Why to Get Your Emissions Tested a Year Early

Yes, a year early. 

Here's a little secret - your WA State emissions test results are good for 365 days.  So, if your car is due for an emissions test in, say, November, you could take the test now and it would still be valid when it comes time to renew your tabs later in the year.

And here's another little secret - if your car is newer than a 1996 model, your car will fail the emissions test when the check engine light is on. So....if your car is due for an emissions test at any point this year, take the test now if your check engine light is off.  Then, if your check engine light happens to come on later in the year, you can deal with the repairs on your own time without having to worry about passing the test to be able to get your tabs.

How do you know if your car will be due for a test this year?
For all cars made after 1995:

• Odd-year cars test on even years. (Ex: a 2002 car would test this year, 2017)
• Even-year cars test on odd years (Ex: a 2003 car wouldn't be due until 2018)

​Check engine light off? Due for a test this year?  Take it now, and save yourself a potential headache later on.