NH State Inspection For Vehicles

[John Mercier]

Because they were not doing them.

When someone got stopped, and that was rare to non-existent, the mechanic would just suggest that the exhaust system must have been changed after the inspection was done.

The State could have done stings to catch the situation, but the State is seldom serious about these issues.

So you get the inspections that are not complete, and you get the inspections that you should have passed, but got pressured for repair work.

[thinkxingu]

Two things that I've noticed since this thread started that might be problematic without inspections: tinting and tire size/poke.

While I know many inspection stations overlooked excessive tinting or wide/exposed tires, having the process every year definitely reduced the number of people who would avoid doing these things.

I thought of these two after having my windshield cracked by a rock thrown from a Jeep with uncovered (no mud flap or flare covered) tires and almost getting in an accident at a 4-way stop when I couldn't see the driver through their tinted windshield.

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[John Mercier]

Part of the reason the proponents of the original bill introduced it.

[Kamper]

I expect that apparent deficiencies will still result in a stop to check.

What the police will focus on depends on what is getting the most favorable press attention at the moment. We may see more safety checkpoints Like we see for liquor violations, now.

[John Mercier]

I don't think the State allows for that.
A stop for a light out, may result in a ticket for bald tires, but they aren't going to do a brake inspection.

But how many stops do we actually think will happen?

I have to travel from Belmont to Laconia, over the mountain into Meredith and then down through New Hampton and into Bristol.

I see a lot of stops in New Hampton, but very little other than that.

I have never seen a motorcycle pulled over, waiting for the sound testing trailer to arrive, but have several times seen them pass over a yellow line, or up through the breakdown lane.

[fatlazyless]

This 11:42 WMUR interview ..... www.youtube.com/watch?v=LETOmgBmRP4 ..... from August, 2025 ..... is a good display of the two differing opinions on eliminating the N.H. yearly vehicle inspection.

Draw your own conclusion.

I think the N.H. state legislature has made a MAJOR BLUNDER by eliminating the yearly state motor vehicle inspection.

Even vehicle owners like myself with the good intention to maintain their car need the benefit of a yearly state requirement to PASS A TEST done by a technician who knows what is right or wrong with your car and uses a CAR LIFT to raise up your car to inspect it.

Without a yearly test, that N.H. golden road will become a less safe road due to bad tires, bad brakes, bad windshield wiper blades, non-working signal bulbs and many other items. N.H. State inspections have been happening since 1931, that's like 94-years of State testing to make the road safe to drive and it is totally WACK-A-DOOZIE to eliminate the yearly tests.

[ApS]

'Seems to me that this region penalizes bad drivers simply by having roadways with big trees and boulders lining its pavement.

I noticed "Jersey Barriers" were placed over a small stream in Melvin Village. If you drove (or slid) off the roadway, you'd have gravity enforcing about 100 feet of space-travel before crashing into the riverside's rock-strewn embankment.

The structural make-up of the vehicles matters far less than the quality of the driver.

Particularly to the west of us (but including Massachusetts), increased chemical/drug use, hyper-speedsters and fraudulent licensing has sent the national fatality rate upwards nearly 10,000 from a low in 2019. (A major spike in just six years).

As to excessive window-tinting, laws were passed to protect law enforcement. Even in Florida, tinting violations are everywhere.

I can't think of a reason--based on Logic--why a driver would rely on observing "the other driver": Especially where windows can be fogged inside, increasing numbers of autonomous vehicles, and that "wrong-side steering" vehicles are increasingly available as utility vehicles.

One's insurance company won't listen to reasons your collision happened at a four-way stop.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by ApS

'Seems to me that this region penalizes bad drivers simply by having roadways with big trees and boulders lining its pavement.

I noticed "Jersey Barriers" were placed over a small stream in Melvin Village. If you drove (or slid) off the roadway, you'd have gravity enforcing about 100 feet of space-travel before crashing into the riverside's rock-strewn embankment.

The structural make-up of the vehicles matters far less than the quality of the driver.

Particularly to the west of us (but including Massachusetts), increased chemical/drug use, hyper-speedsters and fraudulent licensing has sent the national fatality rate upwards nearly 10,000 from a low in 2019. (A major spike in just six years).

As to excessive window-tinting, laws were passed to protect law enforcement. Even in Florida, tinting violations are everywhere.

I can't think of a reason--based on Logic--why a driver would rely on observing "the other driver": Especially where windows can be fogged inside, increasing numbers of autonomous vehicles, and that "wrong-side steering" vehicles are increasingly available as utility vehicles.

