A car inspection is a multi-point examination of your vehicle by an automotive technician that culminates in an assessment of its overall condition and law compliance. These inspections are required in many regions and will cover everything from a vehicle's internal mechanics to its safety and emissions. You may be required to get an inspection of your vehicle completed before you can have it registered or before it receives an official license plate.

The exact requirements relating to car inspections differ from state to state. You'll want to check your local DMV's website to see the guidelines that affect your area. Alternatively, you can go into a physical Department of Motor Vehicles location and talk to a representative there. They will be able to provide you with all the information you need about the legal guidelines associated with car inspections in their jurisdiction.

• Suspension and Steering: Your suspension and steering systems are responsible for keeping your vehicle from bouncing over rough terrain and allowing you to steer it during operation. An automotive tech will look for worn-out or damaged parts relating to the suspension and steering to ensure your vehicle can safely drive on the road.

  An inspection will check every part related to these systems, including:

  • Center Link
  • Bushings
  • Tire Rod Ends
  • U-Joint
  • Shocks
  • Struts
  • Ball Joints


• Tire Alignment and Tread: The condition and function of your tires will be tested, with a professional taking a look at everything from your tire pressure to the depth of tread your tires have left. The correct tire pressure will depend on what type of vehicle you have, as well as the weather in your region. For example, If you live in a colder climate, the pressure in your tires will fall more rapidly.

  The tread and the wear patterns present in your tires will also be tested. If a tech sees that your tires are wearing down unusually or unevenly, that may mean that your alignment is off. This can reduce the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, as well as make tires fail unexpectedly. Tread depth is also important, and a tech will make sure that there is enough left to drive safely—the U.S. The Department of Transportation recommends that tires be replaced if their tread reaches 2/32, though your area may have stricter laws.

• Exhaust Components: An inspection will also examine your exhaust pipe, manifold, oxygen sensor, tailpipe, and muffler. Any leaks or damage causing some noise will be flagged during an inspection. Issues with your exhaust can cause performance issues for your engine; with an exhaust leak, your engine won't be able to work correctly, and you'll have problems accelerating.



• Braking System: A complete vehicle inspection will take extra care checking your brakes, measuring the thickness of your brake pads and rotors, as well as the diameter of your brake drums. These inspections also look at your parking brake, brake hoses, brake fluid, and any other systems related to braking (like your ABS.)

  As one of your car's most important safety features, the brake test is essential. Bad brakes can damage your tires, wearing them down quickly and raising the chance they will fail during travel. If the accident is severe enough, this can result in damage to your vehicle, injury, and even death.

• Auxiliary Systems: The rest of the inspection will cover all other components of your car, including:

  • Lights (turn signals, brake lights, headlights, etc.)
  • Mirrors
  • Horn
  • Ignition
  • Windshield wipers
  • Fluid levels
  • Timing belt
  • Valve covers
  • Spark plugs
  • Hoses

An inspection will also likely test your vehicle's safety and emissions; the requirements for these tests will vary from state to state. In some areas, an annual or biannual safety examination is required, and some states require specific emissions criteria to be met to remain street legal.

Inspections aren't perfect, and some may miss certain defects resulting from past accidents. That's why it's essential also to get a vehicle history report before you purchase a car. These can show you a complete history of accidents and repairs that a vehicle has experienced, so you can identify if a car has any hidden damage.