If you live in North Carolina, you have to get your vehicle inspected every year before you can renew your license plate.* A car inspection makes sure that your car is operating safely. In some counties, like Alamance, they must also have an On-Board Diagnostic Emissions inspection to help air quality.
So what happens during an inspection? When we inspect your vehicle, we’ll first drive it into our bay area onto a lift. One of our licensed mechanics will then check the lights, brakes, the steering, tires, horn, the rearview mirror, exhaust system and the windshield wipers. If you have tinted windows, we’ll measure them to make sure they aren’t any darker than 32%.
For the emissions test, we hook your car up to a computer that actually communicates with the DMV, sharing information about various systems on your vehicle. The data is automatically entered into the state vehicle registration database. If the inspections show no issues, you’ll then be able to renew your car tags and pay your property taxes with the DMV.
What happens if you fail an inspection? If your vehicle doesn’t pass inspection, you have 60 days to have the issue fixed and have the failed portion of the inspection redone. You may also qualify for a waiver that will exempt you from the emissions portion.
When it’s time to have your vehicle inspection, bring your car in to us. No appointment is necessary, and you can wait in our comfortable waiting area while we inspect your vehicle. You can also use our handy dropoff service, or arrange for us to come get your vehicle from your home or workplace. Our mechanics will perform the inspection, talk to you about the repairs, and get you back on the road in no time!
*If your vehicle is more than 35 years old, it is exempt.
