NH State Inspection For Vehicles

[Chubby]

The NH House of Representatives recently passed HB649 eliminating annual vehicle inspections and now it's up to the NH Senate to decide.

Only 14 states have motor vehicle inspection laws and there's no evidence of greater safety by states who require this costly practice. Nationally only 2% of accidents are even related to faulty equipment but NH auto repair dealers are lobbying to keep this going for obvious reasons.

The cops are going to give you a ticket if your headlight is out whether we have an inspection law or not.

What are your thoughts ?

[jeffk]

What about people driving cars with bad tires, brakes ready to give out, suspension parts ready to fail, and similar problems that can be a danger to other drivers?

[C-Bass]

What they really need is an independent inspector, someone that does not do repairs or recommend anyone for repairs. That to me is the only way vehicle inspections should work. Having places that inspect and then fix the vehicles just invites corruption.

[steve-on-mark]

I've been in the car repair business my whole life, so here's my take. I feel like it's useless on new cars, although if you drive a fairly new Honda CR-V, at 25000 miles you're probably gonna need tires. Not all shops are out to make that easy buck, but keep in mind that the technician's state inspection license is on the line if he misses something or lets something slide. A lot of drivers just want that sticker on the windshield...they don't care if their brakes are unsafe, or if oil leaking onto their red hot catalytic converter could cause a fire. State inspection is the only way some drivers find out they actually have a problem!

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[Chubby]

Originally Posted by jeffk

What about people driving cars with bad tires, brakes ready to give out, suspension parts ready to fail, and similar problems that can be a danger to other drivers?

Those people don't bother with inspections, insurance, registration, driver's licenses, etc.

Jeff, what about the person who buys a brand new car and has to pay an additional $50 to get it out of the showroom and another $50 a few months later on their birthday month ?

[steve-on-mark]

Originally Posted by Chubby

Those people don't bother with inspections, insurance, registration, driver's licenses, etc.

Jeff, what about the person who buys a brand new car and has to pay an additional $50 to get it out of the showroom and another $50 a few months later on their birthday month ?

A brand new car should come with a sticker at no charge. Some dealers, Planet Honda for one, don't charge for subsequent stickers.

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[fatlazyless]

Grappone Automotive in Bow NH has ten years free state inspections on used and new cars purchased at Grappone. Grappone helps to stay on top of car repair issues for the long drive, years ahead ...... .

My type of a price!

[John Mercier]

I think several bills are looking for ways to lower the cost of transportation.

It, along with housing affordability, has been an issue for more than two decades.

Lots of ideas, but someone has to lose some revenue, and that never seems to come to pass.

[tis]

This hasn't gone through the Senate yet, has it?

[SAB1]

Having spent 2 winters in Florida, a state with no vehicle inspections, I’m in favor of paying for an annual inspections. Lot of folks running on bald tires, brakes grinding to a halt, and vehicles that look like you wouldn’t want climb in and run the highway in them.

[jeffk]

If they don't have insurance or a driver's licence, there is nothing on the car that reflects that illegality. If the car is not inspected or registered there is a visible notification to police officers that the car is NOT compliant.

As to the extra costs, if they just bought a $$$"brand new car", I don't think an extra $50 +$50 is going to be an issue. Sure, the law could be tweaked a bit.
On the other hand, if they bought a used car, the seller might be inclined to slide through the inspection and a follow up inspection, by a disinterested party, in a couple months wouldn't be an awful idea.

Originally Posted by Chubby

Those people don't bother with inspections, insurance, registration, driver's licenses, etc. T

Jeff, what about the person who buys a brand new car and has to pay an additional $50 to get it out of the showroom and another $50 a few months later on their birthday month ?

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by SAB1

Having spent 2 winters in Florida, a state with no vehicle inspections, I’m in favor of paying for an annual inspections. Lot of folks running on bald tires, brakes grinding to a halt, and vehicles that look like you wouldn’t want climb in and run the highway in them.

Originally Posted by jeffk

What about people driving cars with bad tires, brakes ready to give out, suspension parts ready to fail, and similar problems that can be a danger to other drivers?

I have spent winters in Florida for the past 17 years I don't see any evidence that the lack of state inspections contributes to a higher accident rate. If a study exists that shows that it would certainly be touted by the people and lobbyists who want to keep the inspection law in place.
After driving over 2 million miles in the eastern 37 states my opinion is that Florida has the worst drivers in the country, and that is the cause of most accidents. I think it is the natives. Generations of poor drivers teaching the next generation how to be a poor driver. No turn signals, improper lane use, and tail gaiting are rampant. Most people don't even understand that they are doing anything wrong. Enforcement of laws is minimal and I was told by a Sheriff that over 85% of accidents are rear end collisions.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Chubby

Those people don't bother with inspections, insurance, registration, driver's licenses, etc.

Jeff, what about the person who buys a brand new car and has to pay an additional $50 to get it out of the showroom and another $50 a few months later on their birthday month ?

That's how NH wishes you "happy birthday".
A new vehicle should be exempt from paying for an inspection sticker, JMO.

[tis]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

I have spent winters in Florida for the past 17 years I don't see any evidence that the lack of state inspections contributes to a higher accident rate. If a study exists that shows that it would certainly be touted by the people and lobbyists who want to keep the inspection law in place.
After driving over 2 million miles in the eastern 37 states my opinion is that Florida has the worst drivers in the country, and that is the cause of most accidents. I think it is the natives. Generations of poor drivers teaching the next generation how to be a poor driver. No turn signals, improper lane use, and tail gaiting are rampant. Most people don't even understand that they are doing anything wrong. Enforcement of laws is minimal and I was told by a Sheriff that over 85% of accidents are rear end collisions.

