Local Mandate for state inspection dropped

[cpayne5]

Inspections here in Virginia are inconsistent and arbitrary. The fee is $20 and the list of items to check is long. If a shop performs an honest, thorough inspection they're losing money. The local shop I take my vehicles to does 500+ inspections per month. They have 3-4 mechanics and only one inspector. That comes out to an average of less than 20 minutes per inspection for an 8 hour workday. It probably takes 5-10 minutes just to do the paperwork. Easy to draw a conclusion of what's actually going on based on these numbers. I'm sure the state police (who run the program) are aware of hundreds of shops like this and allow it to continue. Shoot, the recently retired head of the VSP lives less than a half mile from this shop...and probably gets his POVs inspected there.

If these safety inspections truly improved safety with compelling statistics, states without them would surely implement them. If for no other reason, I figure the insurance companies would lobby for it to reduce injury related costs.

 

[eljefino]

Maine does it pretty well, though I wish the fee were higher than $18 so honest garages could make honest money just doing inspections. I have six (!) cars registered to me now and it would be a logistical nightmare getting them all done in my birth month. So I like our system of "they expire when they do." Stickers are transferable so a kind seller can get it done to get the buyer off on the right foot, and reassure them that the car is in some sort of acceptable condition.

NH is such a tiny state they will absolutely funnel the clunkers there. Dealer groups already include a NH outlet so if an out-of-state customer wants to take delivery in a tax-free state they can send the vehicle over there.

 

[JimPghPA]

Here in PA for me it's a yearly inconvenience. Having only one vehicle now and the closest trusted shop being too far away to walk to or from, if it ends up raining that day I have to arrange a ride because the walk to / from that shop is too far from a buss stop.

At least I get that shop to rotate the tires when they have them all off.

BTW, I have put very small black paint dots on the factory silver rims next to the valve stems. One wheel has 1 dot, one has 2, one has 3, one has 4. And I have a section in my vehicle notebook for tires that shows a box with front, and the sides indicating which tire has what dots, and when rotated.

It's half a page to draw a new box with dots every time tires are rotated.

 

[97prizm]

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.

The state inspections always seemed like a racket. The people that gamed the system got whatever they wanted through. The people struggling and needed a vehicle got dinged and failed. Colorado is looking to raise its emissions testing from $25 to $50. Again with most vehicles being lev or ulev vehicles it just hurts the low income and hasn't shown to really benefit the environment.

 

[walterjay]

My neighboring state has inspection mandates. I live near the line. When I go to the store near the line all the junk vehicles are mostly from that state.

 

[JeffKeryk]

In CA, gas vehicles from 1976 on and diesel from 1998 on require smog checks every 2 years at registration, and at time of transfer, unless 1 has been done within 30 days or something like that.
8 years old and newer do not need smog check at vehicle registration, but you pay an additional fee.
4 years old and newer require a "smog transfer fee" at vehicle transfer but no smog check.

Thre is no vehicle inspection that I know of. This is my understanding, but take it at what it's worth.

 

[Bailey28]

In Florida, you have to drive so fast just to keep up with traffic. If a vehicle can stay with traffic, it is deemed good enough and passes on that merit alone.

 

[BigCahuna]

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

Many moons ago here in Jersey they used to put the car up on rollers, then stick the probe in the tailpipe. The whenever all the cars sold had a port to plug into and check for faults, they abandoned that way to test emissions. Like I said earlier now they're only concerned with emissions, and what the onboard computer tells them. You could probably drive in on 3 wheels, with no windows or lights, and get a sticker good for 2 years.,,

 

[John105]

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.

What state? In Phila a cop will be disciplined if it turns out they pulled over a vehicle that is not registered, driver not licensed, no inspection, no insurance, or illegal tints. Why face discipline and do the right thing? Like everyone else they have mouths to feed at home.

 

[John105]

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

The converse is also true. New and newish cars may be a racket for the state, but an absolute waste of time for a shop in PA. Let’s face it, in an ideal world, a shop builds loyal customers who come when services are needed. They pay honest prices for honest work.

Two things happened. Society has generally become nastier and more dishonest than when our parents were our age.

Cars have gotten way more reliable than when our parents were our age.

Now, it’s tougher to make a living (life is competitive—I considered my dad’s college to be a joke hockey school—today it has a 5% acceptance rate).

