Undergoing the Maryland Vehicle Safety Inspection, otherwise known as the Maryland State Inspection, is critical when you are trying to sell or transfer ownership of your car to someone else. With this inspection, a certified auto inspector from a licensed Maryland State Inspection facility will check various components of your car to make sure that it is safe to operate.
According to Maryland’s MVA website, if your car fails just one of the safety standards, you will not be able to get a Maryland Inspection Certificate for your vehicle. In this case, you will need to fix the issues that are listed on the inspection report. Then, you will need to have your car re-inspected by the same inspection officer.
In terms of fixing your car, you have three options:
1. Fixing the car on your own. Unless you are a certified car mechanic or have extensive auto-repair experience, it may end up costing you more money to fix your car on your own, compared to getting it fixed at a auto shop. Oftentimes, inspection stations will charge fees for re-inspections, and the “re-inspection fee for a non visual defect may be charged up to 1 ½ times the hourly labor rate if the inspection requires jacking, lifting, measuring, or testing the vehicle”,
based on Maryland government law. So failing the inspection multiple times will likely cost you a good deal of money.
2. Getting the inspection station to fix all of the issues stated on the report. This can be a convenient option for car owners, since the inspection station knows exactly what issues need to be fixed. However, some people prefer to get repair quotes from multiple auto shops so that they get the best deal.
3. Bring your car to a different facility for the needed repairs. When selecting the auto shop for your car repairs, remember to read online reviews and customer testimonials, and make sure that the auto shop is licensed to operate in Maryland.
Keep in mind that if your car is re-inspected within the timeframe of thirty days after the first inspection date and you have driven it for under 1,000 miles, the inspection officer will only have to inspect the defects recorded during the first inspection. But if new problems are discovered, they must be repaired and another re-inspection will be necessary.
Getting your re-inspection done in a timely manner is critical, since you need to get your vehicle re-inspected within thirty days, or you will have to pay for an entirely new inspection.
At Revolution Motor Works, we are a licensed Maryland State Inspection facility, so we are authorized to perform safety inspections for your vehicle. Our auto experts will inspect your vehicle from bumper to bumper to check that your car starts and operates in peak condition. If you’re thinking about buying or selling a used car, truck or SUV, we can run a comprehensive safety inspection to give
you the ultimate peace of mind in knowing your vehicle is safe. As a full-service import auto repair shop located in Carroll County, we are dedicated to keeping Maryland drivers safe on the road with well-maintained cars.
