MD Vehicle Safety Inspections
Most used vehicles are required by
Maryland Law to undergo a safety inspection
prior to its sale or transfer. Generally, the seller or transferor of the vehicle is
required to obtain the inspection certificate. However, for class E trucks (exceeding ¾
ton manufacturer’s rated capacity), class F truck tractors, and class G freight trailers,
semi-trailers and dump service semi-trailers, either the seller/transferor or
the purchaser/transferee may obtain the inspection certificate. The purchaser/transferee
then submits the inspection certificate to the MVA in order to register the
vehicle.
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To obtain an inspection certificate, you must have your vehicle
inspected at an authorized safety inspection station in
Maryland. The Maryland State Police has licensed approximately 1,600 of these facilities in all parts of the
state. Most stations are authorized to inspect:
- Passenger cars;
- Light trucks and SUV’s with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less;
and
- Trailers that are 20 feet in length or less, without air brakes.
To be safe, always inquire whether the station has the proper
authorization to inspect your vehicle.
It is best if you schedule the safety inspection first, by phone.
Also, before you take the vehicle to be inspected, ensure that it is properly registered, either in Maryland or in
another state. If you are not able to register the vehicle because it has not yet received a safety
inspection, you may qualify for a 30-day temporary
registration that will enable you to legally drive the vehicle to the inspection
station.
The safety inspection should take about 1-½ hours for most vehicles
once the registered inspection mechanic begins work. Certain vehicles (e.g., trailers) may take less time so
it is best to check with the station. When the mechanic has finished, he will prepare an inspection report
that shows the vehicle parts or systems examined and whether or not they have met Maryland’s standards.
See Appendix A
for more information.
If the vehicle meets all safety standards, the registered inspection
mechanic will prepare and give you two copies of the Maryland Inspection Certificate. You should take the MVA
copy (green) to any full service MVA branch office and submit it with
the other documents needed to title and register your vehicle in Maryland. The Purchaser’s copy (goldenrod)
is for your records. If a dealer owns the vehicle, the Purchaser’s copy must be affixed to the vehicle’s
window.
If your vehicle fails to meet even one safety standard, the Maryland
Inspection Certificate cannot be issued. You must have the problem(s) identified on the station’s inspection
report fixed and then have the vehicle re-inspected by the same registered inspection mechanic at the same
station. You have the option of fixing the problem yourself, having the inspection station fix the problem,
or taking the vehicle to another facility for repairs.
If the vehicle is re-inspected within 30 days after the original
inspection date and you have driven it less than 1,000 miles, the
inspection station will only need to inspect the defective equipment identified during the inspection.
However, if a new defect is visually observed during the re-inspection, the newly discovered defect must also be
repaired and re-inspected. See Maryland's regulations (COMAR 11.14.01.10 A(3)) for details. Note that
the inspection station can charge you for each re-inspection, unless the repair can be visually veriifed. If
you wait too long, however, you will have to pay for a new, complete inspection.
- The fee for an initial safety inspection varies with the inspection
station’s labor rate. The Maryland State Police regulate the number of labor hours billed by the station for an
inspection, but they do not regulate the station’s labor rate. The fee charged for a safety
inspection must be prominently displayed in each station.
- The fee for the re-inspection of a vehicle varies with the inspection
station’s labor rate and the specific parts or systems that need to be re-inspected. A
re-inspection fee should not be charged if the repair can be visually confirmed (for example,
a burned out light) unless the inspection requires jacking, lifting, measuring, or testing the vehicle. Check
the station’s posted fee information for details.
Maryland State Police
Automotive Safety Enforcement Division (ASED)
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
For Telephone Questions:
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1-800-950-1MVA (1682) |
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1-800-492-4575 |
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1-301-729-4550 |
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• Steering
system • Wheel alignment
• Suspension
• Brake system
• Wheels / tires
• Fuel system
• Exhaust system
• Bumpers
• Fenders
• Lights
• Electrical system
• Mirrors
• Glazing (windows)
• Wipers
• Hood / catches
• Door handle latches
• Floor / trunk pans
• Speedometer / odometer
• Driver seat
• Safety belts
• Motor mounts
• Gear shift indicator
• Universal and CV (constant velocity) joints
• Emissions equipment
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• Hitches
• Suspension
• Brake system
• Emergency brakes
• Wheels / tires
• Rear metal frame
• Rear wheel flaps
• Lights
• Electrical system
• Fenders
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• Steering system
• Frame
• Brake system
• Wheels / tires
• Fuel system
• Exhaust system
• Lights
• Electrical system
• Mirrors
• Windshield
• Passenger items (hand hold and foot rest)
• Body items (seat, engine mounts, stand, chain and guard, fenders)
• Speedometer / odometer
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• Steering system
• Wheel alignment
• Suspension
• Brake system
• Wheels / tires
• Fuel system
• Exhaust system
• Bumpers / rear frame
• Rear wheel flaps
• Fenders
• Lights
• Electrical system
• Mirrors
• Glazing (windows)
• Wipers
• Hood / catches
• Door handle latches
• Floor / trunk pans
• Speedometer / odometer
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Source: Maryland Department of Transportation - Motor
Vehicle Administration
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