One's insurance company won't listen to reasons your collision happened at a four-way stop.

If you're referring to my comment about tinting a few up and a while ago, it's because the driver had the right of way but was stopped long enough for me to think he was letting me go.

When I began to move, s/he took off quickly enough that I had to swerve.

I'm guessing there was phone activity that I couldn't see, but there was no way to make eye contact or see hand gestures to know what was happening in the moment.

In fact, I wondered afterward if it was intentional.
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[WinnisquamZ]

Originally Posted by Kamper

I expect that apparent deficiencies will still result in a stop to check.

What the police will focus on depends on what is getting the most favorable press attention at the moment. We may see more safety checkpoints Like we see for liquor violations, now.

Agree. They can and will use any visual violation to pull over a vehicle. If you didn’t like a $49 inspection fee wait till you see what a ticket will cost you. A positive for every city and town is, correct me if I am wrong, don’t ticket payments stay local to each town and inspection costs went to the state.
A windfall for many small towns


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[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

Agree. They can and will use any visual violation to pull over a vehicle. If you didn’t like a $49 inspection fee wait till you see what a ticket will cost you. A positive for every city and town is, correct me if I am wrong, don’t ticket payments stay local to each town and inspection costs went to the state.
A windfall for many small towns
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Or, you could take personal responsibility for your vehicle and make sure it is safe and legal before you put it on the road. Just because the government doesn't require you to have inspections doesn't mean you should ignore the condition of your vehicle. A lot of the issues are visual: Lights, window tint, tire tread Etc. Nothing stops you from asking a mechanic to give the vehicle a quick check to make sure ither items such as tie rods and brake pads are in good shape.

[Biggd]

I did inspections in Ma for many years. I know for a fact, many shops use inspections to rip people off.
If you're going to drive a *****box, you're going to do it regardless of inspections. How many cars are on the road now with expired stickers?
It's no different than people driving without a license, they will do it until they are caught. Law enforcement needs to be more vigilant, pull ***** boxes over, and give out tickets.

[Garcia]

Originally Posted by Biggd

I did inspections in Ma for many years. I know for a fact, many shops use inspections to rip people off.

And that's part of the problem. Just as car owners should be held accountable for the vehicles they drive, so should shop owners - is there accountability and consequences when a shop knowingly rips people off?

Then again, it is a shame that we have to rely on government to enforce honesty and ethical behavior.

[WinnisquamZ]

Agree to all comments about accountability and responsibility. Saw a couple of shtt boxes myself yesterday. Wondering how they made it out of the driveway


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[Descant]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

Agree. They can and will use any visual violation to pull over a vehicle. If you didn’t like a $49 inspection fee wait till you see what a ticket will cost you. A positive for every city and town is, correct me if I am wrong, don’t ticket payments stay local to each town and inspection costs went to the state.
A windfall for many small towns.

Inspection fees stay mostly with the inspector. They "buy" books of stickers, and pay licensing fees to the state. State police have run good and bad cars threough various inspections incognito to minimize false charges to retail customers.

Tickest given out by local PD may go to the town or the state, depending on the violation. That money does not go to the PD. It goes to the general fund and is spent as thje legislature or Town Meeting directs. On a local basis, too many tickets would result in the poice chief being called into the back room by the Select Board. Local PD's can get grants from the state for extra patrols that focus on one area of safety: speed, DWI, Disatracted driving, etc. These may result in edcucational stops, warnings, tickets. Occasionally, these result in a major bust because scofflaws are scofflaws by habit. No secrets here: RSA 31:95-b describes public notice reequirements for the BOS to accept these special funds.

[fatlazyless]

Starting Feb 1, 2026 you can get artsy and creative by placing this $4, three inch diameter sticker ..... http://www.etsy.com/listing/15699656...-retro-vintage .... where the NH State inspection sticker used to be.

Who knows but maybe there will be an unwritten secret advantage to keeping the old 2025 blue NH State inspection sticker in place on the windshield as opposed to removing it? Just to show that this here motor vehicle actually passed the state inspection, last year, in 2025 or something?

So, when you are totally unaware that one of the headlights is burnt out, and get stopped by a local police officer, you can point to the blue sticker and say "Yes Officer, but it has a blue state sticker from 2025 and I had no clue the headlight was burnt out?"

