicles
A car less than five model years old qualifies for a five-year exemption with a New Car Dealer Inspection Decal. New Jersey dealers apply it when you buy. If you buy from an out-of-state dealer or move here, your registration packet includes a temporary Green Card, and you have 14 days to get the decal at a state inspection station; our guide on how to register a car in New Jersey covers the rest of that process.
What the New Jersey Car Inspection Checks
For most vehicles, the inspection is an OBD test: the inspector connects to your car’s computer to read engine-related problems that can increase harmful emissions. A 1996 or later vehicle with an illuminated check engine light fails. New Jersey stopped tailpipe testing older vehicles in 2016, which is why 1995 and older cars are exempt.
Lifted vehicles also need a high-rise stability test every two years to check their structural integrity. It’s done only at the specialty facility at the Winslow station in Ancora.
What to Bring
- A valid driver’s license. The driver must be at least 17 but doesn’t have to be the owner.
- The vehicle’s registration document. An online renewal receipt isn’t accepted.
- A New Jersey Insurance Identification Card. The insured’s surname must match the owner’s surname on the registration, and leasing companies must be listed as owner on leased vehicle cards.
Fleet, dealer and leasing company cards are accepted if they say “All Owned Vehicles” or “Fleet” in the vehicle description.
State Inspection Stations
State stations are open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Saturday, 7:00 a.m.–noon. Most don’t need an appointment; only Washington, Salem and Cape May require one, booked through the inspection appointment page. You can check wait times at the other stations on NJinspections.com or by calling (609) 620-7992.
North Jersey
| Station | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Newton | 90 Moran St, Newton | |
| Wayne | 481 Route 46 West, Wayne | At the Wayne agency |
| Paramus | 20 W. Century Rd, Paramus | |
| Lodi | 8 Mill St, Lodi | Temporarily closed |
| Washington | 108 Route 31 at Pershing Ave, Washington | Appointment only |
| Randolph | 160 Canfield Ave, Randolph | At the Randolph agency |
| Secaucus | County Ave and Secaucus Rd, Secaucus | Also does referee inspections |
| Newark | 228 Frelinghuysen Ave, Newark | Closed permanently April 11, 2026 |
| Rahway | 1140 Woodbridge Rd, Rahway | At the Rahway agency |
Central Jersey
| Station | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flemington | 181 Routes 31 & 202, Ringoes | |
| Edison | 33 Kilmer Rd, Edison | |
| South Brunswick | 2236 Route 130, Dayton | At the South Brunswick vehicle center |
| Lawrenceville | 3200 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville | At the Bakers Basin agency |
Monmouth and Ocean Counties
| Station | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 801 Okerson Rd, Freehold | |
| Eatontown | 109 Route 36, Eatontown | At the Eatontown agency; also does referee inspections |
| Lakewood | 1145 Route 70, Lakewood | |
| Manahawkin | 220 Recovery Rd, Manahawkin |
South Jersey
| Station | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 1875 Route 38, Southampton | |
| Cherry Hill | 617 Hampton Rd, Cherry Hill | |
| Deptford | 725 Tanyard Rd, Deptford | |
| Ancora (Winslow) | 550 Spring Garden Rd, Ancora | Also does referee inspections and lifted-vehicle tests |
| Salem | 185 Salem Woodstown Rd, Salem | Appointment only |
| Millville | 1406 Wheaton Ave, Millville | |
| Mays Landing | 1477 19th St, Mays Landing | |
| Cape May | 6 W. Shellbay Ave, Cape May Court House | Appointment only |
When the Newark station closed on April 11, 2026, to make way for a new, larger Newark agency, the MVC automatically extended stickers expiring from April through July 2026 by three months and pointed drivers to Secaucus, Rahway, Wayne and Paramus.
Mobile Inspection Unit
The MVC also sends a Mobile Inspection Unit to community events for sticker renewals. Towns that have hosted it in 2026, such as Nutley and Morris Plains, advertised inspections with no appointment needed, processed in the order cars arrive. The two-month early limit still applies, so check your town’s announcements and bring the same three documents.
Private Inspection Facilities
More than 1,100 privately owned garages are licensed by the state to perform the same inspection. They charge a fee, which varies by shop. You can find them through NJinspections.com.
If Your Vehicle Fails Inspection
A failed vehicle gets a red sticker, an Emission Repair Form and a Vehicle Inspection Report. Then:
- Get it repaired. Emissions repairs must be done by you or by a registered Emissions Repair Facility (ERF); find one online or by calling 1-888-NJ-MOTOR.
- Return within the deadline. You have up to one month from the last day of the month on your sticker to make repairs and get reinspected.
- Bring your paperwork. A state station won’t reinspect without your emissions-related repair receipts, the Emission Repair Form and the Vehicle Inspection Report. Emissions repairs made up to 60 days before the failure count.
- Choose where to retest. Reinspection can be done at a state station or a private inspection facility.
Be aware that police can ticket you any time you drive a vehicle that has failed; the red sticker doesn’t protect you, and there’s no grace period. If you need more time because the vehicle is out of state, you’re ill or parts are on order, you can ask for an extension of up to two weeks per inspection cycle by calling (609) 633-9474 or (609) 633-9460.
Fines for an Expired Inspection Sticker
Your sticker is valid through the last day of the month shown on it. Inspection stations won’t fine you for showing up late, but police can cite you for an expired sticker at any time. That can mean a fine of $100 to $200 and/or up to 30 days in jail, and the MVC may revoke your registration privileges.
Special Situations
Vehicles Kept Out of State: A vehicle that isn’t being driven on New Jersey roads, such as a student’s car at an out-of-state college, isn’t subject to inspection until it comes back. To request an extension, call (609) 633-9474 or (609) 633-9460.
Replacement Stickers: If your windshield is replaced or your sticker is lost, stolen or damaged, go to the reinspection area of a state inspection station with your license, registration and insurance card, plus one of these: the original sticker, a police report for a theft, your Vehicle Inspection Report or the glass company’s invoice.
Referee Inspections: If you dispute a result, referee inspections are done at three specialty sites: Eatontown, Winslow (Ancora) and Secaucus. Asking for one doesn’t extend the expiration date on your current sticker.
For questions about inspections, call the MVC at (888) 656-6867. For agencies, road test sites and every other MVC facility, see our list of New Jersey MVC offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every two years for most vehicles. New vehicles get a five-year exemption before their first inspection.
State inspection stations charge no fee. Private inspection facilities perform the same inspection for a fee that varies by shop.
A valid driver’s license (the driver must be 17 or older), the vehicle’s registration document and a New Jersey insurance ID card. An online renewal receipt isn’t accepted in place of the registration.
Yes, up to two months before the month your sticker expires.
Yes. A 1996 or later vehicle with an illuminated check engine light fails the inspection.
Police can cite you, with fines of $100 to $200 and/or up to 30 days in jail, and the MVC may revoke your registration privileges. The inspection station itself won’t fine you for being late.
Conclusion
A New Jersey car inspection comes due every two years after a new car’s five-year exemption, and for most vehicles it’s a quick computer check of the emissions system. Bring your license, registration and insurance card to a state station at no charge or to a private facility for a fee, go up to two months early, fix any check engine light first, and if you fail, finish repairs and get reinspected within a month.
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