The emissions test is part of the NCT, an understandable test for urban areas, but there are other tests for 'road-worthiness', which means too many faults mean simply getting a new car.
It's a bit crazy - I believe older cars are better for road safety, simply because they aren't as well tuned, therefore slower - speeding and overtaking are the biggest killers on roads.
I killed the thread - no one is even trying for 00!!
If you buy a used car from a car dealership, some states have a "lemon law" which means within a specified time, if something goes wrong with the car, they can return it for refund or exchange it for another vehicle. If you buy it from a private owner, it's "caveat emptor."
And until Tuesday, this truck hadn't had a tune-up in seven years, but the engine just purred. I had no qualms about driving it here from Vegas. I don't have qualms about making the round trip next week, either.