# Annual auto safety inspections: scam or ripoff? **URL:** \ **Category:** Safety\ **Created:** [February 11, 2025, 5:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071 "2025-02-11T05:20:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/21 "2025-02-12T13:48:06Z")
> [@pleasedodgevan2](#): > > The rolling wrecks in California usually have bald tires and slide off the road whenever it rains. IMO everyone in Cali might skid even with new tires. I was on Sepulveda driving north in El Segundo when we had a sun shower. My rental car skidded despite going at or below the speed limit. The drive behind me also skidded. Unfortunately he came to a stop on my bumper. I’ve never encountered roads that slick before or after. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/22 "2025-02-12T16:25:12Z")
Oily snot builds up up on the road. Dust, tire debris, oil from the asphalt and vehicles lays on the road until it rains. If you get a little light shower or right at the beginning of a shower, the roads get really slick until there is enough rain to wash it off. Really noticeable right after a long period of dry roads. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/23 "2025-02-12T16:29:21Z")
Mustangman is correct. The extended dry periods in Southern California lead to a build-up of oil residue on roadways. Until a long, heavy rain washes it all away, the first few hours of rainfall on CA roads can be extremely slippery. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/24 "2025-02-12T18:50:44Z")
Yup, that’s LA. Look at us Right Coasters telling the Left Coasters all about themselves! Well, I did spend over 10 years shuttling back and forth every couple-a three weeks so I kinda feel like a Left Coaster. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/25 "2025-02-12T22:41:32Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > so I kinda feel like a Left Coaster. I think there is a pill for that now… 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/26 "2025-02-13T01:32:56Z")
The resident office in Palo Alto, CA had a list of differences between Left and Right Coasters on a cork board during the late 90s and early naughties. While exaggerations, they were pretty much correct, at least for the organization the resident office monitored. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/27 "2025-02-13T03:39:26Z")
> [@pleasedodgevan2](#): > > The rolling wrecks in California usually have bald tires and slide off the road whenever it rains. Rain expected tomorrow, take some pictures of those wrecks and post them. ---
**Author:** ![rsss69cam\_162177](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/rsss69cam_162177/32/21024_2.png) [@rsss69cam\_162177](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rsss69cam_162177)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 7:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/28 "2025-02-17T07:41:51Z")
Check out just rolled in on you tube-and check out the death traps that the customer declined repairs on ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/29 "2025-02-17T15:09:35Z")
NH legislators are now proposing eliminating inspections. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 3:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/30 "2025-02-17T15:22:26Z")
Safety inspections are no longer required in Texas, just emissions inspection in non-complying counties (OBD-II scan). ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/31 "2025-02-17T15:46:04Z")
> [@texases](#): > > Safety inspections are no longer required in Texas, just emissions inspection In NJ, safety inspections ended in 2010, and–as in Texas–inspections now consist of solely an OBD-II scan. On my first inspection visit after this change took place, I asked about the ending of safety inspections, and I was told, “Even if you drove in here on 4 flat tires, with no windshield, and with bad brakes, we would have to give you a passing sticker as long as your emissions were okay”. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/32 "2025-02-17T19:55:50Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > “Even if you drove in here on 4 flat tires, with no windshield, and with bad brakes, we would have to give you a passing sticker as long as your emissions were okay”. Would a missing windshield cause significant increase in vehicle emissions? A vehicle emissions inspector doesn’t have the authority to fail a vehicle because of bald tires or defects in the glass. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/33 "2025-02-17T20:16:01Z")
Exactly! It was the same building, with the same staff, and the same equipment, but after Governor Christie nixed safety inspections, the staff was not allowed to look at anything other than emissions when issuing a passing or a failing inspection sticker. ---
**Author:** ![Clueless33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Clueless33](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Clueless33)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/34 "2025-02-17T20:39:29Z")
I have to get a state inspection every year and to remove my window tint. It’s very annoying, especially for the window tint foolishness. Many other states don’t put a law on window tint. And my tint is very light. So it cost me roughly $300 a year for state inspection because of the tint problem. I’ve never been pulled over for having tint. I did get a warning though for being pulled over for other reasons, and the cop was just being a pain in the rear. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/35 "2025-02-17T20:49:23Z")
> [@Clueless33](#): > > Many other states don’t put a law on window tint. Most do: [Window Tint Laws By State: 2024 Legal Window Tint Percentages](https://www.raynofilm.com/blog/automotive-window-tint-laws-by-state) ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/36 "2025-02-17T22:18:02Z")
Let me make sure I understand. You remove the window tint to pass inspection then get new tint immediately knowing that you will have to remove it again before next year’s inspection. Is that correct? If so, are there other methods you could use to reduce the Sun’s intensity?Sun glasses come to mind. If you already wear glasses, then there are sunglasses that fit over prescription glasses. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/37 "2025-02-17T22:21:01Z")
Why not just tint to the max allowed in your state? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/38 "2025-02-17T22:24:57Z")
Me thinks you people are forgetting the screen name which explains the window tint cycle. ---
**Author:** ![Clueless33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Clueless33](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Clueless33)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/39 "2025-02-17T23:36:23Z")
Legal tint in NY is 70% — no different from having no tint at all. I’ve tried it and had to remove it. I’m t > [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > Me thinks you people are forgetting the screen name which explains the window tint cycle. Good one, Volvo. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Clueless33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Clueless33](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Clueless33)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071/40 "2025-02-17T23:43:02Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Let me make sure I understand. You remove the window tint to pass inspection then get new tint immediately knowing that you will have to remove it again before next year’s inspection. Is that correct? If so, are there other methods you could use to reduce the Sun’s intensity?Sun glasses come to mind. If you already wear glasses, then there are sunglasses that fit over prescription glasses. I tried every option. We all discussed this on this forum before. I also tried 70% tint which is legal with no good results. My doctor is working on the case now. I sent in a form for him to sign so the DMV office can look into whether I’m approved for at least 50% tint which I currently have. I get why tint can be illegal. I completely understand. But the law seems to go an extra unnecessary step with some things. 50% tint can easily be seen through at nights, let alone daytime. Why they jumped to 70% as legal makes no sense because it’s no different from stock windows. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/annual-auto-safety-inspections-scam-or-ripoff/199071.md?page=3)