A question about car inspection (Austin: sales, shops, design)

[davidt1]

My car failed inspection. I am told that I can not have it inspected at another shop for 15 days if the first shop filled out the report. Is this true?

[Poltracker]

First Question, why did it fail inspection?

The real issue is that whatever caused the failure may be recorded on your car's computer and it takes driving a few miles (50-100 depending on the car) to clear it out of the computer's memory. If they hook up the machines while the fault is still in the computer memory it will fail it again.

[davidt1]

The front signal lights don't blink. They turn on though. The car is 1994 Honda Accord Ex. I am fixing it. I just don't want to take it back to the same shop, but I can't wait another 15 day. I will go to another shop and ask them.

[TexasTheKid]

You're in the computer system. It's already been sent to Austin. (I did inspections years ago as a teen when the computer system was first brought online.) If you try going elsewhere, your car's VIN number will get kicked back. Just take it back to the original shop. The second inspection is free there anyhow (if done within the 15 allotted days). If you don't want to take it there because you suspect the shop of unscrupulous behavior, report them to the state. The state will do an audit of their inspections and sales records. The state has a very strict best practices guideline that is mandatory for all shops to abide by. If the shop fails the audit, they'll lose their inspection station designation.