You need a state inspection sticker, and you’re wondering if Take 5 Oil Change can handle it. Good news — they might. But it depends entirely on where you live. Read to the end to find out exactly what Take 5 offers in your state, what to bring, and what actually happens during the inspection.
Does Take 5 Do State Inspections?
Yes, but not everywhere. Take 5 Oil Change offers state-mandated inspections in five states only: Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Utah.
If you’re in Florida, Virginia, California, or most other states, your local Take 5 won’t offer an official state inspection. That’s not a Take 5 decision — those states either don’t require annual inspections for passenger cars or use a different system entirely.
Here’s a quick overview of where Take 5 does and doesn’t do state inspections:
| State | State Inspection at Take 5? | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | ✅ Yes (selected counties) | Emissions only |
| North Carolina | ✅ Yes | Safety + Emissions |
| Ohio | ✅ Yes | Emissions (E-Check) |
| Texas | ✅ Yes (transitioning) | Safety + Emissions |
| Utah | ✅ Yes (limited) | Safety + Emissions |
| Alabama | ❌ No | Maintenance only |
| Arizona | ❌ No | Maintenance only |
| California | ❌ No | Maintenance only |
| Florida | ❌ No | Maintenance only |
| Virginia | ❌ No | Maintenance only |
Use the Take 5 location finder to confirm whether your specific shop is a certified inspection station.
What Take 5 Inspections Look Like in Each State
Texas: Big Changes Happened in 2025
Texas was the biggest market for Take 5 state inspections. Houston, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth — all heavy hitters for annual inspection volume. Then House Bill 3297 flipped everything.
Starting January 1, 2025, Texas eliminated the annual safety inspection requirement for most non-commercial passenger vehicles. No more checking your horn, mirrors, or wipers at a Take 5 bay.
But here’s the catch: emissions testing didn’t go away. If you’re registered in one of 17 specific counties, you still need an emissions test. Take 5 locations in those counties still provide it.
Texas counties that still require emissions testing:
| Metro Area | Counties |
|---|---|
| Houston | Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant |
| Austin | Travis, Williamson |
| El Paso | El Paso |
Also worth knowing: Texas now charges a $7.50 Inspection Program Replacement Fee at registration renewal for most vehicles. New vehicles registering in Texas for the first time pay $16.75 to cover two years. If your county requires emissions testing, expect an additional $11.50–$25.50 depending on your vehicle type and location.
North Carolina: Safety + Emissions, Every Year
North Carolina runs one of the stricter programs. Every registered vehicle needs an annual safety inspection. On top of that, vehicles in 19 to 22 specific urban counties also need an emissions test.
Take 5 locations in North Carolina handle both — usually in the same visit.
Key details to know:
- Gasoline-powered vehicles from model year 1996 or newer need emissions testing in applicable counties
- Vehicles 35 years old or older are exempt from both safety and emissions checks
- Safety-only counties pay around $13.60
- Counties requiring both safety and emissions pay around $30.00
Heads up: proposed legislation (Senate Bill 192) could push that combined fee past $40.00 as early as late 2025. If that passes, Take 5 will update pricing at its North Carolina locations.
Georgia: Emissions Only, Metro Atlanta Area
Georgia doesn’t require a yearly safety inspection for most passenger vehicles. The only state inspection Take 5 handles here is emissions testing — and it’s limited to the 13 counties in the Atlanta metro area.
Georgia’s 13 emissions-mandated counties:
Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale.
Who’s exempt in Georgia?
- The three most recent model years (2022 and newer as of the 2024 cycle)
- Vehicles 25 model years old or older
The cost is capped at $25.00. The technician runs an OBD-II scan while you stay in your car. It’s fast — usually under 10 minutes for a passing vehicle.
Ohio: The E-Check Program
Ohio uses the E-Check program to monitor emissions in several northern counties. Take 5 participates at certified Ohio locations.
Ohio E-Check basics:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Testing frequency | Every two years |
| Eligible vehicles | 4 to 25 model years old |
| First 3 failed tests | Free |
| 4th test onward | $18.00 |
| Test method | OBD-II computer scan |
Ohio recently made things more motorist-friendly. House Bill 54 extended new-vehicle exemptions starting June 30, 2025. Gasoline and diesel vehicles are now exempt for their first six model years. Non-plug-in hybrids get seven years.
Utah: Safety for Specific Vehicles, Emissions by County
Utah eliminated annual safety inspections for most passenger vehicles back in 2018. Take 5 locations there now focus primarily on emissions testing, required in five counties: Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, Weber, and Cache.
