This will vary by state. Several states no longer have a state inspection requirement. From personal knowledge, it’s been that way for Arkansas for at least two decades and Texas since last year.
In Texas, prior to the change, for new cars from dealers, the dealer will usually handle that and the inspection/registration would be valid for 2 years. That’s still true for the registration bit (and the more populace counties still have an emission testing requirement, which is obviously not needed for EVs).
Most states require a registration sticker, and this is most often a sticker on the plates, and in some states, it is a windshield sticker. Texas has the windshield variety, which doubled as proof of inspection for at least the last decade.
I didn’t realize that. Anyway, the dealer handled registration and inspection, but they couldn’t do the inspection part last Saturday, so i returned today.
Interesting. What are they inspecting? Are they checking for manufacturing defects…?
The states and areas I’ve lived required registration, but that’s just some paperwork and fees and not an actual inspection. Some places do annual or semi annual smog checks, but that doesn’t make sense for an EV. Did the dealer actually “inspect” anything or is it just a holdover regulation from gas cars in your state?
Thanks for the details! The gas Kona I drove also didn’t feel great, but I thought that was just because it was a gas car. I guess even the EV Kona doesn’t feel as fun as the Niro, then.
Based on this I won’t bother trying the Mini, Leaf, or EV Kona anymore, just the Niro and the new Toyota/Subie EVs.
It’s generally some combination of safety and emissions.
For safety, it’s a list of basic items - working headlights, high beam indicator, turn signals, brake lights, working brakes (as defined as reasonable stopping distance from some speed), mirrors, seat belts, tires in good shape, wheels, windshield wipers, windshield integrity, rusty or failing frame, and several other things.
There are often also vehicle emissions inspections in many jurisdictions. This wouldn’t only be a check of the stuff out of the tailpipe but making sure the O2 sensors work, the gas cap isn’t leaky, etc. In Texas, this is generally limited to the most populous counties, which naturally have the worst air quality. Naturally, this generally doesn’t apply to EVs
In states without explicit inspection requirements, owners are still responsible for ensuring their vehicles check all those boxes and can be cited and have their vehicle towed for such failures if pulled over. So there is a debate about how much less safe this makes the roads, as, believe it or not, some drivers willingly operate vehicles that not only wouldn’t pass an inspection but are actively a danger to themselves or others. New cars generally don’t have any issues passing inspection but slip-ups can and do occur from time to time.
I’ve never had to come back for that before, but it was the Saturday between Christmas and New Year’s. Not crazy that the entire department had the day off.
Yeah, no one was worried about whether it would pass inspection. For a new car, it’s really just a box to check. But inspections have been when i realized i needed new tires.
Minnesota, for example, does not require vehicle inspections of any type for personal vehicles. Given the amount of salt damage in that area, I’m not surprised.
Whether or not the state government requires the inspection of a newly purchased vehicle, I can well imagine that the dealer and manufacturer would want it checked for manufacturing defects or other issues that might come back to haunt them.