Texas about to do away with auto inspections
- Thread starter rekit
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My texas inspection experience
emissions county- $40 dollars for basic safety inspection + looking to see if you have check engine light on.
non emissions county $7.50 and basic safety inspection, lights blinkers horn. (plus $7.50 to state with registration)
a few years ago we had 2 stickers inspection and registration both entirely separate with seperate expiration dates, now just registration and you cant get it renewed unless you pass inspection and they upload it into state database.
I think the problem anymore is fake dealer plates running around on clapped out cars and very out of date out of state tags, its like we have no traffic police presence anymore. But its like Madmax anyways and everyone is going 85mph now, and horrendous traffic with road at 300% capacity.
im all for inspection going away, i cant see that it would make a difference with what i see driving around anyways...
emissions county- $40 dollars for basic safety inspection + looking to see if you have check engine light on.
non emissions county $7.50 and basic safety inspection, lights blinkers horn. (plus $7.50 to state with registration)
a few years ago we had 2 stickers inspection and registration both entirely separate with seperate expiration dates, now just registration and you cant get it renewed unless you pass inspection and they upload it into state database.
I think the problem anymore is fake dealer plates running around on clapped out cars and very out of date out of state tags, its like we have no traffic police presence anymore. But its like Madmax anyways and everyone is going 85mph now, and horrendous traffic with road at 300% capacity.
im all for inspection going away, i cant see that it would make a difference with what i see driving around anyways...
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What is this notion that poor people are being forced into this and that? I had always thought that if a vehicle is a unibody and the unibody is compromised, there’s an issue.
This thread reminds me of my buddy. He says reassessments of property is a money grab. At this point I can provide the last 6 years of my property taxes down to the penny, and show, it was virtually the same before, and after, the reassessment. Therefore, the reassessment was revenue neutral. My assessment more than doubled. Who in their right mind would think the taxes would double?
What I’m saying is no matter what anyone says or does here, it makes no difference. First world problems. At some point people have to have some semblance of responsibility.
Massachusetts requires an annual vehicle safety inspection. Cost is $35. Caught while driving without an inspection sticker or without a current inspection sticker is considered a "moving violation" -- and that may trigger an increase in insurance premiums.
Inspections are done by private automotive repair shops, and the inspection process is monitored by mandatory video cameras placed inside the inspection bay. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (a/k/a the DMV) records video of every inspection and also has the ability to view a vehicle inspection remotely as it takes place. Big Brother is watching!
Inspections are done by private automotive repair shops, and the inspection process is monitored by mandatory video cameras placed inside the inspection bay. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (a/k/a the DMV) records video of every inspection and also has the ability to view a vehicle inspection remotely as it takes place. Big Brother is watching!
Yeah, Texas safety "inspections" are a joke and should be done away with.
Story time. My first year in Texas, I took my cars to get their inspections as my registration was expiring. The Elantra was only a few years old, which meant it didn't need an emissions test (I think they waive the emissions test for the first 3 years). The Impala, however, needed both the safety and emissions test. The guy at the Valvoline Instant Oil Change just down the street from me failed the Impala on the Safety inspection immediately, stating that the window tint eyebrow went too low on the windshield. Failing to see how that would be a safety concern, I went home. A few days later, I needed to dispose of used oil, so I stopped at this small shop between me and my office. While there, I asked if they did safety inspections, which they did. The guy comes out, does his inspections (emissions and safety) and 10 minutes later hands me a signed off inspection report. I'm good to go. Good news for me, I suppose. It would also explain why so many crappy cars are still on the road in the DFW Metroplex despite them having safety inspections.
Story time. My first year in Texas, I took my cars to get their inspections as my registration was expiring. The Elantra was only a few years old, which meant it didn't need an emissions test (I think they waive the emissions test for the first 3 years). The Impala, however, needed both the safety and emissions test. The guy at the Valvoline Instant Oil Change just down the street from me failed the Impala on the Safety inspection immediately, stating that the window tint eyebrow went too low on the windshield. Failing to see how that would be a safety concern, I went home. A few days later, I needed to dispose of used oil, so I stopped at this small shop between me and my office. While there, I asked if they did safety inspections, which they did. The guy comes out, does his inspections (emissions and safety) and 10 minutes later hands me a signed off inspection report. I'm good to go. Good news for me, I suppose. It would also explain why so many crappy cars are still on the road in the DFW Metroplex despite them having safety inspections.