So good cars tie up a bay and a tech/inspector when such can be earning revenue for the shop. The owner with a new car is there because of the coupon, and because they are law abiding like 35-45% of people in PA. In most shops techs are not instructed to break things or say things are needed that are not. But losing an hour on a lift and not performing any repairs must be killer to their days. It’s a lose lose scenario. Even the state has nothing to gain in a newer car scenario….

 

[Slick3914]

I live in PA and support the annual safety inspection. The annual emissions inspection, however, is a money grab and a farce.

 

[rstcso]

Texas changed their vehicle inspection laws effective the beginning of this year. What it shows is, the inspections were never about safety, but increasing revenue. I live in a county requiring emission testing. Testing computers are linked to state computers where the pass/fail results are stored. You can't register/renew registration until this entry is in the state's database. In addition to the registration fee, there's also a fee for bridges and roads. So we're still paying for bridges and roads in the registration fee (about $11), 20 cents per gallon state gasoline tax, and the new $7.50 inspection program replacement fee. All three of these fees are all purported to be used for bridge and road construction/maintenance while the money goes into the state's general fund.

"Starting New Year’s Day, non-commercial vehicles will no longer need a vehicle safety inspection prior to registration. All non-commercial vehicles in the state will still be subject to a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee. The inspection program replacement fee will be paid at the time you register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Please note the inspection program replacement fee is not an increase in the cost of your vehicle registration. As its name suggests, this fee simply replaces the revenue source for state programs and operations—like the construction and expansion of state highways—once supported by vehicle safety inspections.

While comprehensive vehicle safety inspections will be eliminated for all non-commercial vehicles, Texans whose vehicles are registered in emissions counties will still be required to have emissions tests. The price of vehicle emissions tests varies by vehicle and county."

 

[KCJeep]

In my experience, state inspections do little to nothing to keep unsafe cars off the road while being a hassle at best, and a burden at worst, especially to the lower income populace.

Missouri changed their requirements a few years back to encompass only vehicles ten years or older or 150k or greater, but that still targets lower income folks and does little to nothing to improve overall safety.

 

[4WD]

They just dropped ours - no change for me - not sure overall …

 

[SC Maintenance]

I have yet to see an actual study by an unbiased source correlating safety to these inspections.

If the state wants an inspection they should provide it, rather than farming it out as a loss leader for shops to sell other things.

 

[97prizm]

The converse is also true. New and newish cars may be a racket for the state, but an absolute waste of time for a shop in PA. Let’s face it, in an ideal world, a shop builds loyal customers who come when services are needed. They pay honest prices for honest work.

Two things happened. Society has generally become nastier and more dishonest than when our parents were our age.

Cars have gotten way more reliable than when our parents were our age.

Now, it’s tougher to make a living (life is competitive—I considered my dad’s college to be a joke hockey school—today it has a 5% acceptance rate).

So good cars tie up a bay and a tech/inspector when such can be earning revenue for the shop. The owner with a new car is there because of the coupon, and because they are law abiding like 35-45% of people in PA. In most shops techs are not instructed to break things or say things are needed that are not. But losing an hour on a lift and not performing any repairs must be killer to their days. It’s a lose lose scenario. Even the state has nothing to gain in a newer car scenario….

Not only that 2025 vehicle emissions is 40 times cleaner than a 1980 vehicle. There aren't likely many people daily driving a 1980 Oldsmobile or 1995 Honda Civic for that matter. In the scheme of things vehicles that old have very little environmental impact. Second Colorado retaliated because 10ish years ago Weld and Larimer counties didn't have emissions testing. Quite a few people "registered " their vehicles in those counties mainly to PO Boxes or to friends addresses that they didn't live at. It took a while but the state finally caused on.

 

[chorty]

I love Michigan.

Insured and registered a vehicle still in pieces across the garage floor. Frame is still outside.

I hope to get it done in the next 2 weeks. Not really getting my monies worth quiet yet.....

 

[chorty]

Not only that 2025 vehicle emissions is 40 times cleaner than a 1980 vehicle. There aren't likely many people daily driving a 1980 Oldsmobile or 1995 Honda Civic for that matter. In the scheme of things vehicles that old have very little environmental impact. Second Colorado retaliated because 10ish years ago Weld and Larimer counties didn't have emissions testing. Quite a few people "registered " their vehicles in those counties mainly to PO Boxes or to friends addresses that they didn't live at. It took a while but the state finally caused on.

Then you have ******es like me...

Swapping in older IH IDIs and 12v Cummins into 2019 dually GMC denalis....