Luckily, most western cars use standard OBD protocols for engine diagnostics and emissions monitoring.

However, that’s not always the case. For example, suppose you have a rather old car or are in a country that doesn’t require OBD-II. In that case, your vehicle will likely not have an OBD2 compatible car computer.

Moreover, cars that don’t produce local emissions (e.g., fully electric cars) are not required to have OBD2.

As a general guideline, your passenger car with a spark or compression ignition is most likely to be OBDII compliant if it was manufactured or registered after:

• USA: 1996
• EU: 2001 (gasoline) or 2004 (diesel)
• Algeria: 2014
• Argentina: 2008-2009 onwards
• Australia: 2006 (gas), 2007 (diesel)
• Brazil: 2007-2010 onwards (gas)
• Canada: 1998
• China: 2010 (gas), 2011 (diesel)
• Chile: 2014 (gas), 2013 (diesel)
• Hong Kong: 2006 (gas), 2009 (diesel)
• Iran: 2012
• Israel: 2003
• India: 2010-2013 onwards
• Mexico: 2006-2013 onwards
• Morocco: 2011
• New Zealand: 2006 (gas), 2007 (diesel)
• Peru: 2004
• Philippines: 2016
• Russia: 2010
• Singapore: 2014
• South Korea: 2005-2010 onwards
• Taiwan: 2008
• Thailand: 2013
• Turkey: 2013
• Japan: 2002-2010 onwards

For vehicles that don’t belong to those groups, refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual or the Internet for the compatibility info.