Safety and Emissions Inspections & Required Equipment — Missouri Driver's License Practice Test

This section covers Missouri's safety and emissions inspections and the equipment your vehicle must have to pass. A safety inspection is required to register or renew registration on many vehicles and is good for two registration years, but vehicles in their first ten model years with fewer than 150,000 miles are exempt, along with trailers, historic-plate, salvage or junk, dealer-to-dealer, and low-speed vehicles.

To pass a safety inspection your brakes, horn, tires, steering, lights, and exhaust system must all work properly, including at least two white headlights and at least two red taillights visible from 500 feet. Some requirements depend on the vehicle's age: safety glass is required on vehicles made after 1936, two sets of front seat belts on passenger cars made after June 30, 1964, and inside and outside rearview mirrors on vehicles made after 1967.

An inspection may cost up to $12, or up to $10 for a motorcycle, and the certificate is good for 60 days. Emissions inspections are required for residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson counties, with exemptions for 1995-and-older gasoline vehicles, 1996-and-older diesel, and vehicles over 8,500 pounds. Other rules to remember: window tint on the front door windows may block no more than 65% of light, and studded snow tires may be used only from November 1 to April 1.