No Mechanical Inspections in New Jersey

Beginning in August, New Jersey drivers will not be required to have their cars inspected for mechanical defects. It has been estimated that this will save the state $11 million. The District of Columbia and twenty-eight states do not require cars to be inspected for defects. The rejection rate, for the inspections, was less than 6%.

Cars, five years or older will still be required to go for emissions testing every two years. In the past this was done on cars four years or older. This has been estimated to save the state $6 million.

New Jersey motorists can still be ticketed, by police, for bald tires, not having brake lights that work, or windshields with cracks. The motorist is still required to maintain a safe car. The inspections were considered unneeded since the mechanical defects show up as part of regular car maintenance.

Not everyone is in favor of the end of the mechanical inspections. Car safety advocates are concerned that New Jersey’s heavily congested roads will be full of unsafe and dangerous vehicles.

Many garages and mechanics are upset because they purchased expensive equipment to do the inspections. They expect more cars to breakdown causing traffic jams and accidents leading to injuries and fatalities.