Car inspections? Please help! (Southaven, Madison: car registration, college, DMV) - Mississippi (MS) - City-Data Forum

glass_of_merlot · 03-22-2010, 07:32 PM

Today we registered our 2 cars plus we got our MS Driver licenses. Nobody mentioned to us that we needed to have our cars inspected. How do I know if I even need it done?

NWS · 03-22-2010, 09:32 PM

You must get your car inspected.
In MS. it's very basic. They just check your lights, horn, windshield for cracks.
Stuff like that. There is no emissions test ect. like in some states. I believe it's only $5 also.
Many auto repair shops or oil change shops do it in 5 minutes or less.

glass_of_merlot · 03-22-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWS

You must get your car inspected.
In MS. it's very basic. They just check your lights, horn, windshield for cracks.
Stuff like that. There is no emissions test ect. like in some states. I believe it's only $5 also.
Many auto repair shops or oil change shops do it in 5 minutes or less.

So how long do have. I am surprised that I was never told about this when I registered my car or got by license.
$5.00 is nothing so I take care of it. But still, you would think that if it is required they would make sure you know about it.

tanner08 · 03-23-2010, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glass_of_merlot

So how long do have. I am surprised that I was never told about this when I registered my car or got by license.
$5.00 is nothing so I take care of it. But still, you would think that if it is required they would make sure you know about it.

There is not really a grace period that I am aware of, its just something that has to be done. I believe the highway patrol is the only agency that can write you a ticket for it, and it is around $150 ticket, or it used to be. If the officer is nice he might just warn you, with your situation, but I would probably get it done. Saying all that, mine has been expired for 2 years now, because my windshield has a small crack and I haven't replaced it. Guess I better follow my own advice and get that done.

NWS · 03-23-2010, 07:53 AM

I wasn't told either..

If you don't have the sticker on the car you could be stopped.
I would keep my tax paperwork in the car and get it done as soon as possible.
Like I said it is a very quick (5 minutes).
On another issue, since MS. doesn't give you a car registration card it can cause problems in other states when stopped by law enforcement.
I was stopped in Tennessee last year. The officer (must have been a rookie) insisted I should have a registration card. I showed him my MS. tax and tag papers. He acted like he was doing me a favor by not writing me a ticket. I was new to MS. and not sure what I was supposed to have gotten from the DMV.

Robert_J · 03-23-2010, 10:09 AM

I've been here for almost 10 years only found out about the fines last week when listening to the Drake & Zeke radio show out of Memphis. Callers were saying it is a $175 fine.

Yes it is only $5 and fast but if you have tinted windows, they will have to check them with a meter. In Southaven the only place I can find is Mathis Tire on Stateline Road that has the proper meter.

bornjacksonian · 03-23-2010, 11:02 PM

It's a requirement in this state but you have a lot of law enforcement who don't pull you over for it but you can get a ticket if you're pulled over for something else and they notice it is expired ( lol, been there before when I was in college ). If you are from Mississippi you know you have to have one on your vehicle. However, this information is listed on the MS Dept of Public Safety website Frequently Asked Questions. This sticker must be updated every year.

Gill O'Blarney · 03-24-2010, 05:26 PM

I moved to MS four months ago - and I don't have the inspection sticker yet. No problems with local police so far though. - The reason I don't have it is that there seem to be very few places that do the inspections. The local national chain oil change service shops don't. - So I haven't had it done yet since it's proving so inconvenient. But eventually I expect to do the research and find a place in the Madison area that does do the inspections. But it's not as ubiquitously available as suggested. - So far I haven't come across any place that does it.

Gill O'Blarney · 03-24-2010, 05:41 PM

PS: You can do a Gooogle search for Mississippi vehicle inspection locations - but none come up. It's apparently very "backburner", as the $5 fee shows. If you had a shop and could earn only $5 for doing an inspection, would you offer that service? You would lose money each time you did one. - It should be about $25, so it could be conveniently available.

poptones · 03-25-2010, 01:16 AM

This is kind of a joke. Go to the nearest small town and ask around for who does inspections. Most I've encountered couldn't care less about a broken windshield or tinted windows (if anybody says anything just tell'em you just had it done).

Most ARE very picky, however, about things like lights and horn. Many also do the gravel peck windshield repairs that can prevent a windshield from cracking in the heat of summer. The idea is that by offering inspections you potentially are bringing in new business. If you ned a new headlight, tailight or turn signal (or have a wiring issue) that's money for the person doing the inspection. They may "only" get 5 bucks for the inspection but they may make 25-100 bucks by making the car passable.