Local Mandate for state inspection dropped

[andrew_j]

Live free or die state dropped the yearly vehicle inspection requirement. ($30-$50 ) . The main concern always has been rusting which happens.

Our neighboring states have some lemon laws even used cars and yearly inspections. I feel like our local used market is going to get flooded with derelicts.

Also automotive repair shops(esp independents) got a regular customer stream stopped fully. Moreover the low end used car lots had a market of selling inspected safer cars. Customers seeking that gone.

Personally a fleet of four vehicles in your birthday month was pure hassle. The $50(pass/fail) inspection fee seemed to average about $200/vehicle(older ones) with minor issues addressed.

I understand other states don’t have them but seems like a flip of table for car industry here.

 

[AZjeff]

That's too bad. Yes there are garages that will slap a sticker on and people who seek them out but overall inspections make the roads safer. Far more people are just unaware that their brakes are shot or tires bald or ball joints are bad etc and will get them fixed when found. Pa had inspection Az doesn't and you can't believe what you see and sometimes hear on the roads. Supposedly LEOs can do roadside inspections and cite. Never heard of it happening. I know many disagree with inspections because they take care of their cars and/or it's invasion of privacy or something but most people have no clue until something fails.

 

[fantastic]

I tend to think an annual or bi-annual state inspection is good for mechanics to catch safety concerns that a lot of folks would never see. Ours is $12. Yes, it's a minor annoyance since my vehicles are maintained properly.

 

[rijndael]

I wish Virginia would get rid of theirs.

Plenty of the inspectors are dishonest too. One year, they tried to get me for a "steering rack" leak. It wasn't leaking. They couldn't tell me if it was a hose, the pump, or something else ... but they could fix it! I knew it was BS.

 

[leeharvey418]

I used to be all for state inspections - I thought ~$30 for a check of safety-critical systems was money well spent. Since moving to Virginia last year, I’m getting the impression that the state doesn’t have systems in place to monitor inspection stations, and shops will fail certain items just to drum up business.

 

[Kira]

Try to key in on some smaller used car lots and see if the quality of their vehicles takes a nosedive.

 

[Cujet]

Despite claims to the contrary, state safety inspections are not highly correlated with improved safety. At best we can say there is a 2% change, with state safety inspections improving fatal and non fatal crashes slightly. However, that 2% to 2.6% is well within the 'error bars' and some studies show zero improvement, when actual factors are taken into account. (example, a rash of crashes due to an unusual ice storm)

 

[supton]

Despite claims to the contrary, state safety inspections are not highly correlated with improved safety. At best we can say there is a 2% change, with state safety inspections improving fatal and non fatal crashes slightly. However, that 2% to 2.6% is well within the 'error bars' and some studies show zero improvement, when actual factors are taken into account. (example, a rash of crashes due to an unusual ice storm)

That’s my understanding, as much as an inspection seems like a great way to prevent problems, it doesn’t.

Maybe inspections will come back once autonomous driving becomes the norm? As in, when the correlation does swing the other way. If the goal is zero accidents/deaths, at some point I bet it will return. Just not any time soon.

But I won’t miss it, as stated, a nuisance juggling cars in birth month (would have been nicer if I could have staggered) and I didn’t agree with all the stipulations. Doesn’t end until next year? drats, means I still have to deal with it this fall!

 

[Kurtatron]

Despite claims to the contrary, state safety inspections are not highly correlated with improved safety. At best we can say there is a 2% change, with state safety inspections improving fatal and non fatal crashes slightly. However, that 2% to 2.6% is well within the 'error bars' and some studies show zero improvement, when actual factors are taken into account. (example, a rash of crashes due to an unusual ice storm)

It always seemed to me that accidents were 99% driver error vs mechanical failure. Texting, drunk driving, aggressive driving, etc.

 

[supton]

Link to news article.

I'm not clear on the ODBII check.

...do away with vehicle inspections as of Jan. 31, 2026...

Emissions testing will also be repealed by the end of next September...

So after Jan 31 2026 police won't be able to pull one over for an expired sticker? or no sticker at all?

But how would they know anything about the ODBII check? I mean, I have 2 vehicles that are due in Feb for inspections--so they won't need safety but they will have to have ODBII checked, and will thus still get a sticker on the windshield?

The article does say they are trying to pull in the emissions check too, so maybe there isn't an issue there.

 

[John105]

I wish PA would get rid of them. Took me a while to get used to......$29.95 coupon means your inspection is about $45. No coupon the inspection can be $65-$90 (there is an official publication showing max amounts of the stations/garages). I noticed 2024 many "coupons" are gone, they are a loss for garages when people pull in with cars that are perfectly fine. A waste of a bay and a tech.

Many new car dealers have a gimmick--free inspections for life! The fine print always says, free safety with paid emissions.

Always curious, I learned that in CA, one can have a I/M category in a not ready state, and pass. 2 or more not ready = not pass.

Our '11 GM took anyhwere from 800 to 1200 miles for the EVAP to go into a ready state, i.e. we could drive one thousand miles and I/M comes back not ready. I asked local PA inspection shops, if I don't have a check engine, but my EVAP is not ready, can I pass? If EVAP is the only category not ready? Every shop I asked said no, everything must be in a ready state.

