STATE INSPECTIONS

WHAT IS A STATE INSPECTION?

A vehicle safety inspection is a government inspection that ensures vehicles are safe for the road. Some states require this inspection annually, while others only require it before the sale of a vehicle, so always be sure to familiarize yourself with your state’s vehicle inspection laws. Many states also include an emissions test with each inspection to check if your vehicle is up to date with current EPA emissions standards.

WHAT TO EXPECT

They are performed by licensed car technicians at any of your state’s DMV locations. These technicians run your car through a checklist of features that must be functioning properly to be considered safe.

That includes visibility features like your lights, horn and mirrors, your steering and brakes, seatbelts, and your tires. Technicians will check for any obvious hazards like fuel leaks too, the presence of which can be grounds for inspection failure.