Can drive — fix at your convenience.
P0496 means the EVAP system is flowing too much purge vapor into the engine, usually because the purge valve is stuck open or leaking. Unlike the leak codes, this one is most often a valve problem rather than a gas cap, and it can actually affect how the engine idles and starts. The car is still drivable, but it should be addressed before it gets worse.
$100 – $400
Varies by vehicle and root cause.
Usually not. P0496 is about too much purge flow, which almost always traces back to a purge valve stuck open rather than the gas cap. Checking the cap is harmless, but the real fix is typically the purge valve.
In most cases yes, but you may experience rough idle, stalling, or hard starts. It's drivable for short trips, but get it diagnosed soon since the symptoms can worsen.
Replacing the purge valve, the most common fix, usually runs $100-400 including diagnosis and labor, depending on the vehicle.
It's low severity overall, but it can affect idle and starting more than typical EVAP codes. It won't ruin the engine, but the drivability symptoms make it worth fixing sooner rather than later.