Vehicle Inspection Checklist

Vehicle inspections are an examination conducted by an automotive professional or licensed repair technician. To pass the car safety inspection, your vehicle must meet certain criteria set by both the automotive professional and the state your car is registered in. The technician will inspect numerous components vital to your car's operation, checking them for both proper function and emission compliance. You may be required to get a vehicle safety inspection completed before you can have it registered or before it receives an official license plate.

You'll also 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.

What Do They Check in a Car Inspection?

There are several types of vehicle inspections, each with its own set of criteria. For a mechanical car inspection, an automotive technician will check your vehicle's:

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.

A vehicle safety 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 outside 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. During a vehicle safety inspection, the U.S. Department of Transportation recommends that tires be replaced if their tread reaches 2/32, though your area may have stricter laws.

Exhaust Components: A car inspection will also examine your exhaust pipe, manifold, oxygen sensor, tailpipe, and muffler. Any leaks or damage causing some noise will be flagged during a vehicle safety 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 vehicle inspection will take extra care checking your car 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. A vehicle safety inspection will identify bad brakes, which can damage your tires, wear them down quickly and increase the chance of failure 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 vehicle 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

A car 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 vehicle safety inspection is required, and some states require specific emissions criteria to be met to remain street legal.

Car 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.

How Long Does a Car Inspection Take?

The duration of a car inspection can vary depending on the type of inspection and the specific requirements of your state or region. Generally, a standard vehicle safety inspection takes about 30 minutes to an hour. However, if additional checks, such as emissions testing or more detailed diagnostics, are required, it may take longer. It's always a good idea to allow extra time in case any issues are found that need immediate attention.

Is a Vehicle Inspection Required in My State?

Depending on your state, you may not be required to get a car inspection at all. At the time of writing, eighteen states currently require either an annual or biennial vehicle inspection.

States That Require Vehicle Safety Inspections:

• Delaware (Required every one to two years, depending on vehicle title)
• District of Columbia (Required every two years)
• Hawaii (Required annually, or for public service vehicles, every six months)
• Maine (Required every year, with specific emissions tests in Cumberland County)
• Louisiana (Required every year, with specific emissions tests in Baton Rouge Metro)
• Massachusetts (Required annually with the exception of vehicles made before 1996)
• New Hampshire (Required every year)
• Missouri (Required every two years, with specific emissions tests in St. Louis)
• New Jersey (Required every two years, or four years for new vehicles)
• New York (Required annually, with various emissions requirements for New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, West Chester, and Rockland)
• North Carolina (Required every year, with emissions testing in 48 of 100 counties)
• Pennsylvania (Required annually for most vehicles, every six months for certain service vehicles)
• Texas (Required every year, with emissions tests in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso)
• Rhode Island (Required every two years)
• Utah (Required every two years for the first eight years, then required annually)
• Vermont (Required every year)
• Virginia (Required every year, with specific requirements for Northern Virginia)
• West Virginia (Required every year)

In addition, Maryland requires a vehicle inspection only when a car is sold or transferred and Alabama requires a VIN inspection if the vehicle is transferred from another state.

What Do You Need For Car Inspection?

You'll need several important pieces of paperwork to help with identification, including:

• Valid driver's license or other form of photo ID
• Proof of payment (either bill of sale or monthly payments statement)
• Proof of liability insurance

Your specific state or county may require other documents to get a vehicle inspection; to find this information, visit your local DMV either in person or online to get the exact criteria. Make sure you have all your documents ready when you arrive at your car safety inspection. You may also be asked to participate by operating the turn signals, windshield wipers, horns, and lights.

The inspector will then go over the outside of the vehicle before turning to internal features like the seat belts, brakes, and seat adjustment mechanism. Afterwards you will be asked to sign a vehicle inspection log, legally stating that you have liability insurance, and then you'll be provided (depending on your state) with a tag indicating your car has been inspected.

Where Can I Get My Vehicle Inspected?

Your local Department of Licencing (DOL) or Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will determine where you can get your vehicle inspected. These are called Qualified Inspection Stations, and you should be able to find a list of approved stations on the DMV website listed by county. Qualified Inspection Stations can be either businesses dedicated entirely to car inspection or businesses the DMV has deemed qualified (dealerships being a common example.)

Most of these businesses will follow the same procedure, first taking the paperwork you provide and verifying the information. The examination itself will depend on what type of car inspection you are getting, whether that be one for safety or one specifically to test your vehicle for emissions. Some stations are far more strict than others, with drivers complaining of even the smallest damage failing their vehicle. Like you should with anything related to your vehicle, shop around a bit and look at reviews to see what station will work best for you.