New vehicles won’t have to test emissions for six years

A key state board approved a revised contract for Maryland’s vehicle emissions stations on Wednesday, allowing the stations to implement a change in the program: New cars, trucks and SUVs will be exempt from testing for the first six years instead of the first three years. The reasoning behind the change, which is expected to take effect this fall, is that 99% of those newer cars pass the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program tests anyway, at a cost of time and money to the drivers.