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.

[TheProfessor]

Reminds me of information received at the inspection station I go to.

My older vehicle passed inspection.

But at shop was a competitor/friend of this inspection/repair shop.

That fellow - the other shop owner - stated that he never let an older vehicle get a sticker unless he got at least $250.00 in repairs. Needed or not.

That story/information was 20 years ago.

Makes one think. Specially those with older vehicles.

[TomC]

wonderful...

because just what someone whose budget requires them to drive an older car needs: getting stuck with an unnecessary repair bill...

[jeffk]

While I am understanding of the problem of "unnecessary repairs", when I was growing up in NY it was "customary" that your headlights always needed to be aligned at inspection time, and the "burden of costs" for repairs for many people, I simply don't want people driving around whose brakes are about to give out, tires ready to blow or have no traction due on wet or snowy roads, tie rods about to break, or suspension about to collapse due to rust.

Driving is a privilege and we all have a responsibility to do it safely. A part of that is keeping our vehicles in reasonable condition. Not doing so is a threat to everyone around you when you are driving. Not having money to maintain your vehicle is NOT a acceptable reason to let needed repairs skate.

While I get that there are abuses in the system, personally, I have never been a 'victim' of them for over 45 years. I hang on to my vehicles until they die. The cause of death of the last 3 was terminal rust. In my truck, the $$$steering assembly$$$ rusted out. So there were lots of repairs I had to make along the way, some really odd stuff like the support straps on my gas tank breaking due to age. But if I wanted a safe vehicle, I had to make the repair or get rid of the car. All my cars were effectively junked at the end of my ownership, one towed away and the other two driveable, but would not pass the next inspection due to rust damage. Believe me, they NEEDED to be off the road.

Some people might not have realized the problem or danger that that such cars represented or struggled to make some of the repairs I did. That's not an acceptable excuse.

Inspection helps to uncover such problems and requires people to deal with them. I believe we need to do that.

[Treerider]

If you are so inept that you cannot tell when your car needs work, take it to a repair shop and hand them your blank check! you'll get what you deserve!
otherwise, contact your state senator and urge them to vote to END the annual inspections for NH.
several years ago I bought a used truck, I felt it was in good condition. brought it to a local shop in Merrimack at lunch time for a sticker, I figured it would be a 5 minute process. 45 minutes later the mechanic (owner) came out with a clipboard and brought me into the back office. he proceeded to review a laundry list of "dangerous issues" with the truck. Mind you, I had already done the brakes after I bought it......he listed brakes were thin, needed rotors calipers etc. needed ball joints, exhaust manifolds (he had gone the junk yard route and already located them) all for the low low price of $2900........when can you leave it??
I left in a cloud of dust!
Ive fixed all my cars since I was in HS, this place was a ripoff shop......I brought it to a local guy and he noted what the other shop had listed, said he'd go through it.next day it had a sticker on it. $40. said never go back to that other place.......5 years later, I was still driving that truck with the same not worn out parts.....so if they try and pull that crap on a good home garage mechanic, imagine what they do to a 70 year old woman that has no clue....
"oh ma'am, we have to replace your faulty Sperbulator"
call your Senator!!

[garysanfran]

Lots of what happens in California drifts east. A smog inspection every two years...That's it.

Got mechanical issues? Who cares other than the owner, who may not and maybe other drivers.

In addition to the societal trends, that smog drifts east also. It'll be in Nevada and Arizona in less than a day.

My last cost of inspection was $175.

[tis]

All this talk yet nobody has said when the Senate vote will take place. I hope they end it.

[John Mercier]

Hearing: 04/08/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am

[John Mercier]

The current amended bill has private vehicles and motorcycles ever two years and remove the failure for a check engine light being on.

[Garcia]

While I find MA inspections annoying I am OK with it. Once/year with the sticker lasting 12 months. Cars of a certain age are exempt from emissions and only need to pass the safety check. When I drop my vehicle off, I fill out a piece of paper stating whether I want them to make minor repairs (change a bulb, replace a wiper blade, etc) or not so I am not surprised.

All this talk of crooked repair shops is interesting. Why throw out a system that helps get vehicles with unsafe equipment off the road because of some dishonest people? Why not focus on the dishonest people?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Hearing: 04/08/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am

April has come and gone!

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Garcia

While I find MA inspections annoying I am OK with it. Once/year with the sticker lasting 12 months. Cars of a certain age are exempt from emissions and only need to pass the safety check. When I drop my vehicle off, I fill out a piece of paper stating whether I want them to make minor repairs (change a bulb, replace a wiper blade, etc) or not so I am not surprised.

All this talk of crooked repair shops is interesting. Why throw out a system that helps get vehicles with unsafe equipment off the road because of some dishonest people? Why not focus on the dishonest people?

Agreed on all, but I'd also be ok with a two-year cycle.

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[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by Biggd

April has come and gone!

I know. The public hearing was already held and all the testimony recorded.

[tis]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I know. The public hearing was already held and all the testimony recorded.

So that was a public hearing. Do you know when the final vote is?

[John Mercier]

Docket didn't list the Exec Session or when it would be on the Floor.
That was the last entry that I found.

[FlyingScot]

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.

I have a lot of sympathy for folks tight on cash. But being tight on cash should not be a license to pollute or endanger others

[John Mercier]

All I was doing is framing where the debate in Concord is at.

Lowering costs has become a big issue.
And as you know, any changes affect someone in some way.

Lowering the gas tax, or tolls, really means less road maintenance and higher repair costs. So that one is sort of dead.

Most of our registration dollars is property tax to our local municipality, so touching that is sort of dead.

