I live in NC myself. (Wake Forest) So here is the skinny.
By law you are "emissions exempt" (the tailpipe emissions are no longer sniffed) BUT THE EMISSIONS EQUIPMENT CANNOT BE TAMPERED WITH. PERIOD. They have to be in place but they are not required to work. I went through this in April of this year. Take it to the bank.
You may find a shop that does not enforce the rules, but it's only a matter of time before they get popped by the DMV enforcement division.
The EGR, air pump apparatus, evaporative emissions system, PCV system, and cat all have to be in place. If it's not in place, then you have to be able to prove to DMV you spent $200.00 bucks at an authorized shop to get it in compliance.
That's the law and that's what I went through this spring. Sorry.
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