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Will An EVAP Leak Fail Your Smog Check
In most states with an inspection, a check engine light that is on fails a 1996 or newer car. What changes from state to state is how many monitors may be not ready.
| State | Program | Code With Light On | Monitors Allowed Not Ready | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ | Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (myAZcar) | Fails | 1996 to 2000 up to 2, 2001 and newer up to 1 | source |
| CA | Smog Check Program | Fails | 1996 to 1999 gasoline up to 1, 2000 and newer gasoline up to 1 | source |
| CO | Air Care Colorado | Fails | Not stated | source |
| CT | Connecticut Emissions Program | Fails | 1996 to 2000 up to 2, 2001 and newer up to 1 | source |
| DC | DC DMV vehicle inspection | Fails | Not stated | source |
| DE | Delaware DMV inspection | Fails | Not stated | source |
| GA | Georgia's Clean Air Force | Fails | Not stated | source |
| ID | None (Treasure Valley program ended) | Not stated | Not stated | source |
| IL | Illinois Vehicle Emissions Testing Program (Illinois Air Team) | Fails | 1996 to 2000 up to 2, 2001 and newer up to 1 | source |
| IN | Clean Air Car Check | Fails | 1996 and newer up to 1 | source |
| LA | Baton Rouge area inspection and maintenance program | Not stated | Not stated | source |
| MA | Massachusetts Vehicle Check | Not stated | 2001 and newer up to 1 | source |
| MD | Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) | Not stated | OBD vehicles up to 1 | source |
| MO | Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program | Not stated | gas 1996 to 2000 up to 2, gas 2001 and newer up to 1, diesel 1997 to 2009 up to 0, diesel 2010 and newer up to 1 | source |
| NC | North Carolina I/M Program | Fails | 1996 to 2000 up to 2, 2001 and newer up to 1 | source |
| NH | OBD II test at the state safety inspection | Not stated | Not stated | source |
| NJ | New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission emissions inspection | Fails | Not stated | source |
| NM | Albuquerque Bernalillo County Air Care | Not stated | Not stated | source |
| NV | Nevada DMV Emission Control Program | Fails | Not stated | source |
| NY | New York Vehicle Inspection Program (NYVIP3) | Fails | 1996 to 2000 up to 2, 2001 and newer up to 1 | source |
| OH | Ohio E Check | Not stated | Not stated | source |
| OR | Oregon DEQ Vehicle Inspection Program | Fails | Not stated | source |
| PA | Pennsylvania Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (Drive Clean PA) | Fails | 1996 to 2000 up to 2, 2001 and newer up to 1 | source |
| RI | Rhode Island Vehicle Inspection Program | Fails | 1996 to 2000 up to 2, 2001 and newer up to 1 | source |
| TN | None (program ended) | Not stated | Not stated | source |
| TX | AirCheck Texas emissions inspection (DPS and TCEQ) | Fails | 1996 to 2000 up to 2, 2001 and newer up to 1 | source |
| UT | County run emissions programs | Not stated | Not stated | source |
| VA | Air Check Virginia | Fails | 1996 to 2000 up to 2, 2001 and newer up to 1 | source |
| VT | Vermont Annual Vehicle Inspection Program | Fails | 1996 and newer up to 2 | source |
| WA | None (program ended) | Not stated | Not stated | source |
| WI | Wisconsin Vehicle Inspection Program | Not stated | Not stated | source |
California
For OBD equipped vehicles, the car fails if the MIL is commanded on, if any trouble code is stored, if the MIL does not light with key on and engine off, or if too many monitors are incomplete. Gas cars 1996 to 1999 may have one incomplete monitor. Gas cars 2000 and newer may have only the EVAP monitor incomplete. California EVAP Smog Rules
Lake Havasu City
Lake Havasu City is in Mohave County, which is outside Arizona's emissions areas. ARS 49 541 defines Area A as parts of Maricopa, Pinal and Yavapai counties and Area B as parts of Pima County, and Mohave County is in neither. myAZcar says vehicles registered outside Area A and B (metro Phoenix and Tucson) are not required to test. ADEQ's own page (azdeq.gov/VEI) returned 403 to the script, so it could not be read.
Getting Monitors Ready
The EVAP monitor only runs under set conditions. On Ford's test that means the engine off for at least 3.5 hours first and a fuel level between 15 and 85 percent. Read more about readiness monitors and smog check.
By Anthony Limpert, co-founder of Supercanic in San Jacinto, California, a shop with ASE certified mechanics. Updated November 12, 2026.
Author Source EEAT Authors · Anthony's Author Page
Sources For This Page
- OBD (myAZcar), Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, myAZcar program, read 2026-11-12
- New OBD Readiness Monitor Regulations Explained (Fall 2025 newsletter), California Bureau of Automotive Repair, read 2026-11-12
- FAQ, Air Care Colorado (CDPHE program), read 2026-11-12
- Types of Vehicle Testing, Connecticut Emissions Program (CT DMV), read 2026-11-12
- Common Causes of Inspection Failure, Personal Vehicles, District of Columbia DMV, read 2026-11-12
- OBD II FAQs, Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, read 2026-11-12
- Before You Test, Georgia's Clean Air Force (Georgia EPD program), read 2026-11-12
- Vehicle Emissions, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, read 2026-11-12
- Frequently Asked Questions, Illinois Air Team (Illinois EPA program), read 2026-11-12
- Vehicle Emissions Testing Program, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, read 2026-11-12
- Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, read 2026-11-12
- Vehicles Tested, Massachusetts Vehicle Check (program site for MassDEP and RMV), read 2026-11-12
- Vehicle Emissions Inspection, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, read 2026-11-12
- Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, read 2026-11-12
- Emissions Inspections, North Carolina DMV, read 2026-11-12
- RSA 266:59 b Emission Control Equipment, New Hampshire General Court, read 2026-11-12
- N.J.A.C. 7:27B 5.6 Procedure for the on board diagnostics inspection, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection rule (via Cornell LII), read 2026-11-12
- Vehicle Emissions Testing, City of Albuquerque, read 2026-11-12
- Emission Control Program, Nevada DMV, read 2026-11-12
- Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Programs, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, read 2026-11-12
- OAC 3745 26 12 Requirements for motor vehicle owners, Ohio Administrative Code, read 2026-11-12
- On board Diagnostics Frequently Asked Questions, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, read 2026-11-12
- 67 Pa. Code 177.203 Test procedures, Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin, read 2026-11-12
- FAQs, Rhode Island Vehicle Inspection Program, read 2026-11-12
- Fiscal Memorandum, HB 345 / SB 576, Tennessee General Assembly Fiscal Review Committee, read 2026-11-12
- Emissions Testing (OBDII), Texas Department of Public Safety, read 2026-11-12
- Inspections, Utah Division of Motor Vehicles, read 2026-11-12
- 9VAC5 91 420 Inspection procedure, rejection, pass, fail, waiver, Virginia Administrative Code, read 2026-11-12
- Vehicle Readiness, Vermont DMV, read 2026-11-12
- Emission checks ended, Washington State Department of Ecology, read 2026-11-12
- Emission test, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, read 2026-11-12
- ARS 49 541 Definitions, Arizona State Legislature, read 2026-11-12
- Exemptions (myAZcar), Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, myAZcar program, read 2026-11-12
Our Shop
Supercanic In San Jacinto
1685 S State St Suite D, San Jacinto, CA 92583. We test EVAP leaks with a smoke machine.