North Carolinians Watch Your Safety Inspection Laws!

[Asheville Native]

I'm waiting for all of these "plastic" headlights that fog over with age, simply from exposure to UV light (sunshine) probably aided with acid rain, pollution, road grit to be considered 'out of service' and fail to pass safety inspections. New they would cost $150 - $400 each, and can't be found for 15 - 20 year old vehicles, except in a junk yard, which will also be fogged by time.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

I'm waiting for all of these "plastic" headlights that fog over with age, simply from exposure to UV light (sunshine) probably aided with acid rain, pollution, road grit to be considered 'out of service' and fail to pass safety inspections. New they would cost $150 - $400 each, and can't be found for 15 - 20 year old vehicles, except in a junk yard, which will also be fogged by time.

There are auto detailing places that restore those cloudy headlights. The place I go to charges $20 per vehicle and does an excellent job.

Another option is 3M tear-off film. Similar to the film used in window tinting, but clear. It also reduces the risk of headlight damage from road debris.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

Well if this years inspections were valid for longer periods, then they would already have to be doing that and they aren't. Wife had her van inspected this month valid until May 09, and her tag expires in October also.

In NC having an expired inspection from any state displayed on your windshield is an offense. When SC finially came to their senses and scrapped their inspection program, people just left them on their cars.

A co-worker from a SC office came to NC, and was stopped and ticketed by the HP for having an expired inspection sticker, even though SC had scrapped inspections 2 years earlier.

Maybe I will get a bye and my inspection will be good for 14 months, but what about the people that will have differences of 15, 16, 17 months or longer, I doubt it.

NC, the state that has never seen a tax, fee, fine, surcharge, or revenue ploy they didn't' embrace.

Will I have to pay for more than one inspection in a year?

No, however it will take approximately two years to align the inspection and registration dates of all vehicles in the state. No owner will be required to receive an inspection twice in the same calendar year (January -December).

During this implementation period, some owners will go beyond their 12-month inspection cycle to realign the two dates. Example: The inspection was performed October 2008 and the registration will be renewed March 2009, the next inspection will be due March 2010 (17 months between inspections).

New Inspection Date Calculator
NCDENR - Division of Air Quality - Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Program