Safety inspections still happen at Take 5 in Utah, but only for specific vehicle types:
- Commercial vehicles over 10,001 pounds gross weight
- Salvage vehicles applying for a rebuilt title
- First-time registrations for street-legal ATVs
Utah’s maximum safety inspection fees:
| Vehicle Type | Max Fee |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles and Street-Legal ATVs | $14.00 |
| Passenger Cars and Light Trucks | $30.00 |
| Trailers | $30.00 |
| Heavy Duty, 4WD, or Buses | $40.00 |
Emissions testing in Utah’s five counties runs biennial for newer vehicles and annual for older ones. Prices typically fall between $25.00 and $30.00.
What to Bring to Your Take 5 State Inspection
Don’t show up empty-handed. Every Take 5 inspection requires three documents. Missing any one of them means you’re coming back another day.
- Valid driver’s license — confirms who’s presenting the vehicle
- Current vehicle registration — verifies your VIN and which county you’re registered in (this determines exactly what testing you need)
- Proof of valid insurance — required before any state clearance is issued
What Actually Happens During the Inspection
The Stay-In-Car Experience
Take 5’s whole identity is built around keeping you in your car. State inspections follow that same model as closely as possible. The technician works around you — checking documents, running lights, connecting the OBD-II scanner — while you sit in the driver’s seat.
There’s one exception: in Texas, some technicians briefly test the brakes by driving the vehicle a short distance in the parking lot. It’s rare, but it does happen. Outside of that, the entire process typically wraps up in 10 to 15 minutes.
Safety Inspection Components (Where Applicable)
In states or vehicle categories where safety checks apply, technicians inspect:
- Brakes: master cylinder, brake lines, pads, and stopping performance
- Exhaust and emissions system: gas cap seal, catalytic converter, muffler condition
- Lights: headlights (high and low beam), turn signals, hazard lights, brake lights, license plate light
- Visibility: mirrors, windshield cracks, wiper effectiveness
- Steering and suspension: steering play, tire tread depth, wheel condition
- Interior safety: horn function, seat belt condition
How Emissions Testing Works
For most modern vehicles, the technician connects a scanner to your car’s OBD-II port. The system reads data directly from your engine’s computer — checking the catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, and whether any misfires are occurring.
If your check engine light is on, your vehicle will almost certainly fail. That light signals a stored trouble code, which means the engine’s computer has flagged an emissions-related issue.
Older vehicles in some jurisdictions may require an Accelerated Simulation Mode (ASM) test — a dynamometer test that measures actual exhaust content at different speeds, checking levels of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide against federal and state environmental limits.
State Inspection vs. Take 5’s Multi-Point Inspection
Here’s where a lot of people get confused. Every Take 5 oil change includes a complimentary multi-point inspection. That’s not the same as a state-mandated inspection.
| Feature | State-Mandated Inspection | Take 5 Multi-Point Inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Legal compliance | Preventative maintenance |
| Required by law? | Yes (where applicable) | No |
| Results reported to | State database | You only |
| Fee | State-regulated | Included with oil change |
| Checks | Exhaust, lights, horn, seat belts | Fluids, filters, tire pressure |
In states where Take 5 doesn’t offer official inspections — like Florida or Alabama — the multi-point check is still useful. Technicians look at your engine air filter, cabin air filter, coolant level, power steering fluid, and tire pressure. It won’t get you a registration sticker, but it’ll flag maintenance issues before they become expensive problems.
Tips to Avoid the End-of-Month Rush
Take 5 locations consistently see a surge in the last week of every month. Why? Inspection stickers expire at the end of the month, and people wait until the last minute.
Don’t be that person. Here’s how to work around it:
- Go in the first two weeks of the month. Wait times are noticeably shorter.
- Test early when possible. Most states let you inspect up to 90 days before your registration expires.
- Budget time for a re-test. If your car fails, you’ll need time to fix the issue and return. In Ohio, your first three re-tests are free within 365 days. In North Carolina, results are valid for a full year.
- Check your check engine light before you go. If it’s on, get it diagnosed first. You’ll fail the OBD-II scan and waste a trip.
The Short Answer
Does Take 5 do state inspections? Yes — in Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Utah. Outside those five states, Take 5 is strictly a maintenance shop. Even within those states, the type of inspection (safety, emissions, or both) depends on your specific county and vehicle.
Before you head over, use the Take 5 location page to confirm your nearest shop is a certified inspection station, then grab your license, registration, and insurance card. You’ll be in and out faster than you think.
