EDEN, N.C. — On November 1, vehicle emissions testing will end in some counties in North Carolina. 

What You Need To Know

On November 1, vehicle emissions testing will end in Lee, Onslow, and Rockingham counties

This may impact the environment

Emissions testing is also preventative maintenance in some cases

In counties such as Lee, Onslow and Rockingham, residents won’t be required to get a yearly emissions test anymore.

Charlie Carter, longtime mechanic and owner of Carter’s Auto Repair and Exhaust shop, doesn’t agree with this decision. 

“The only thing that scares me about not doing the emissions test is people have the tendency to procrastinate if something is going on with the vehicle,” Carter said.

Not getting an emissions test can lead to other issues for a car down the road. 

“If a vehicle has a misfire, it can lead to dumping raw gas down in the exhaust system causing your catalytic converter to go bad and you having to buy expensive parts that would be more expensive than a repair,” Carter said.

Carter also said this can have a negative effect on the environment as well. If the emissions light is on and you have bad sensors or something is wrong with the powertrain it will create dirty emissions into the air.

Although there is a possibility the change in emissions testing requirements will slow business down, but in the meantime he will continue doing what he loves.