I agree, the cars I see in Fl are no worse nor better than NH.

[steve-on-mark]

Originally Posted by tis

I agree, the cars I see in Fl are no worse nor better than NH.

Sometimes it's what you DON'T see...had a customer come in for a recall, and he had vice grips zip tied to a stabilizer link clamping off his brake flex hose so his caliper wouldn't continue to leak.

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[tummyman]

My grandson's 13 year old car with 170,000 miles on it recently flunked a MA inspection for an intermittent check engine light. It has thrown an engine code and now he gets a reject sticker. No issues with tires, brakes, or anything else. Have spent hundreds of dollars trying to fix the problem but so far not successful. Electrical issues can be a real pain to diagnosis correctly. We have had all the parts changed that the code says "might" be a problem. Nothing is impacting anything safety related..... NOTHING. No bad emissions. Passed every other requirement but this light issue. Just more BS laws in MA. MA inspection process is just to find work for repair shops. Just like dentists that want you to have xrays all the time when you go in for a cleaning. They just want to find more business opportunities.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by tummyman

My grandson's 13 year old car with 170,000 miles on it recently flunked a MA inspection for an intermittent check engine light. It has thrown an engine code and now he gets a reject sticker. No issues with tires, brakes, or anything else. Have spent hundreds of dollars trying to fix the problem but so far not successful. Electrical issues can be a real pain to diagnosis correctly. We have had all the parts changed that the code says "might" be a problem. Nothing is impacting anything safety related..... NOTHING. No bad emissions. Passed every other requirement but this light issue. Just more BS laws in MA. MA inspection process is just to find work for repair shops. Just like dentists that want you to have xrays all the time when you go in for a cleaning. They just want to find more business opportunities.

You can't just throw parts at it and expect to fix it. But I get it, no one wants to spend money on an old car, 2 more years and it doesn't get an emission test anymore!

[Chubby]

There's no free cheese in mousetraps.

Car dealers pay the Dept of Safety for each sticker they aren't printing them in the back of their parts department. Could a free sticker be a $50 coupon for overpriced unnecessary repairs ?

Do intelligent people need a penalty laden state inspection law ? Couldn't the automotively challenged pull into any repair shop for a free estimate ?

[Biggd]

With the emergence of AI, a vehicle should be able to diagnose its own computer problems and offer up a DIY repair. But we know auto manufacturers will never let that happen!

[Descant]

I don't trust spellcheck or autocorrect. Why would I want AI to fix my car?

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by tummyman

My grandson's 13 year old car with 170,000 miles on it recently flunked a MA inspection for an intermittent check engine light. It has thrown an engine code and now he gets a reject sticker. No issues with tires, brakes, or anything else. Have spent hundreds of dollars trying to fix the problem but so far not successful. Electrical issues can be a real pain to diagnosis correctly. We have had all the parts changed that the code says "might" be a problem. Nothing is impacting anything safety related..... NOTHING. No bad emissions. Passed every other requirement but this light issue. Just more BS laws in MA. MA inspection process is just to find work for repair shops. Just like dentists that want you to have xrays all the time when you go in for a cleaning. They just want to find more business opportunities.

I moved from MA to NH and 2 out of my 3 cars that have always passed in MA failed in NH. Any check engine code in MA or NH is an automatic, so can't blame MA on that one. NH is worse when it comes to that.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Descant

I don't trust spellcheck or autocorrect. Why would I want AI to fix my car?

You would do the repair, AI would just tell you what the problem is.
Many people today still work on their own cars but just throw parts at in indiscriminately, by just reading the code and guessing.

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by chachee52

I moved from MA to NH and 2 out of my 3 cars that have always passed in MA failed in NH. Any check engine code in MA or NH is an automatic, so can't blame MA on that one. NH is worse when it comes to that.

MA is also far more lenient than NH when it comes to rust.....

Rusty cars pass easily in MA. In NH they don't have a chance.

[TomC]

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

Rusty cars pass easily in MA. In NH they don't have a chance.

I hear that, and have had a family-member's car rejected for that - but I see plenty of cars with gaping holes in the body sporting a current sticker...

[thinkxingu]

I think there's a reasonable compromise to be found.

It makes sense that inspections could be useful to reduce unsafe vehicles on the road, but there's also plenty of opportunity for scamming and gouging.

I like the idea of vehicles under a certain age not needing yearly inspections. I also like the idea of having a reporting system or way to address unscrupulous inspectors.

In the end, though, I've seen enough scary stuff driving in other states to believe there's a value in having some sort of inspection system.

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[John Mercier]

I don't know that $50 per year is going to fix anyone's cost problem.
And if they keep it just for older vehicles, it is still going to hit those that can least afford it.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I don't know that $50 per year is going to fix anyone's cost problem.

And if they keep it just for older vehicles, it is still going to hit those that can least afford it.

$50 might not be a big deal, but the fixes that could be "necessary" might be.

I quote necessary because I think we've all known someone, or been told ourselves, that something needed to be fixed that wasn't really an issue.

I've got two from the last year alone: 1. I was told by Manchester Toyota that my 4Runner failed inspection because my wipers—that I'd replaced myself a month earlier—needed replacing. I blew up and know I got the tech in trouble for that scam.

The second is a friend who, just a few months ago, failed inspection for a small rust hole on his Tacoma bumper. The vehicle has been meticulously maintained, but that's just unwinnable in New Hampshire.

One of these only would've cost another $30 or so, even though it was a scam, but the other would cost hundreds, maybe thousands depending on parts/labor needed, but neither really needed anything.

That's why I think there's probably a balance to be struck.

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[John Mercier]

Understood.
Less about the $50, and more about the repair/replacement generation being oversold.