Ryan Zavodnick | December 20, 2024 | Car Accidents
Owning a vehicle in Pennsylvania comes with certain responsibilities, including regularly having your car or truck inspected. Safety and emissions testing are requirements for anyone moving to Pennsylvania and existing residents.
Overlooking this requirement or failing to complete it in a timely manner can lead to legal consequences and may jeopardize your and others’ safety.
Purpose of Pennsylvania Vehicle Inspections
The state’s safety and emissions inspection requirement serves to ensure cars and trucks on the road are in good working order. These inspections examine various parts and systems of the vehicle, including the emissions system.
By requiring regular vehicle inspections, the state ensures vehicles do not unnecessarily harm the environment and protects motorists from the hazards of a car that breaks down or fails on the road.
What Vehicles Require an Inspection In Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania law requires most vehicles registered in the state to pass regular safety and emissions inspections to ensure their roadworthiness. You will generally need to take your vehicle to a qualified inspection site each year as part of renewing your vehicle’s registration. You must also get your vehicle inspected if you are moving to Pennsylvania from another state and need to register your car or truck in Pennsylvania.
Vehicles acquired by auto dealerships must also pass inspections. Emissions and safety inspections are required within 30 days for any vehicle a dealership acquires. If the vehicle is driven more than 500 miles while in the dealership’s possession, it will need to pass another inspection before being sold.
Not every vehicle on the road will need an emissions inspection. Antique vehicles and classic cars do not need to pass emissions inspections. New vehicles with less than 5,000 miles on the odometer also do not need an emission inspection when they are first registered.
If you have a vehicle that you drive less than 5,000 miles per year, you may not need to have an emissions inspection.
42 out of the 67 Pennsylvania counties do not require vehicle owners to take their vehicles for emissions testing. Drivers living in these counties must still take their vehicles for annual safety inspections. At these inspections, the technician will check to ensure the emissions system on each vehicle has not been tampered with.
Safety and Emissions Inspections: What To Expect
When taking your vehicle in for its safety inspection, the technician performing the inspection will check several critical systems in your vehicle, including its:
- Suspension and steering
- Tires, wheels, and brakes
- Mirrors, windshield, and glass
- Windshield wipers, washer, and defroster
- Fuel system
- Lighting and electrical systems
The technician will also examine the car’s body, exhaust system, chassis, speedometer, and odometer. If any of the components show signs of excessive wear or do not function properly, you will need to repair them before your vehicle passes. Failure to do so can prevent you from passing inspection.
Suppose your car or truck must also pass an emissions inspection. In that case, the technician will check that the emissions system components appear intact, the gas cap is airtight, and the vehicle passes a diagnostic test. If it fails this inspection, you will receive a printout showing what repairs need to be made. You can fix them and return for a free retest within 30 days.
Making Vehicles In Pennsylvania Cleaner And Safer
The vehicle inspection requirements in Pennsylvania are all about keeping cars and trucks registered in the state safe, minimizing their impact on the environment, and preventing car accidents. Failing to have these inspections performed in a timely manner can delay your ability to lawfully drive your vehicle, which in turn can lead to traffic citations and other legal woes.
If you are confused about what you must do to comply with the law, speaking with an attorney can clarify your obligations.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Philadelphia Today To Get Help With Your Case
To learn more and get the help you deserve, call Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers at (215) 875-7030 or contact us online.
You can also visit our law firm at 123 S Broad St #1220, Philadelphia, PA 19109.