Five, ten, and 15-years from now, there's the real possibility for seeing cars, out there, still with their old blue NH State sticker from 2025? Like, why remove it?

Time will tell ........ and whatever? ......

N.H. Fine Schedule ....... http://www.dmv.nh.gov/sites/g/files/...ts/dsmv428.pdf

[thinkxingu]

Another example: we just picked up my son's first car last night, a 2014 Honda CR-V, but the headlights are glossed over as many older assemblies are. It would most likely not pass inspection the way it is—the reduction of light is definitely noticeable—and we'll fix it because we can, but without an inspection process, I'm not sure most people would...especially given the demographic who might be purchasing a car at this price point.

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[fatlazyless]

Walmart in Tilton and Plymouth does headlight restoration for $38.88/vehicle. Internet appointment required.

If you just walk in and ask to get it done, you get told to schedule an appointment via their store website.

Like, maybe they can restore the headlights via the internet too ...... ha-ha-ha!

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Another example: we just picked up my son's first car last night, a 2014 Honda CR-V, but the headlights are glossed over as many older assemblies are. It would most likely not pass inspection the way it is—the reduction of light is definitely noticeable—and we'll fix it because we can, but without an inspection process, I'm not sure most people would...especially given the demographic who might be purchasing a car at this price point.

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Here is a product I have used made by "The Chemical Guys" that will easily bring those headlights back to new. I swear by this stuff...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYGJ4W8...d_asin_title_3

Congrats to your son on his first car!!

Dan

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Here is a product I have used made by "The Chemical Guys" that will easily bring those headlights back to new. I swear by this stuff...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYGJ4W8...d_asin_title_3

Congrats to your son on his first car!!

Dan

Thanks, Dan! What do you use for a tool/pad, etc. with that stuff?

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[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Thanks, Dan! What do you use for a tool/pad, etc. with that stuff?

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I simply used a micro fiber cloth. Takes seconds to completely restore like new. Have also used this product on solar light panels and it worked amazing!

Dan

[WinnisquamZ]

Would it not be a kick to the nuts if Mass created a “out of state” inspection program for cars older then, let’s say [emoji6] years.


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[John Mercier]

So NH motorists would stop travelling to Massachussets?

[WinnisquamZ]

No you won’t


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[John Mercier]

I never go outside the State unless it is a company thing.
So not really an issue for me. But I can't imagine that would go over well in Mass.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Or, you could take personal responsibility for your vehicle and make sure it is safe and legal before you put it on the road. Just because the government doesn't require you to have inspections doesn't mean you should ignore the condition of your vehicle. A lot of the issues are visual: Lights, window tint, tire tread Etc. Nothing stops you from asking a mechanic to give the vehicle a quick check to make sure ither items such as tie rods and brake pads are in good shape.

This would be a good plan if the only person on the road was "you". But I think we all know that a disproportionate number of issues are caused by a small number of irresponsible people, such as the guys putting their beaters back on the road now that they no longer need a sticker

[John Mercier]

When they don't go far from home they just AG plate them.
We have several that pull into Lavalleys Bristol, usually on a Saturday morning as that is when we see most farmers/homesteaders.

[Chimi]

I predict that this will be a nothing burger, similar to the lake speed limit. In a year from now, the statistics will show that the elimination of vehicle inspections had only a minuscule, if not a zero effect on vehicular accident rates. Here’s a fairly recent study from our next door neighbor that demonstrates this.

https://mainepolicy.org/news/release...ction-program/

https://mainepolicy.org/wp-content/u...b0-67e10bb774-

[tis]

Originally Posted by Chimi

I predict that this will be a nothing burger, similar to the lake speed limit. In a year from now, the statistics will show that the elimination of vehicle inspections had only a minuscule, if not a zero effect on vehicular accident rates. Here’s a fairly recent study from our next door neighbor that demonstrates this.

https://mainepolicy.org/news/release...ction-program/

https://mainepolicy.org/wp-content/u...b0-67e10bb774-

I agree with you.

[BroadHopper]

3M headlight restoration kit.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b40069623/

I use this product on a number of vehicles. The fog and scratches will be gone! Just use a quality auto sealant or wax after to keep it weather resistance.

The Walmart stuff like Turtle wax etc, is like wax. It just fills in the cracks and holes to make it appears slick. After the next wash, you need to apply again.

[fatlazyless]

Drive an old car or pick-up truck today, that looks old and worn out, but with a CORRECT COLOR NH state inspection sticker, and you are good to go without being constantly stopped by the local police.

