State inspections are a staple of North Carolina Car Ownership, and you’ve most likely been through the process of getting one before. If you want to keep your visit short and sweet, try to avoid these common mistakes so you don’t have to spend extra time trying to pass.
Safety
All vehicles are required to go through a safety test. Vehicles model year 1995 and older, as well as vehicles less than three model years old and with less than 70,000 miles, require a Safety Only test. This test is $13.60 ($23.60 with window tint) and cannot have sales tax applied to it. This test covers all safety components such as brakes, headlights, wipers and tires.
Common Fail Methods: Bald Tires, Non-Functioning lights, Aftermarket Lights.
- Tires cannot go below 2/32″ at their worst point. So even if the inside of the tire looks brand-new, if the tire has worn improperly and is below 2/32″ at any point, it fails.
- Turn signals (with the exception of the rear turn signals which can be red and part of the brake light) must be amber in color. even if they function but are not amber, they fail.
- All headlights, including high beams, must function, even if you only drive during the day. Sometimes high beams burn out, and you may not even know because you only use them on occasion. As always, check before you go to the test!
- Aftermarket lights are cool, but unfortunately fail every time If it didn’t roll off the assembly line with them, the vehicle fails. That means no aftermarket LED headlights and no under glow. Many shops are petitioning this rule though, so don’t give up hope yet, tuners!
If you have any questions regarding a state inspection don’t hesitate to contact Ken at 704-545-4597 or stop by Manchester Auto and Tire of Mint Hill and have us take a look.
