NH State Inspection For Vehicles

[John Mercier]

I don't know that $50 per year is going to fix anyone's cost problem.
And if they keep it just for older vehicles, it is still going to hit those that can least afford it.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I don't know that $50 per year is going to fix anyone's cost problem.

And if they keep it just for older vehicles, it is still going to hit those that can least afford it.

$50 might not be a big deal, but the fixes that could be "necessary" might be.

I quote necessary because I think we've all known someone, or been told ourselves, that something needed to be fixed that wasn't really an issue.

I've got two from the last year alone: 1. I was told by Manchester Toyota that my 4Runner failed inspection because my wipers—that I'd replaced myself a month earlier—needed replacing. I blew up and know I got the tech in trouble for that scam.

The second is a friend who, just a few months ago, failed inspection for a small rust hole on his Tacoma bumper. The vehicle has been meticulously maintained, but that's just unwinnable in New Hampshire.

One of these only would've cost another $30 or so, even though it was a scam, but the other would cost hundreds, maybe thousands depending on parts/labor needed, but neither really needed anything.

That's why I think there's probably a balance to be struck.

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[John Mercier]

Understood.
Less about the $50, and more about the repair/replacement generation being oversold.

[TheProfessor]

Reminds me of information received at the inspection station I go to.

My older vehicle passed inspection.

But at shop was a competitor/friend of this inspection/repair shop.

That fellow - the other shop owner - stated that he never let an older vehicle get a sticker unless he got at least $250.00 in repairs. Needed or not.

That story/information was 20 years ago.

Makes one think. Specially those with older vehicles.

[TomC]

wonderful...

because just what someone whose budget requires them to drive an older car needs: getting stuck with an unnecessary repair bill...

[jeffk]

While I am understanding of the problem of "unnecessary repairs", when I was growing up in NY it was "customary" that your headlights always needed to be aligned at inspection time, and the "burden of costs" for repairs for many people, I simply don't want people driving around whose brakes are about to give out, tires ready to blow or have no traction due on wet or snowy roads, tie rods about to break, or suspension about to collapse due to rust.

Driving is a privilege and we all have a responsibility to do it safely. A part of that is keeping our vehicles in reasonable condition. Not doing so is a threat to everyone around you when you are driving. Not having money to maintain your vehicle is NOT a acceptable reason to let needed repairs skate.

While I get that there are abuses in the system, personally, I have never been a 'victim' of them for over 45 years. I hang on to my vehicles until they die. The cause of death of the last 3 was terminal rust. In my truck, the $$$steering assembly$$$ rusted out. So there were lots of repairs I had to make along the way, some really odd stuff like the support straps on my gas tank breaking due to age. But if I wanted a safe vehicle, I had to make the repair or get rid of the car. All my cars were effectively junked at the end of my ownership, one towed away and the other two driveable, but would not pass the next inspection due to rust damage. Believe me, they NEEDED to be off the road.

Some people might not have realized the problem or danger that that such cars represented or struggled to make some of the repairs I did. That's not an acceptable excuse.

Inspection helps to uncover such problems and requires people to deal with them. I believe we need to do that.

[Treerider]

If you are so inept that you cannot tell when your car needs work, take it to a repair shop and hand them your blank check! you'll get what you deserve!
otherwise, contact your state senator and urge them to vote to END the annual inspections for NH.
several years ago I bought a used truck, I felt it was in good condition. brought it to a local shop in Merrimack at lunch time for a sticker, I figured it would be a 5 minute process. 45 minutes later the mechanic (owner) came out with a clipboard and brought me into the back office. he proceeded to review a laundry list of "dangerous issues" with the truck. Mind you, I had already done the brakes after I bought it......he listed brakes were thin, needed rotors calipers etc. needed ball joints, exhaust manifolds (he had gone the junk yard route and already located them) all for the low low price of $2900........when can you leave it??
I left in a cloud of dust!
Ive fixed all my cars since I was in HS, this place was a ripoff shop......I brought it to a local guy and he noted what the other shop had listed, said he'd go through it.next day it had a sticker on it. $40. said never go back to that other place.......5 years later, I was still driving that truck with the same not worn out parts.....so if they try and pull that crap on a good home garage mechanic, imagine what they do to a 70 year old woman that has no clue....
"oh ma'am, we have to replace your faulty Sperbulator"
call your Senator!!

[garysanfran]

Lots of what happens in California drifts east. A smog inspection every two years...That's it.

Got mechanical issues? Who cares other than the owner, who may not and maybe other drivers.

In addition to the societal trends, that smog drifts east also. It'll be in Nevada and Arizona in less than a day.

My last cost of inspection was $175.

[tis]

All this talk yet nobody has said when the Senate vote will take place. I hope they end it.

[John Mercier]

Hearing: 04/08/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am

[John Mercier]

The current amended bill has private vehicles and motorcycles ever two years and remove the failure for a check engine light being on.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Hearing: 04/08/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am

April has come and gone!

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by Biggd

April has come and gone!

I know. The public hearing was already held and all the testimony recorded.

[tis]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I know. The public hearing was already held and all the testimony recorded.

So that was a public hearing. Do you know when the final vote is?

[John Mercier]

Docket didn't list the Exec Session or when it would be on the Floor.
That was the last entry that I found.

[Garcia]

While I find MA inspections annoying I am OK with it. Once/year with the sticker lasting 12 months. Cars of a certain age are exempt from emissions and only need to pass the safety check. When I drop my vehicle off, I fill out a piece of paper stating whether I want them to make minor repairs (change a bulb, replace a wiper blade, etc) or not so I am not surprised.

All this talk of crooked repair shops is interesting. Why throw out a system that helps get vehicles with unsafe equipment off the road because of some dishonest people? Why not focus on the dishonest people?

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Garcia

While I find MA inspections annoying I am OK with it. Once/year with the sticker lasting 12 months. Cars of a certain age are exempt from emissions and only need to pass the safety check. When I drop my vehicle off, I fill out a piece of paper stating whether I want them to make minor repairs (change a bulb, replace a wiper blade, etc) or not so I am not surprised.



All this talk of crooked repair shops is interesting. Why throw out a system that helps get vehicles with unsafe equipment off the road because of some dishonest people? Why not focus on the dishonest people?

Agreed on all, but I'd also be ok with a two-year cycle.

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[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I don't know that $50 per year is going to fix anyone's cost problem.
And if they keep it just for older vehicles, it is still going to hit those that can least afford it.

I have a lot of sympathy for folks tight on cash. But being tight on cash should not be a license to pollute or endanger others

[John Mercier]

All I was doing is framing where the debate in Concord is at.

Lowering costs has become a big issue.
And as you know, any changes affect someone in some way.

Lowering the gas tax, or tolls, really means less road maintenance and higher repair costs. So that one is sort of dead.

Most of our registration dollars is property tax to our local municipality, so touching that is sort of dead.

Inspection is what they came up with.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

All I was doing is framing where the debate in Concord is at.

Phew! This is a big relief personally--I was worried that you had become a bleeding heart, and in response I had become stone cold. Cheers, mate

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Phew! This is a big relief personally--I was worried that you had become a bleeding heart, and in response I had become stone cold. Cheers, mate

The item I am most interest in on this.
If they are going to do every two years, as its seems in the current rendition, do we all go the same year and then no one goes the next?

I don't see anything that tells me they laid out odd and even plate numbers, or such, like they did with gas lines.