Vehicle Safety Inspection Adjustments Making Their Rounds
Posted in Auto Insurance
January 13th, 2010
A couple of states have made adjustments to their vehicle safety inspection requirements for the New Year. Both Missouri and the District of Columbia have decided that inspections are either not necessary for a while, or not at all.
Missouri’s New Inspection Guidelines
In the state of Missouri, new vehicle safety inspection guidelines have been adopted that determine when a car will need to be inspected. As of Jan. 1, vehicles five years old or new will not need a safety inspection.
n other words, those who have purchased a 2006 model will need their first inspection in 2012. Previously, only cars bought in their model year were exempt from inspections – and that was only for two years.
No More Inspections in D.C.
Even luckier for the residents of the District of Columbia, new guidelines released at the beginning of the New Year have officially canceled the mandatory safety inspection for automobiles. While this might seem like a big deal to those living in states that require safety inspections, there are plenty of states (30 others to be exact) that don’t require safety inspections.
Will the Roads be Safe?
With adjustments in safety inspections becoming prevalent, one has to wonder will the roads be any less safe than they have been in those areas. Many vehicle owners get routine checkups for their cars (oil changes, tire rotations, tune-ups) while others have no idea of the concept.
Engines can run hot and tires go bare as a result of avoiding the proper car maintenance checks. In other words, the roads could indeed be affected by a lack of safety inspections (cars sliding on ice due to bad tires, cars breaking down on the road with vehicles in motion behind them), which is the sentiment in Texas, as state that decided not to make such inspection adjustments.
If you live in an area that no longer requires inspections, or has stretched out the time frame requirements, take it upon yourself to make sure you pay routine visits to your auto mechanic. And don’t forget to maintain quality auto insurance to prepare yourself for those who don’t plan to take care of their cars.