The Sustainable Development Secretariat (SEDESU) of Querétaro has permanently prohibited vehicles registered in Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Guanajuato, and Michoacán from completing the voluntary vehicle inspection program in the state. The program excludes these regions because they already belong to the Megalopolis environmental system or have their own local emissions-control programs.
Why are vehicles from the Megalopolis and neighboring states restricted from obtaining verification in Querétaro?
SEDESU determined that vehicles registered in these regions cannot obtain the Type Two (“2”) Certificate and Emissions Hologram because the validity of Querétaro-issued holograms outside the state depends on the policies of each individual jurisdiction. As a result, these regions were excluded from the voluntary program since they already participate in the Megalopolis system or operate their own environmental control programs.
Local inspection centers will print a notice on the back of the certificate stating “Valid Only in Querétaro” to prevent confusion and avoid legal disputes in other states. This means that recognition of these voluntary inspections outside Querétaro is entirely at the discretion of the vehicle’s home state, including Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Guanajuato, and Michoacán.
Which vehicles are required to undergo mandatory verification in Querétaro?
Current environmental regulations require all internal-combustion vehicles registered in Querétaro to complete an emissions test to ensure cleaner operation.
The following vehicles are exempt from this requirement:
- Motorcycles and antique vehicles, due to their manufacturing characteristics.
- Agricultural tractors and irrigation equipment, to avoid affecting food production.
- Heavy industrial and construction machinery.
- Electric and hybrid vehicles, which receive the corresponding hologram directly because of their low or zero emissions.
What are the verification costs in Querétaro for 2026?
Inspection fees are calculated using Mexico’s Unit of Measurement and Update (UMA), valued at $117.31 pesos in 2026.
The costs are:
- Type One (1) and Type Two (2) Holograms: 3.81 UMAs ($446.95 pesos) for private vehicles and 1.64 UMAs ($192.38 pesos) for public transportation vehicles.
- Type Zero (0) Hologram: 6.50 UMAs ($762.51 pesos) for vehicles that meet the strictest emissions standards.
- Double Zero (00) Hologram: 15 UMAs ($1,759.65 pesos) granted directly to new environmentally friendly vehicles.
- Inspection Certificate and Technical Rejection: 1 UMA ($117.31 pesos) for certificate issuance and 1.11 UMAs ($130.21 pesos) if the vehicle fails the inspection.
Official verification schedule for the first and second semesters
- License plates ending in 5 or 6: July–August.
- License plates ending in 7 or 8: August–September.
- License plates ending in 3 or 4: May–June and September–October.
- License plates ending in 1 or 2: July–August and October–November.
- License plates ending in 9 or 0: September–October and November–December.
Drivers of hybrid and electric vehicles can obtain their exempt hologram free of charge.
Source: adn40
