In Florida, there are no legal requirements to check your car emissions, but that doesn’t mean you can just ignore the subject. Vehicle emissions play a pivotal role in pollution, so it’s important to make sure your car is within the recommended limits. But how often should you head down to your local VW dealership for a check?
How Frequently Should Your VW Car Emissions Be Checked?
Florida has some of the most relaxed laws in the US around car inspections and emissions, but this doesn’t mean that no checks are ever legally required. If you buy a new car from outside the state, or you buy a used car from within the state, it must have a safety inspection. Emissions checks aren’t a compulsory part of safety testing, but it can be helpful for them to be included for peace of mind.
If your VW doesn’t fall into one of these two categories, it is still a good idea to have the emissions checked periodically. Other states require emissions to be checked every 1–2 years, and adopting this approach will ensure your auto remains in tip-top condition. Electric cars don’t require any emission checks at all because their tailpipes don’t emit any emissions.
How to Schedule an Emissions Check at a VW Dealership
Every responsible car owner knows that it’s important to get their vehicle serviced from time to time. The easiest way to schedule your emissions check is by coordinating it with your regular service. Your VW local dealership will be able to include it with any other checks that you need to ensure your car is safe.
What Happens if Your VW Emissions Are Not Checked?
As there are very few mandatory emissions checks in Florida, it might be tempting to skip having a test. However, this means your VW emissions could be higher than recommended. This can be a problem for many reasons:
- Your auto could be more expensive to run
- The fuel efficiency will be lower
- It could be polluting the surrounding air
- You could be causing damage to your engine
Keeping Your Car and the Environment Safe
Higher auto emissions can mean that your vehicle is polluting the air when you drive, but if you don’t get your emissions checked you may not realize. Taking care of the environment is important, and getting a periodic check on your emissions during a service is an easy way to achieve this.
But it’s not just the environment you’ll be protecting. High emissions can also be a tell-tale sign that there’s a problem with your engine. An emissions check could alert you to an issue before it becomes a serious problem, saving you money in the long run.
If your VW hasn’t been serviced for a while, why not schedule a check with an emissions test today? Get in touch with the team at Tom Bush Volkswagen in Jacksonville to book a convenient appointment for your car.


