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Whether you've bought a vehicle from a dealership or from a private seller in the state of Maryland, you will know by now that your vehicle must be state inspected. If you are planning to purchase a vehicle in the near future and want to know what is covered under a state inspection, and what would cause your vehicle to fail, Aspen Hill Exxon breaks down Maryland State Vehicle Inspections.

Maryland State Inspection

Within the state of Maryland, all used vehicles are required to undergo a rigorous inspection process before transferring ownership to a new owner. The seller or buyer can obtain a Certificate of Inspection from a licensed and authorized inspection station. Before you take your vehicle to a service station for an inspection, be certain that they are an authorized inspection station. The certificate will need to be submitted to the Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA).

So, who needs a state inspection? If you are buying a used vehicle, or are a new resident of Maryland, you must get a state inspection. According to the MVA website, an obtained certificate must be dated within 90 days of your purchase to be registered to a new owner. It’s important to note that different states have different requirements for their state inspections. In Maryland, the inspection is more “in depth” than states who require it annually or biannually. 

Luckily for you, Aspen Hill Exxon performs Maryland State Vehicle Safety Inspections.

What is included in a Maryland State Vehicle Safety Inspection?

The inspection process takes about an hour to perform, and the price varies depending according to labor rates of the station. The law book is called COMAR (Code of Maryland Regulations) and is supervised by Maryland State Police. The inspection is meant to ensure your vehicle is safe while on the road. Remember, fuel system, exhaust, lights, glass, seatbelts, bumpers/fenders, and of course the big ones like brakes, steering, and suspension. The entire inspection is done electronically now, so customer gets an email of the report pass or fail, and we always print a paper copy for records.

You can expect a thorough inspection from Aspen Hill Exxon. The entire inspection is done electronically now, so customer gets an email of the report pass or fail, and we always print a paper copy for records. The inspection report shows:

• Brakes. We inspect all parts of your vehicle's braking system, and test drive it to make sure it's working properly.
• Suspension. This includes the wheel bearing, struts, king pin, spindle bolt, springs, and ball joints.
• Tires. We inspect the read depth, the size of your tire, and the type.
• Exhaust. We inspect all aspects of your vehicle's exhaust system: piping and manifold to ensure there are no leaks, as well as the muffler.
• Electrical. The electrical components of your vehicle in a Maryland State Inspection include battery cables, wiring and switches, and the horn.
• Lighting. We make sure all of the lights on the inside and outside of your vehicle are functioning properly, as came with the original vehicle.
• Steering. You need to be able to steer the vehicle you intend to buy/sell, so we inspect the steering column, power steering, wheel steering, and includes a road test.

What happens if my vehicle fails Maryland Vehicle Safety Inspection?

As previously said, you have either 30 days or 1,000 miles to resubmit your certificate. If your vehicle fails inspection, your technician will give you a checklist of items that did not pass. Those items will need to be repaired before another inspection can be performed. If your vehicle fails inspection, you have 30 days or 1,000 miles to make the needed repairs and have the vehicle re-inspected. If your vehicle fails, your second inspection can only be performed by the technician and shop that did the initial inspection, as set forth by Maryland State Law. You can go anywhere you want for the repairs, but the inspection must be done by the same shop.

Once you pass, the certificate files electronically to the MVA.  Certificates are only good for 90 days once a vehicle has passed, so if you wait too long to complete registration, you will have to start the process all over again (you would be surprised how often this happens).

There are also specific laws for window tint, after market lights, tire size, exhaust, and suspension modification that we must abide to, so be careful if you are buying a sooped up car. It may need to be brought back to stock to pass inspection.

If you need a Maryland State Vehicle Safety Inspection, give Aspen Hill Exxon a call. Aspen Hill Exxon is a full-service automotive repair shop, servicing Wheaton, Silver Spring, Olney, Rockville, and the surrounding areas in Montgomery County, Maryland.