Inspections

When do you Need an Inspection?

In North Carolina, vehicles must past an annual safety inspection during which a licensed mechanic inspects features such as headlights, signals, brakes, windows, and tires. Vehicles in 48 of the 100 counties must also pass an emissions inspection. As of Dec. 1, 2018, vehicles registered in Surry County, where Mount Airy Toyota is located, are no longer required emissions inspections. Surry County is one of 26 counties no longer requiring emissions inspections: Brunswick, Burke, Caldwell, Carteret, Catawba, Chatham, Cleveland, Craven, Edgecombe, Granville, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Lenoir, Moore, Nash, Orange, Pitt, Robeson, Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Wayne, Wilkes, and Wilson. All NC counties still require a safety inspection.

(Do you live in Virginia? Vehicles registered in Virginia must pass an annual safety inspection. Emissions inspections are required only in the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, or Stafford and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park.)

Safety inspections must be conducted no more than 90 days before the license plate and registration expires. Remember that registration renewal and vehicle property taxes are due at the same time and can be paid online as well as by mail or at an NC Department of Motor Vehicles office as part of North Carolina’s Tax & Tag Together program. Fees for inspection are set by the state. A safety inspection costs $13.60. An emissions inspection costs an additional $16.40. Tinted window inspection is an additional $10.

Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 pounds requires only a safety inspection — not an emissions inspection. Diesel-operated farm vehicles are exempt from emissions inspections. Some vehicles that are light-duty, gasoline powered, aged three years or less, and with fewer than 70,000 miles on the odometer also may be exempt from emissions inspection. Vehicles more than 35 years old are exempt from annual safety inspection.

A safety inspection in North Carolina covers brakes — including the parking brake — all exterior lighting including headlights, brake lights, taillights, license plate lights, turn signals, and parking lights, the horn, tires (which must have at least 2/32 inch tread depth), steering and suspension, windshield wipers, window tinting, mirrors, and windshield glass.

When you buy a new or used car at Mount Airy Toyota, it has passed inspection. The inspection conducted prior to your purchase is valid until the license plate is due for renewal.

NORTH CAROLINA LICENSE PLATES

To get a new license plate in North Carolina, a vehicle must be titled and registered in the state and pass necessary safety and/or emissions inspections.

There are two standard designs for North Carolina plates and specialty plates for more than 100 causes and groups including the Carolina Panthers, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, NASCAR, Save the Honey Bee, Shag Dancing, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, among others. Plates also can be personalized. Fees vary.

Transferring a plate from one vehicle to another, such as when you trade in your vehicle and buy a new one, must meet certain requirements and costs $20. The individual transferring the plate must:

• Maintain on both vehicles liability insurance from a provider licensed to do business in North Carolina.
• The vehicle to which the license plate is being transferred must have a current inspection.
• The license plate being transferred must be valid.
• The name on the applicant’s license and the vehicle title must match.
• Prove the vehicle is covered under liability insurance from a North Carolina-licensed provider.