Car Inspections May Get Cut in Some States

December 2009

Tough economic times are causing some local governments to rethink their car inspection programs. For example, Washington, D.C. has eliminated its state inspections to save $400,000 a year, and safety advocates worry that this could lead to a nationwide trend, putting motorists' lives at risk.

Currently, there are 19 states with mandatory inspection programs. The programs range in type – Pennsylvania mandates yearly inspections done by a private mechanic who is approved by the state. Ohio only conducts random inspections at checkpoints or during motor vehicle stops. Maryland, however, limits its testing to when a car is sold.

States that don't require inspections cite a lack of data proving periodic safety inspections save lives. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted its most recent study on the effectiveness of inspections in 1989. The agency concluded that mandatory checks reduced the number of poorly maintained vehicles on the roads, but couldn't confirm that car accidents were prevented or that lives were saved. NHTSA decided that the establishment of an inspection program should be left up to states.

In the absence of national data, some states have conducted their own studies. Earlier this year, Pennsylvania found that inspections save about 125 lives each year. According to the state's director of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the study provides enough evidence to maintain the current inspection program.