Inspection is what they came up with.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

All I was doing is framing where the debate in Concord is at.

Phew! This is a big relief personally--I was worried that you had become a bleeding heart, and in response I had become stone cold. Cheers, mate

[TheProfessor]

Originally Posted by Chubby

. . . 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 ?

If one can afford a new $65,000 Volvo. $50.00 is just a tip at a nice local restaurant. Or half a carafe of wine at same restaurant.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Phew! This is a big relief personally--I was worried that you had become a bleeding heart, and in response I had become stone cold. Cheers, mate

The item I am most interest in on this.
If they are going to do every two years, as its seems in the current rendition, do we all go the same year and then no one goes the next?

I don't see anything that tells me they laid out odd and even plate numbers, or such, like they did with gas lines.

[Kamper]

Originally Posted by Chubby

... and another $50 a few months later on their birthday month ?

They should get inspected somewhere else. You can get a sticker up to 6 months before your birth month, now.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

If one can afford a new $65,000 Volvo. $50.00 is just a tip at a nice local restaurant. Or half a carafe of wine at same restaurant.

Ummm...do you realize how small the group of people who own $65k cars and leave $50 tips on the regular is?

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[pondguy]

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-ham...51525/64785093

[John Mercier]

It came out of committee with a 3-3, no recommendation, and got placed on the regular calendar.

[ITD]

There are a lot of people who will drive a jalopy car with no brakes, broken springs, rotted out frames, worn out bearings, bad tires, bad shocks, big holes in sheet metal, the list goes on and on. Most either don't want to spend the money or can't afford to spend the money for repairs. I really don't want to share the road with these cars.

A car inspection in the state ranges from "$20 to $50" if you pay more than that then you probably are paying for things that needed to be repaired or replaced, or you need to find a new station.

Sorry folks, as much of a pain as the inspections are, I'm fine with them. If everyone were responsible and would not drive a deficient car, then I would agree with eliminating the inspections, but trust me, there more people than you would imagine who don't care. I've known quite a few.

[John Mercier]

The ones that can't afford it are what they are trying to figure out.

[tis]

We followed a truck yesterday with so much smoke coming out of it, we couldn't see in front of us. Overall I don't feel the road will be unsafe without car inspections. The cars here don't look any better to me than in Florida. I don't see all the junks in Fl. that some of you are talking about.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

The ones that can't afford it are what they are trying to figure out.

Afford what, the inspection fee? At most, it's $4/month. If someone can't swing that, they almost certainly are driving a vehicle that's not adequately maintained.

Or are you talking about the costs associated with keeping automobiles at the level required to pass inspection?

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[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by tis

We followed a truck yesterday with so much smoke coming out of it, we couldn't see in front of us. Overall I don't feel the road will be unsafe without car inspections. The cars here don't look any better to me than in Florida. I don't see all the junks in Fl. that some of you are talking about.

Every single time I've been to Florida, I've noticed wayyyy more beaters than I ever see in New England.

In fact, last week when I wrote the comment about how few people drive $65k cars and tip $50, my family and I spent the whole ride from Lowell, MA to our camp looking at what people were driving, and we came up with two things: 1. A tiny, tiny percentage of the passenger (not including 18-wheelers, construction trucks etc.) vehicles were $65k+ and 2. There are almost no "old" cars on the road.

Stats show this as the average age of cars in NH is 10.3 vs. the national average, 12.2. And here's a map that shows Florida has a higher average age, as well.

The question, though, is safety—older cars definitely means higher maintenance requirements to maintain safety, but does it mean people don't do that maintenance?

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[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by tis

We followed a truck yesterday with so much smoke coming out of it, we couldn't see in front of us. Overall I don't feel the road will be unsafe without car inspections. The cars here don't look any better to me than in Florida. I don't see all the junks in Fl. that some of you are talking about.

I don't notice much of a difference in condition between cars in Florida and cars in New Hampshire. Florida does not have state mandated inspections and doesn't require front plates either. I have never seen statistics to support the necessity or show the safety benefit of either.

Police officers and DOT inspectors can and do write citations for excessive smoke or any other safety violations they observe. That does happen and reduces the amount of unsafe vehicles on the road. Heavy diesel trucks do not get emissions testing during a state inspection.

[tis]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

I don't notice much of a difference in condition between cars in Florida and cars in New Hampshire. Florida does not have state mandated inspections and doesn't require front plates either. I have never seen statistics to support the necessity or show the safety benefit of either.

Police officers and DOT inspectors can and do write citations for excessive smoke or any other safety violations they observe. That does happen and reduces the amount of unsafe vehicles on the road. Heavy diesel trucks do not get emissions testing during a state inspection.

Thank you. Exactly the way I see it. And most violations that they check for on an inspection become obvious if they are not working.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Afford what, the inspection fee? At most, it's $4/month. If someone can't swing that, they almost certainly are driving a vehicle that's not adequately maintained.

Or are you talking about the costs associated with keeping automobiles at the level required to pass inspection?

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Repairs.
The testimony before the committees is now online, and even in a text format.

Pretty transparent.

So far the costing issue this year has centered around housing, food, and transportation.

Transportation seemed to have the least areas that they could do anything at the State level.
Locally, many options exist... but those may not work for longer distances.

For housing, Belmont got ahead of the curve during out town meeting, and open residential properties to manufactured housing. That will now become a State law that municipalities will have until next June to comply with.
And they removed municipalities ability to expand the building code.

For food, they have several bills in. But again, most of this is currently local like transportation issues.

[John Mercier]

Appears the inspection bill is headed back to committee.