Georgia
Emissions Testing
If
your car is 25 years old or older, you may now be exempt from Emissions Testing
There are three things you need to know:
1975 or newer cars require emissions testing unless otherwise exempt.
Antique (with Georgia Antique Plates) cars are exempt.
License plate office workers don't know the rules.
Therefore, by getting an antique plate for your 1975 car you become exempt. Let me say that another way. Your 1975 car with regular plates requires inspection. Your 1975 car with antique plates is exempt.
An antique car is a car with antique plates. To be eligible for antique plates your car must be 25 years old or older. Therefore, these rules will apply next year to '75 and '76 and so on.
There are no restrictions on driving a car with antique plates.
Rules of the Department of Natural Resources
Regarding rule number 3, drop me an email at jaltman@altlaw.com a few days before you go for your plates and I will give you my office number. That way when you have a problem you can call me and I will put the supervisor in touch with the EPD official in charge of this. He has also assured me that this subject will be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of all the County Tag Office supervisors.
Other changes:
Inspections are now annual and there are no more window stickers.
Starting with year 2000 registrations you will receive a registration card that must be carried in the vehicle at all times, like insurance is required now.
For older cars (1994 and earlier) there is only the ASM (dyno) test, no more idle tests. Cars unable to perform an ASM (i.e. full time four wheel drive) will do the new car 2 speed idle test instead.
There are now Gross Violator rules. There will be remote sensing devices placed about town. If you are identified as a gross violator you will receive a letter requiring you to appear for retesting. If you pass you get one free year without a test. If you fail you get 30 days to test again and if you fail then you lose your plates.