When are vehicles tested in 2026?

The first test runs from 1 January to 30 June 2026 and the second from 1 July to 31 December 2026 (Notice, DOF 03/04/2026).

Which vehicles are exempt?

The 1997 Agreement exempts private passenger vehicles for up to nine passengers and freight vehicles with a payload of no more than 3000 kg (Article One, second paragraph).

What if the vehicle fails?

The owner must carry out repairs and have it retested at an authorised centre (Air Pollution Regulation, Article 35). There are sanctions for non-compliance (NOM-045-SEMARNAT-2017, point 10.4; Federal Roads, Bridges and Motor Transport Law, Article 74).

Can the deadlines change?

Yes. The Ministry publishes the periods in the DOF and can extend them: in 2025 the first test period was extended to 31 December (Notice, DOF 02/12/2025).

MX · Expiry & renewal tracking

Never let a fleet vehicle miss its emissions test

Federal motor transport and private transport vehicles in Mexico are emissions-tested every six months at authorised centres; in 2026, 1 January to 30 June and 1 July to 31 December (Agreement DOF 18/04/1997; Notice DOF 03/04/2026). The owner presents the vehicle; non-compliance is sanctioned (LCPAF, Article 74).

The Agreement on the inspection of federal public service and private motor transport vehicles (DOF 18/04/1997) sets a mandatory six-monthly emissions test for smoke opacity and gas concentration for federal motor transport and private transport vehicles using federal roads and bridges, as well as vehicles carrying hazardous materials and waste, cash and valuables, and courier and parcel services, including those with a payload under 4000 kg (Article One). The test is done at authorised centres (Article Two).

Each year the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) publishes the periods in the DOF. For 2026 they are: first test from 1 January to 30 June, and second test from 1 July to 31 December (Notice, DOF 03/04/2026). The periods can change: for 2025, the first test period was extended first to 31 July and later to 31 December 2025 (Notices, DOF 25/06/2025 and 02/12/2025).

Diesel vehicles using the national road network must meet NOM-045-SEMARNAT-2017 or, in Mexico City, Hidalgo, the State of Mexico, Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala, NOM-167-SEMARNAT-2017, which set the same opacity limits and test method (Notice, DOF 03/04/2026). NOM-045-SEMARNAT-2017 is binding on owners or legal holders of diesel vehicles in circulation and excludes agricultural, construction and mining machinery (point 1).

The test centre issues a certificate showing the date, the centre, the vehicle details, the standards applied and whether emissions exceed the limits; if the vehicle passes, the owner keeps the original (Regulation of the LGEEPA on Air Pollution Prevention and Control, Article 34). If it fails, the vehicle must be repaired and tested again (Article 35).

Start free

At a glance

Who it applies to	Federal motor transport and private transport vehicles on federal roads and bridges, including hazardous materials and waste, cash and valuables, and courier and parcel services (Agreement DOF 18/04/1997, Article One)
Exemptions	Private passenger transport of up to nine passengers and freight vehicles with a payload of no more than 3000 kg (Agreement DOF 18/04/1997, Article One)
Frequency	Six-monthly (Agreement DOF 18/04/1997, Articles One and Two)
2026 periods	1 January to 30 June and 1 July to 31 December (Notice, DOF 03/04/2026)
Opacity standard (diesel)	NOM-045-SEMARNAT-2017 or, in the Mexico City megalopolis, NOM-167-SEMARNAT-2017 (Notice, DOF 03/04/2026)
Where	Authorised test centres (Agreement DOF 18/04/1997, Article Two)
Proof	Test centre certificate; the owner keeps the original if the vehicle passes (Air Pollution Regulation, Article 34)
If it fails	Repair and retest (Air Pollution Regulation, Article 35)

NOM-044-SEMARNAT-2017 is not a periodic test: it sets emission limits for new diesel engines and vehicles over 3,857 kg gross vehicle weight and is binding on manufacturers and importers (point 1).

Who is responsible?

The companies and individuals who own or legally hold the vehicles must present them for testing in each period (Notice, DOF 03/04/2026). Enforcement of NOM-045-SEMARNAT-2017 for federal motor transport and private transport on federal roads lies with the Ministry of Communications and Transport, now the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (NOM-045-SEMARNAT-2017, point 10.2).

If the deadline passes

There are sanctions: breaches of NOM-045-SEMARNAT-2017 are sanctioned under the LGEEPA, its air pollution regulation and other applicable laws (point 10.4; Air Pollution Regulation, Article 46), and the Federal Roads, Bridges and Motor Transport Law provides for sanctions for breaching federal motor transport and private transport rules (Article 74, section IV). For repeat offenders, suspension or cancellation of the permit to use federal roads may be sought (Air Pollution Regulation, Article 36).

Calendar periods, not six months from the last test

The federal test is done within fixed periods published each year in the DOF (in 2026, January-June and July-December), not six months after the last test. So it is best to record the end of the current period as the expiry date and, once tested, move it to the end of the next one. Check the DOF for any extension, as happened in 2025.

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add a record for each fleet vehicle (plate or fleet number) and enter the last day of the current test period as the expiry date: 30 June or 31 December 2026.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the period ends and on the day, giving time to book the vehicle into an authorised test centre.
The test centre or your maintenance provider can upload the certificate through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account; once received, move the date to the end of the next period.
Assign a responsible person, such as the fleet manager; if a vehicle passes the end of the period without a certificate, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

When are vehicles tested in 2026?: The first test runs from 1 January to 30 June 2026 and the second from 1 July to 31 December 2026 (Notice, DOF 03/04/2026).
Which vehicles are exempt?: The 1997 Agreement exempts private passenger vehicles for up to nine passengers and freight vehicles with a payload of no more than 3000 kg (Article One, second paragraph).
Which standard applies to diesel vehicles?: NOM-045-SEMARNAT-2017 or, in Mexico City, Hidalgo, the State of Mexico, Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala, NOM-167-SEMARNAT-2017, which set the same opacity limits and test method (Notice, DOF 03/04/2026).
What if the vehicle fails?: The owner must carry out repairs and have it retested at an authorised centre (Air Pollution Regulation, Article 35). There are sanctions for non-compliance (NOM-045-SEMARNAT-2017, point 10.4; Federal Roads, Bridges and Motor Transport Law, Article 74).
Can the deadlines change?: Yes. The Ministry publishes the periods in the DOF and can extend them: in 2025 the first test period was extended to 31 December (Notice, DOF 02/12/2025).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 11, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for six-monthly emissions test, federal motor transport (Mexico)

A ready template for six-monthly emissions test, federal motor transport (Mexico) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.

Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each six-monthly emissions test, federal motor transport (Mexico) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each six-monthly emissions test, federal motor transport (Mexico) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.