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