N.H. yearly car inspections

FlyingScot · 03-14-2025, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomC

For sure - however there is a major conflict of interest to have a garage, which makes money selling parts and repair services, be the entity that decides if a vehicle is safe or not... The system now is a state-mandated business development program for service stations. Not sure what the answer is, but it would be better to have an independent inspector tell you what needs to be done rather than the shop who stands to gain by flunking you. Maybe pay a garage for an inspection and to prepare a state-approved report that the owner could take to any garage (including the inspecting one if they chose) for the repairs? On several occasions in my life, I have been failed with a huge estimate for repairs (usually tie rods, ball joints, tires, brakes) and taken it to a different garage and passed...

True, but let's not demand perfection, we can settle for good enough. In 40+ years for me, wife, kids, maybe one car ended up with a questionable inspection once--that's <1%. Find a guy you like/trust, and be grateful that the other cars on the road have brakes, lights, etc

tis · 03-14-2025, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

True, but let's not demand perfection, we can settle for good enough. In 40+ years for me, wife, kids, maybe one car ended up with a questionable inspection once--that's <1%. Find a guy you like/trust, and be grateful that the other cars on the road have brakes, lights, etc

Yes, we never have to do anything either. it is just a nuisance for us.

Outdoorsman · 03-14-2025, 05:57 PM

I went for my annual car inspection today. The same shop I have used for years. Same company that sold me the tires AND I paid for "flat repair/rotation etc".

I notified them that I had a slow leak in 1 tire and that I bought the plan to fix it.

Inspection FAILED because they thought it was to risky to pull a nail from the tread (not side wall) of the tire! Company policy for AWD vehicles is 4 matching tires for inspection (1 year old tires I bought from them)!

Their resolve: $1,200 for 4 new tires!
My resolve: Plug the tire myself and NEVER do business with them again!

ApS · 03-16-2025, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outdoorsman

I went for my annual car inspection today. The same shop I have used for years. Same company that sold me the tires AND I paid for "flat repair/rotation etc".

I notified them that I had a slow leak in 1 tire and that I bought the plan to fix it.

Inspection FAILED because they thought it was to risky to pull a nail from the tread (not side wall) of the tire! Company policy for AWD vehicles is 4 matching tires for inspection (1 year old tires I bought from them)!

Their resolve: $1,200 for 4 new tires!
My resolve: Plug the tire myself and NEVER do business with them again!

After Hurricane damage to neighborhoods it's not unusual to find (hear) roofing nails in one's tires.

As an aging novice at this, I managed to plug the two nail holes I picked up inna week! It wasn't an easy job with the car on the ground, but got it done. Very little air escaped, so I managed to continue running errands.

Plugging race-car tires won't even get you a glance!

thinkxingu · 03-15-2025, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

Yes, we never have to do anything either. it is just a nuisance for us.

But how many repairs are made proactively knowing they need to be done to pass inspection?

Not too long ago, a friend of mine chose to take his 1980's Toyota off the road because it needed front end work that was prohibitive in cost and necessary to pass inspection. In most other states, he may have continued to drive it.

Interestingly, another friend had a ball joint failure not long after that led to an accident on the highway. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, and I'm not quite sure it was negligence (though there usually are signs), but I see a connection between the two situations.

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TiltonBB · 03-15-2025, 07:27 AM

A few years ago I went to a Laconia shop Union Avenue shop for a State Inspection. They told me my battery was only putting out 5 Amps. and my front brake pads were down to 20% and I would need a brake job soon.

I pointed out that with only 5 Amps the car wouldn't start and the car had a brake job, with new pads all around, about 2,000 miles before that inspection.

I called the corporate office, spoke to the District Manager, and said I realize the inspections are looked at as an opportunity to generate work, but what they were doing was fraud. He claimed to know nothing about what they were doing and said it was a new employee who inspected my car. He asked me to bring the car back so they could use it as a training experience for the employee. I declined.

I don't know all the ways it could go wrong but maybe a waiver for vehicles less than 3 year old with less than 25,000 miles on them would work. Since police look for inspection stickers the state could have a category for stickers that were $10 and the inspection station could confirm the mileage and year of the car and put a sticker on without an inspection. Just a thought.

John Mercier · 03-15-2025, 04:51 PM

Some dealerships give them away as part of the purchase of a new vehicle.
Other have a pay one price for a lifetime (as long as you own the vehicle) option.

The Following User Says Thank You to FlyingScot For This Useful Post:
VitaBene (03-14-2025)

03-14-2025, 05:57 PM	#3
Outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 840 Thanks: 117 Thanked 211 Times in 133 Posts	I went for my annual car inspection today. The same shop I have used for years. Same company that sold me the tires AND I paid for "flat repair/rotation etc". I notified them that I had a slow leak in 1 tire and that I bought the plan to fix it. Inspection FAILED because they thought it was to risky to pull a nail from the tread (not side wall) of the tire! Company policy for AWD vehicles is 4 matching tires for inspection (1 year old tires I bought from them)! Their resolve: $1,200 for 4 new tires! My resolve: Plug the tire myself and NEVER do business with them again!

03-15-2025, 07:27 AM	#6
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,040 Thanks: 719 Thanked 2,216 Times in 945 Posts	A few years ago I went to a Laconia shop Union Avenue shop for a State Inspection. They told me my battery was only putting out 5 Amps. and my front brake pads were down to 20% and I would need a brake job soon. I pointed out that with only 5 Amps the car wouldn't start and the car had a brake job, with new pads all around, about 2,000 miles before that inspection. I called the corporate office, spoke to the District Manager, and said I realize the inspections are looked at as an opportunity to generate work, but what they were doing was fraud. He claimed to know nothing about what they were doing and said it was a new employee who inspected my car. He asked me to bring the car back so they could use it as a training experience for the employee. I declined. I don't know all the ways it could go wrong but maybe a waiver for vehicles less than 3 year old with less than 25,000 miles on them would work. Since police look for inspection stickers the state could have a category for stickers that were $10 and the inspection station could confirm the mileage and year of the car and put a sticker on without an inspection. Just a thought.

03-15-2025, 04:51 PM	#7
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,527 Thanks: 3 Thanked 628 Times in 517 Posts	Some dealerships give them away as part of the purchase of a new vehicle. Other have a pay one price for a lifetime (as long as you own the vehicle) option.