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What’s bizarre about PA, my wife got a 7/24 sticker last week, when her car had 10/23 stickers. We did it early and threw away 5 mos. A person on this forum cited the statute and true it should have been 12 mos not 15. Meaning we chose to pass early for our own reasons, we should have gotten 5/24 stickers. I looked at the electronic printout and it links the VIN, the tag, and the sticker ser#, but nowhere does it indicate month of expiration. That’s a manually applied mini decal.
How in the world does the commonwealth of Pa lookup emissions records in their system, and not be able to determine expiration:
I’m not a big fan of emissions but it is what it is.
In some states, just cosmetic rust holes cause inspection failure. Yes, you could rivet some tin over it to pass, but it won’t make anyone safer. If a vehicle is structurally bad, a mechanic will refuse to work on it due to the liability (or inability to put the car on a lift). I’ve always been a responsible vehicle owner. I’ve also been poor. Poor people need to get to work just as much as anyone else. Being able to pay for food and shelter isn’t a first world problem.
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The sheer irony of it all? The govt says I’m rich. Yet my standard of living is that of a poor person. My dad takes this statement seriously and he said it has to do with being a saver. He told me those folks you see driving the 2023 Tahoe aren’t as well off as they want to appear
The government said I was rich too. I didn’t qualify for any programs. I couldn’t afford cell phone service or the ability to get more than two snowy network TV channels. The people who are poor and stupid are driving vehicles they can’t afford, buying designer clothing, and taking payday loans, etc., while the responsible working poor are driving beaters but pay their bills on time. I bought a house on a $10/hour income (in 2005).
I'm a small govt. guy, but am OK with State safety inspections; I actually wouldn't mind a bit more rigor on true safety functions. Massachusetts actually does a decent job in this area, having recently tightened up the inspection process in response to some shops, a vast minority, doing shady things.
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What does MA charge, btw, out of curiosity?
When I moved to PA in 1999, I lived in upstate NY and the state inspection was $14. A date I had when I moved here said the car inspection is about $60, but you can get a coupon. I was floored and was very much against it to the point I was going to not do it.
Today? Other than the BMW, I use a $29.95 coupon and the inspection is $42 out the door. I am pretty certain dealerships do not want to inspect cars, it is a waste of their time. Maybe the private garage can "try" to get some business but not much. At the end of the day, there should be traceability. Car passed, had stickers, and caused a serious accident. Was it the machine, or the man?
Anyone from my area, Phila., knows, this is the wild west. There are cars with no reggie, no insurance, tinted windshields, blowing lights, etc. One would think it's 1977, not 2023. Maybe it's why I don't mind some controls put in place.
We don't have an excise or property tax on our cars like you do, btw. If that were true my cars wouldn't be as new as they are: 2006, 2007, 2011. Probably be from the 80's
Good for Texas!
When I lived in NY, State inspections were a nuisance: in order to have an honest, fair, inspection, take place, you were relegated to a couple of shops, in an already underserved area - which means that you have to leave your vehicle with the station for the day.
Major nuisance, and with NYS, *everything* is costly, and there are *always* hidden fees and charges.
When I lived in NJ, after waiting for 45 minutes to have my car seen, the idiots put my vehicle on a machine which shaked the rear suspension violently, and in so doing, it blew the rear master cylinder. Of course, I "drove the car in like that" (no I didn't!)
In NC, I thankfully found an honest local shop, out in the country, so I didn't have to leave my vehicle with the station for the day. NC is always fair minded with respect to their requirements as to what would make a vehicle pass or fail, so I had no issue there, and they don't nickle and dime residents (unlike NYS).
Now I am in SC - with no vehicle inspections. Hooray!
I regularly drive from central to western SC, and I can't recall noticing any rust trap vehicles on the road; inspections are not needed here. They are a nuisance, and finding an honest shop is a challenge, especially in SC, which is underserved.
When I lived in NY, State inspections were a nuisance: in order to have an honest, fair, inspection, take place, you were relegated to a couple of shops, in an already underserved area - which means that you have to leave your vehicle with the station for the day.
Major nuisance, and with NYS, *everything* is costly, and there are *always* hidden fees and charges.
When I lived in NJ, after waiting for 45 minutes to have my car seen, the idiots put my vehicle on a machine which shaked the rear suspension violently, and in so doing, it blew the rear master cylinder. Of course, I "drove the car in like that" (no I didn't!)
In NC, I thankfully found an honest local shop, out in the country, so I didn't have to leave my vehicle with the station for the day. NC is always fair minded with respect to their requirements as to what would make a vehicle pass or fail, so I had no issue there, and they don't nickle and dime residents (unlike NYS).
