All About State Inspections - Resources

Going through a medical exam is like going to the dentist. This is what you need to do once a year; it is troublesome even at the best of times; and there are consequences for failing to comply with it. Nobody wants a cavity - and nobody wants a big fine!

Why does not passing inspection entail such costly consequences? Because without a state inspection, you will not be able to register your vehicle. And without registration, you break the law and wait to be caught and fined. From a legal point of view, a little absent-mindedness can greatly lead you astray.

State inspections: an environmental problem

State inspectorates have existed since Massachusetts adopted a voluntary safety program in 1926. (That's almost 90 years ago, if you count!) Vehicles have clearly progressed since then, as have inspections. Most people know that checks cover security standards. But they are also designed to test emission standards. – rules that protect the environment by ensuring that vehicles do not pollute the air. All that exhaust coming out of your car's tailpipe will turn into acid rain and air pollution if left unchecked. That's what checks are for.

The most recent vehicle emission standards set in North Carolina were adopted in 2002 under the Clean Chimney Act. This law, although aimed primarily at coal-fired power plants, also required the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions. Nitrous oxide is found in your car exhaust and is a major pollutant in North Carolina. In order to maintain air quality in North Carolina at federal standards set by the federal Clean Air Act of 1990, the state must regulate it.

Ensuring road safety

Emissions standards are regulated at the federal level, but state safety reviews are the prerogative of the state. And like the states themselves, state inspection laws can vary quite bizarrely. For example, here in North Carolina, cars over 35 years old don't need to be inspected!

So what do security inspectors check? A number of systems. Your brakes, headlights, auxiliary lights, turn signals, steering and windshield wipers are among them. If your Check Engine light is on, one of our certified technicians must diagnose and fix the problem before your vehicle is allowed to pass. Safety inspections are only there to keep you safe; they ensure the safety of other drivers. If your brake lights don't work and someone crashes into you from behind, both of you could get hurt!

Licensed independent inspection stations

In some states, inspections must be carried out at state inspection stations. However, North Carolina licenses independent inspection stations, and Chapel Hill Tire is one of them! The next time a registration renewal occurs and you need a government inspection in Raleigh, Durham, Carrborough or Chapel Hill, you'll know where to turn.

Back to resources