Starting February 1, 2026, drive this same vehicle under the new 'no NH state inspection' system and you will more likely be stopped by the local police ... again, and again, and again, and again .... ho-hum!

Instead of looking for outdated inspection stickers, the police will be looking for old and worn out vehicles to do a two-minute quickie inspection on tires, wiper blades, headlights, horn, heater/defroster in winter, directional signals, body holes/rust and maybe brake pads if brakes are visible by using a bright flashlight.

The local police will quickly become very good and totally super-duper at doing a two-minute, quickie ten point vehicle safety inspection, or something like this and create a two-minute safety check list ....... ho-ho-ho ..... making a list ..... and checking it twice!

"But officer, I had no clue the headlight and the directional signal are both burnt out? But officer, I never knew?"

Maybe the local police will keep a mechanic's creeper in their cruiser so they can use it slide underneath the stopped vehicle to inspect it ....... ha-ha-ha, ho-ho-ho, ha-ha-ha ..... that's a Red Skelton type of a laugh ....

[BroadHopper]

Anyone had their auto insurance renewed lately? One vehicle (Forester) went up a whopping $300 for next year! Melcher & Prescott says a factor came into play next year, no annual inspection. And they top it off with no seatbelt law, no insurance requirements. So saving $40 a year helps the guy with no insurance but it's not helping those with insurance!

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

3M headlight restoration kit.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b40069623/

I use this product on a number of vehicles. The fog and scratches will be gone! Just use a quality auto sealant or wax after to keep it weather resistance.

The Walmart stuff like Turtle wax etc, is like wax. It just fills in the cracks and holes to make it appears slick. After the next wash, you need to apply again.

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Anyone had their auto insurance renewed lately? One vehicle (Forester) went up a whopping $300 for next year! Melcher & Prescott says a factor came into play next year, no annual inspection. And they top it off with no seatbelt law, no insurance requirements. So saving $40 a year helps the guy with no insurance but it's not helping those with insurance!

Thanks for the tip, just ordered...


...and that would be an awful unintended consequence! Has anyone talked or thought about this as a potential?

If the data shows that there's no increase to accident rates in non-inspection states, how can insurance companies justify the increases? Insurance is a data-driven industry, if there ever was one!

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[tis]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Thanks for the tip, just ordered...


...and that would be an awful unintended consequence! Has anyone talked or thought about this as a potential?

If the data shows that there's no increase to accident rates in non-inspection states, how can insurance companies justify the increases? Insurance is a data-driven industry, if there ever was one!

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Because insurance uses any excuse to raise rates. You must have noticed that.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by tis

Because insurance uses any excuse to raise rates. You must have noticed that.

No, eliminating the N.H. yearly state inspection will make little to no difference to your insurance price.

It's all about the driver who drives the car.

What Allstate.... http://www.allstate.com/resources/ca...car-inspection .... says about insurance and inspection.

Ever wonder about stop signs ...... http://www.allstate.com/resources/ca...nce/stop-signs ..... the history of the stop sign.

Well, with more cars in N.H. driving on bald tires and worn down brakes, stopping at a stop sign will be happening less and less, as time goes by.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by tis

Because insurance uses any excuse to raise rates. You must have noticed that.

My insurance hasn't changed all that much over the years, so I'm not really familiar with rates being raised other than hearing things from states like Florida, etc. where there are weather or policy-related impacts.

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[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Thanks for the tip, just ordered...


...and that would be an awful unintended consequence! Has anyone talked or thought about this as a potential?

If the data shows that there's no increase to accident rates in non-inspection states, how can insurance companies justify the increases? Insurance is a data-driven industry, if there ever was one!

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I think we will be the first New England State without inspection, so the data may not be trusted by the accuaries.

Also, there is a LSR in to correct this situation.
Those that wanted it, though not even close to a majority, used a backdoor to place it in the budget bills.
Since no one wanted to fail the budget bill (creates a lot of other problems), it got through.

[pondguy]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

My insurance hasn't changed all that much over the years, so I'm not really familiar with rates being raised other than hearing things from states like Florida, etc. where there are weather or policy-related impacts.

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Add a 16 year old to your insurance and let us know how that works for ya.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Thanks for the tip, just ordered...


...and that would be an awful unintended consequence! Has anyone talked or thought about this as a potential?

If the data shows that there's no increase to accident rates in non-inspection states, how can insurance companies justify the increases? Insurance is a data-driven industry, if there ever was one!

