Senate Bill 341 Summary

• Exempts vehicles less than three years old from safety and emissions inspection requirements for dealers and private sales, including vehicle registrations and transfers from out-of-state.

• Establishes biennial safety inspections for vehicles at least three years old and requires vehicles at least 10 years old to be inspected during 2024 and then every other year.

• Creates new emissions inspection requirements under G.S. 20-183.4E, mandating inspection within 180 days of vehicle registration and annually thereafter, with Division authority to grant temporary exemptions for vehicles primarily operated outside emissions inspection counties.

• Limits emissions inspections to Mecklenburg County only, removing 18 other previously covered counties (effective July 1, 2024, contingent on EPA approval of the State Implementation Plan amendment).

• Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to submit a proposed State Implementation Plan amendment to the EPA by December 31, 2023, with implementation delayed 60 days after EPA approval.