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Starting this year, many vehicles will only need to go through emissions testing once every two years, and drivers will be able to pay with Visa or MasterCard at the testing station, instead of just cash or check.

Vehicles that require on-board diagnostics tests will only have to be checked once every two years. Those are vehicles registered in Arizona and that weigh less than 8,600 pounds and are model-years 1996 through 2004, said Mark Shaffer, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

Up until Jan. 2, all vehicles needing emissions testing in Pima County were due annually, unlike those in metro Phoenix, where alternate-year testing has long been the rule.

To bring Pima County and the Tucson metropolitan area into conformance with Phoenix, 1996 through 2004 vehicles with on-board computers will only have to be tested once every two years, Shaffer said.

Older vehicles, which go through different testing, will still have annual emissions- testing requirements, he said.

Drivers should check their registration renewal information when it's time to renew. In either 2009 or 2010 registra- tion materials will say "emissions testing required" for those due that year. About half of the eligible vehicles will be due in 2009 and half in 2010, according to the department.

Vehicles registered outside the Tucson and Phoenix metropolitan areas do not require emissions testing unless they are driven into the metro area on a regular commute.

Several vehicles are exempt from emissions testing, namely those from 2005 or newer model years, or those from 1966 or later model years, and motorcycles.

The department used to require exact payment in cash or a check, and will now accept Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards, Shaffer said.