I've been reading a lot about "vehicle inspections" here as of late. Is this an east coast thing? The only thing we have to done to vehicles in Colorado is get an emissions test (if you live in the Denver metro area). Otherwise, there is nothing, natta.

 

Nope, come on over to TX. We have full inspections...brakes, lights horn, windshield wipers, tires, etc on top of the emissions inspections. It used to be pretty cheap ($8-10 or so) before they had to buy all the emissions equipment. Now it's $60 or more. And, they are done yearly.

 

I've been hit with the windshield wiper one twice.

<--- Houstonian

 

Florida did away with all of it because it got to be such a rip-off.....even though the inspection stations were contracted by the state. It was $10 a year when they dropped it.

 

TX sets the fee for the inspections. So, the guys with the higher overhead only do it as a come-on to get you in the door so they can find something wrong (i.e. brakes, wipers, etc). I play their game by having everything in compliance before I go in.

If you want to be assured someone's not performing inspections as a come-on, go to a place that ONLY does inspections. Those places are getting harder and harder to find.

Oh, and I'm not saying you didn't need new wipers either.

 

Eh, Michigan we have zero inspection / emissions tests..

 

First time it probably did. It was my mothers car. I took it to get inspected for her.


Second time, he followed "you need new wipers" with, "we sell a LOVELY assortment of wiper blades right over here, if you'd like for us to add it to the inspection!!!!"

 

PA has a yearly inspection, was twice a year before emissions. Brakes, tires, lights, wipers, rust, etc. Runs less than $25. We also have emissions testing in the high congestion areas, Philly, Pittsburgh. That runs over $50.

Originally garages had to buy a $50,000 machine to do emission testing. Now I think they just do a dump from the ECU.

 

Inspection in Maryland is $89.00 plus whatever they can find to be repaired. Can really rip off Older people, and the dishonest one's do.

 

None in Wisconsin that I know of, unless perhaps the Milwaukee metro area.

 

I'm guessing that's the used vehicle inspection in Md. you are talking about?
We also have the wonderful emmisions inspection. I think its every two - three years. That one is 14$ a pop. The one I had done a few weeks back was an adventure. Empty inspection station, 1:00 p.m. weekday afternoon. Guy running the test could not fit in my car, seriously. Had to get supervisor. Then both of them couldn't find the hook up to do the test. All the while my drivers door is perilously close to one of those steel and concrete filled posts. What should have taken 5 minutes took 1/2 an hour. Loads of fun!
Pat