So I decided to test them, because the statute in PA says one not ready is a pass. Drove in without a check engine, but EVAP not ready. Car passed. This told me the tech is not deciding whether or not the car passes, the commonwealth's computer is.

But again, why bother with all this? We don't even require licenses or registrations to drive on our roads, nor insurance, and nobody even cares if a valid inspection is on the windshield other than honest people like myself.

 

[D60]

I'd be over the moon if I lived in that state. Less gov regulation is a good thing 99% of the time.

It's incredibly rare to see a gov program or dept shuttered EVER -- esp one that can collect FEES to pay for its own existence.

 

[John105]

I'd be over the moon if I lived in that state. Less gov regulation is a good thing 99% of the time.

It's incredibly rare to see a gov program or dept shuttered EVER -- esp one that can collect FEES to pay for its own existence.

if you are in CO, you are one of 4 states that does not allow a FED CAT to be installed in a car that came with CA emissions (almost all modern cars). So instead of having a $180 CAT installed on an old car, you guys do the $2,100 CARB certifed ones. all of that? Yet your state was the first (along with WA) to encourage weed to be used recreationally. Go figure.

 

[joegreen]

being in the automotive world i am actually a fan of inspections. People drive ridiculous things. Cracked frames, wires showing on tires, no brakes. But i value freedom more and i do not appreciate having to pay for each of my vehicles every year. It’s a pain and inconvenience plus it seems like for a lot of people it turns into an expensive endeavor with there vehicle always needing something from the shop. Maybe the state should at least have free inspections if they are required but i do not understand the economics of it so maybe not.

 

[D60]

if you are in CO, you are one of 4 states that does not allow a FED CAT to be installed in a car that came with CA emissions (almost all modern cars). So instead of having a $180 CAT installed on an old car, you guys do the $2,100 CARB certifed ones. all of that? Yet your state was the first (along with WA) to encourage weed to be used recreationally. Go figure.

Our state leader is working to replicate that giant state on the West Coast.....

We can't even get brake cleaner here that actually works. I typically just scream at grease and that's more effective than what they market as brake cleaner for us.

I just needed a cat for a NM vehicle but was able to have it shipped to the customer at their NM address. I'm about 7 mi N of the state line so have customers from both sides....

 

[Fifth87]

But I won’t miss it, as stated, a nuisance juggling cars in birth month (would have been nicer if I could have staggered) and I didn’t agree with all the stipulations. Doesn’t end until next year? drats, means I still have to deal with it this fall!

Manchester seems to be a no mans land as far as inspection stickers. I see so many cars with stickers years out of date. It doesn't seem the local police are stopping motorists for them as a primary offense. Of my three vehicles, only my truck is uninspected, and that is for a recurring CEL for emissions that I can't resolve. For me, it isn't high priority as I seldom drive it. My daily driver is inspected promptly and issues are resolved ASAP.

 

[BigCahuna]

New jersey used to have a yearly vehicle inspection on all vehicles. They actually checked everything related to safety. It basically was to be sure what the vehicle left the factory was sill in usable condition. Now, they only check emissions. They plug your car into the computer, and as long as there's no trouble lights on, you pass. There is no inspection required for motorcycles. But you can receive a summons if the officer feels something is dangerous. Helmets are required for motorcycles, but not for scooters that can go almost as fast, and aren't required to have the same lighting. Heavy trucks are required to go thru safety inspections. Alot of those are roadside checkpoints.,,

 

[John105]

I work in NJ and used to hear about headlight alignment (makes sense), etc. When I first moved to PA, a probe was put in the tailpipe. Imho isn't that the end result or the reason to test--this makes sense? Today, check engine could be lit for anything yet fail. And could be thousands to address the root cause. Basically imho an emissions problem spells the end of many cars. Try and chase a P0420 or P0430! Or, do it the dealer way lol and be out $5k on a car that sells for $7k

 

[RBT]

We have a problem with illegally dark tint and loud exhaust systems, among other things. The police do not enforce the vehicle code or cops I know tell me that they risk getting in trouble.

 

[willbur]

Live free or die state dropped the yearly vehicle inspection requirement. ($30-$50 ) . The main concern always has been rusting which happens.

Our neighboring states have some lemon laws even used cars and yearly inspections. I feel like our local used market is going to get flooded with derelicts.

Also automotive repair shops(esp independents) got a regular customer stream stopped fully. Moreover the low end used car lots had a market of selling inspected safer cars. Customers seeking that gone.

Personally a fleet of four vehicles in your birthday month was pure hassle. The $50(pass/fail) inspection fee seemed to average about $200/vehicle(older ones) with minor issues addressed.

I understand other states don’t have them but seems like a flip of table for car industry here.

A sure money maker for repair garages. I have been "failed" for brake pads with 6/32" left (state standard is 2/32'), failed and then quoted $1000 for new entire exhaust system (fixed for $32) , "collapsed" front struts that were barely one month old, perfect ball joints that the shop refused to pass until I got a state trooper to come and check it out. etc. Best is a state run inspection program where the inspector has no interest in your vehicle, but unsafe vehicles are removed from the highway. Best of both worlds