Now I am in SC - with no vehicle inspections. Hooray!
I regularly drive from central to western SC, and I can't recall noticing any rust trap vehicles on the road; inspections are not needed here. They are a nuisance, and finding an honest shop is a challenge, especially in SC, which is underserved.
Hi, it is $35/yr.What does MA charge, btw, out of curiosity?
When I moved to PA in 1999, I lived in upstate NY and the state inspection was $14. A date I had when I moved here said the car inspection is about $60, but you can get a coupon. I was floored and was very much against it to the point I was going to not do it.
Today? Other than the BMW, I use a $29.95 coupon and the inspection is $42 out the door. I am pretty certain dealerships do not want to inspect cars, it is a waste of their time. Maybe the private garage can "try" to get some business but not much. At the end of the day, there should be traceability. Car passed, had stickers, and caused a serious accident. Was it the machine, or the man?
Anyone from my area, Phila., knows, this is the wild west. There are cars with no reggie, no insurance, tinted windshields, blowing lights, etc. One would think it's 1977, not 2023. Maybe it's why I don't mind some controls put in place.
We don't have an excise or property tax on our cars like you do, btw. If that were true my cars wouldn't be as new as they are: 2006, 2007, 2011. Probably be from the 80's
Yeah, the excise (and property) taxes here are a bit much, but goes with the territory; booming economy, great schools, etc. I see a future South though.
I had a 93 Lexus SC400 that barely failed the emisions test in Houston. I got waivers two years. Had to spend $200 on parts (which may or maybe not have been for that particular car lol) and retest. If it failed again you drive it to one of two locations, which is where they train the inspectors. Test and fail again and get a waiver to drive 5000 miles or less a year. Huge pain. So in 2018 it was now 25 years old and I assumed it no longer needed smog test. My smile went away as the shop mentioned my sticker was dated January so I would have to wait another year and the only way to change the sticker date was to sell the car.
Since laws vary from state to state, it's easy to compare death rates between states with inspections and without. I believe the data doesn't show a significant benefit.
The sketchy cars around here have expired plates or expired or fake temp tags, or often no plates at all!
I grew up in Buffalo in the 80's and 90's.
The vehicle inspection shops would wave the inspection sticker over the head of my parents, who had no money, and would take them to the cleaners. We were literally so nervous about getting the car inspected, becuase we may or may not have enough money for groceries the next week. It was bad.
My dad started paying one of our family friends who was a mechanic, to come to the house and give him an inspection sticker, and he would put it on his own car. This is before computer aided inspections. That worked better for his budget.
We had another guy who worked in a body shop, who would take good inspection stickers off wrecked cars, and resell them. I remember he would heat the sticker up with a heat gun, and stick it to wax paper to give it to the next guy.
The police departments in the Buffalo suburbs are so overwhelming its insane. They will pull you over and write a ticket for expired inspection sticker, or for any other small infraction. They are so underfunded they run checkpoints all over the city "looking for drunk drivers", but really it is a shakedown for any problem including inspection.
Do not miss living in a police state at all.
The vehicle inspection shops would wave the inspection sticker over the head of my parents, who had no money, and would take them to the cleaners. We were literally so nervous about getting the car inspected, becuase we may or may not have enough money for groceries the next week. It was bad.
My dad started paying one of our family friends who was a mechanic, to come to the house and give him an inspection sticker, and he would put it on his own car. This is before computer aided inspections. That worked better for his budget.
We had another guy who worked in a body shop, who would take good inspection stickers off wrecked cars, and resell them. I remember he would heat the sticker up with a heat gun, and stick it to wax paper to give it to the next guy.
The police departments in the Buffalo suburbs are so overwhelming its insane. They will pull you over and write a ticket for expired inspection sticker, or for any other small infraction. They are so underfunded they run checkpoints all over the city "looking for drunk drivers", but really it is a shakedown for any problem including inspection.
Do not miss living in a police state at all.
4WD
$50 site donor 2024
No - tint was illegal. They showed me with gauge …
LoL with someone else …
No, about 10 years after it started causing problems for vehicles with light and other sensors in the area that those stickers were blocking in the middle of the windshield, they FINALLY changed the placement to the far left lower corner of the windshield.
Better late than never.
The Virginia safety inspection manual specifically states that "wood is an acceptable repair" for a rust hole in the floor.
If that ain't hee-haw, I don't know what is.
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