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Data plus expectations. They don't have data yet, but if they believe a significant number of less safe, less insured cars will be on the road...

And if that's not quite right, tis makes a good point

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

My insurance hasn't changed all that much over the years, so I'm not really familiar with rates being raised other than hearing things from states like Florida, etc. where there are weather or policy-related impacts.

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Insurance companies are gouging everyone to make up for the disaster payouts of the last few years.
You can expect them to go even higher now that FEMA dollars have been cut back.

[Descant]

In my mind stories about no inspection and no seat belts is something you tell the retail cuastomer so s/he won't go shopping. Listen to all the TV adds that say "Call us and save $300". Some will save and others not so much. In the course of the call, there's a pitch for your home and other lines with multi-policy discounts, etc. With 1.3 MM citizens in NH there are probablyfewer than 1MM cars, so getting more $$ per household is important, as is getting the right (geographic) household. Large national companies balance their national market by raising or lowering rates where they want to grow or shrink market share. One way insurance companies make money is by holding money and investing it while they pay out at some future date. Take in $100, pay $100 in claims, but the money is yours to invest for a predictable period of time. That's where the income is...

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by pondguy

Add a 16 year old to your insurance and let us know how that works for ya.

Yeah, but that's a significant change in coverage, not just an arbitrary price hike.

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[TomC]

Originally Posted by Descant

...One way insurance companies make money is by holding money and investing it while they pay out at some future date. Take in $100, pay $100 in claims, but the money is yours to invest for a predictable period of time. That's where the income is...

This is something that always bugged me about insurance companies. Another is the related tactic of charging the customer interest and/or a service charge if they choose a payment plan rather than paying the premium in full upon inception... They have you paying interest and/or charging a fee for a future service - coverage not yet provided... great scam!

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Insurance companies are gouging everyone to make up for the disaster payouts of the last few years.
You can expect them to go even higher now that FEMA dollars have been cut back.

Fifty years ago, there was an "un-insured driver" premium added to my policy.

While it was an "optional" premium, it had all the appearances of a common sense "option" against fraudulent claims. (Collision and personal injury).



(To fit the "new times" we were living in).

[TiltonBB]

About 15 years ago, while riding a motorcycle in Florida, I was in a relatively serious accident. The woman who cause it was cited by the investigating Sherriff, and plead guilty in court.

She only had $30,000 in liability coverage and the resulting damage and injuries totaled several hundred thousand dollars. I was able to collect a significant amount from my uninsured motorist coverage.

In my opinion, uninsured motorist coverage is a must have. You never know what the other person's insurance coverage is until it becomes necessary to find out. It is comforting to know that you can call on your own insurance when their insurance hits it's limit.

[fatlazyless]

Well, it is early October and the Feb 1, 2026 NH car inspection ELIMINATION is about four months away.

Will the NH legislature .... http://www.newhampshirebulletin.com/...-vehicle-in... move on this between now and 2026 or what?

Will NH police officers keep a mechanic's creeper in their police cruiser so they can slide under a stopped vehicle to inspect it? ........ ha-ha-ha ... ho-ho-ho ... ha-ha-ha ....... that's a Red ... www.youtube.com/shorts/orsx8ucQE20 .... Skelton type of a laugh .....

So, the legislature must have been drunk when they voted to eliminate the yearly N.H. car safety inspection. From 1931 to January 30, 2026 New Hampshire has always had a yearly state inspection.

[Chimi]

See section on Distracted Driving and Equipment Violations. Law enforcement already has the ability to pull vehicles off the road that are deemed unsafe.

https://www.governor.nh.gov/sites/g/...t-20250925.pdf

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news/gov...ons-new-report

[fatlazyless]

When was the last time you saw a NH police officer remove a wheel/tire and inspect the brakes on a car or pick-up truck?

You know the NH State Police has a troop that concentrates on cdl federal truck anonymous stop & inspect, and they inspect the huge drum brakes on big trucks, using a flashlight. Is not necessary to remove the wheel on a big truck to inspect the brakes up close. You crawl under the truck on your knees and shine a flashlight at the inside of the wheel to inspect the two brake shoes/wheel. So, an 18-wheel semi has many individual brake shoes to get worn out or over-heat and burn out. No air brakes on the two front wheels which steer the big truck.

To inspect the brakes on cars and pick-up trucks, the wheel/tire needs to be removed. One very good reason why N.H. should continue its yearly state inspection for the 96th year in 2026.