# Exxon Tries to rip me off doing a state vehicle inspection **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 8, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exxon-tries-to-rip-me-off-doing-a-state-vehicle-inspection/206347 "2003-10-08T19:51:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exxon-tries-to-rip-me-off-doing-a-state-vehicle-inspection/206347/21 "2014-06-22T00:28:32Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Write them a strongly worded [email or call](http://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/company/contact-us/directory/service-station-customerrelated). And be sure to write “BRAAAAAIIINNSSS” every other sentence. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exxon-tries-to-rip-me-off-doing-a-state-vehicle-inspection/206347/22 "2014-06-22T02:16:29Z")
We no longer have to get vehicle inspections in Colorado, but I really dreaded the days when we did. It seems like they would have to actually disassemble the car to find all they things they said were wrong. To this day, I never buy tires from someone who does other auto repairs. I can pretty diagnosis (but not necessarily fix) car problems and I don’t believe some mechanic I go to to buy tires when he tells me all the other problems he found. I am a firm believer in going to an independent mechanic who comes to your residence to fix the vehicle. Bob ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exxon-tries-to-rip-me-off-doing-a-state-vehicle-inspection/206347/23 "2014-06-22T02:39:34Z")
I live in Maryland, and had to get my car inspected when I moved here. I was moving from Virginia which requires it every year or two. I always find a gas station that can do the inspection but does not do repairs. They have no incentive to screw you. Luckily I can get it done on base in VA, which was perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exxon-tries-to-rip-me-off-doing-a-state-vehicle-inspection/206347/24 "2014-06-22T06:53:58Z")
I don’t live in Maryland, but from what I can tell, the place to report auto repair fraud is the [Consumer Protection Division](http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/index.htm) of the Attorney General’s Office. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exxon-tries-to-rip-me-off-doing-a-state-vehicle-inspection/206347/25 "2014-06-23T19:28:49Z")
Ah, memories! When we moved to MD in '04, I took my van to the dealer for inspection. The upper brake light was out, and when I tried to replace it, I broke the housing. Had I just let them replaced the damned bulbs, it would have been a lot cheaper than replacing the whole bloody thing. But at least they didn’t rip me off. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exxon-tries-to-rip-me-off-doing-a-state-vehicle-inspection/206347/26 "2014-06-23T19:50:17Z")
> [@Blown\_Injected](#): > > In Maryland a car only gets a mechanical safety inspection one time when the used car is registered. > > The Exxon station told me I needed about $600 to repair 1) A Wheel bearing; 2) Power Steering hose; 3) One of Two Bulbs are out on the License Plate; and 4) Stickers on the Windshield. > > 1. Just pulled the wheel / brakes / and hub. NOT A DAMN THING WRONG!!! > > 2. PS Hose was leaking but did not need replacement. A 10 cent O-ring fixed that problem. The five minute ride to the store took more time than the repair. > > 3. OK, one bulb was out - cost me nothing got lots of 194’s around. > > and > > 1. The stickers are safety and registration stickers from another state. Can this really be a safety problem. > > I feel like filing a complaint with the state but I will be glad to just get my certificate. This sort of thing is so prevalent I just assumed it was legal. I went into my dealer for some recall repairs and my inspection was just about up so I asked them to do my inspection. The dealer told me that I needed to replace the bushings on my front tires and the quote seemed pretty high so I called my mechanic and he quoted me a much lower price so I told the dealer I would be back and took my car to my mechanic and he told me that my bushings were fine. This sort of shit happens all the time. I once told my wife that she should get her own oil changes, so she went to Jiffy lube and came back witha receipt for over $300 for things like repalced air filters and shit like that. So now I do all that stuff, I think she planned it that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exxon-tries-to-rip-me-off-doing-a-state-vehicle-inspection/206347.md?page=1)