Ghetto Inspections?

Anyone else search out Ghetto inspection stations for older dd's, thinking they may be more lenient.

Years ago, when I lived in the Outer Banks NC, I drove a '78 Cordoba. It needed a State Inspection, and I was advised not to take it to the local places that prey on tourists and college kids.

So I drove way out to the back country, and found a wooden garage with an inspection sign. I pulled in and asked about getting it inspected. The old man on the front porch asked where I had driven from. I said Kitty Hawk, about an hour away. He got up from his rocking chair and said "Ill grab you a sticker"

He figured that if it made it an hour drive without breaking or crashing into anything, it was good to go!

Couple local inspection stations know me well, that I take care of my E36 M3. When I roll in they just get the sticker book out and ready to slap a new one on w/o even looking at the car.

No really, I want it inspected.

Up until '98 or so my dad took cars to a back hills garage for new stickers. Then the guy closed down due to changes in NYS inspections.

SlantSex wrote: Anyone else search out Ghetto inspection stations for older dd's, thinking they may be more lenient.

Here in Georgia when most cars had to pass the rolling dyno smog test ('96 or older model year) it wasn't too hard to find a shop to "work with you" on passing. Here's how it worked: you bring your car in for a test and it fails. You give the attendant $100 and they tell you to come back in an hour so they can "repair" your car. You leave, they drive a cleaner vehicle on the rollers, type in your car's info into the computer, roll the clean car, it passes, you get a sticker.

With the new OBD--II systems it is pretty much impossible to cheat anymore. Check engine light on? You fail. Doesn't matter if it is because of a loose gas cap or a missing converter, it fails the same. It could even blow clean on a dyno but if that little light it on you are toast.

slefain wrote: Here in Georgia when most cars had to pass the rolling dyno smog test ('96 or older model year) it wasn't too hard to find a shop to "work with you" on passing. Here's how it worked: you bring your car in for a test and it fails. You give the attendant $100 and they tell you to come back in an hour so they can "repair" your car. You leave, they drive a cleaner vehicle on the rollers, type in your car's info into the computer, roll the clean car, it passes, you get a sticker.

When they went to that system in NJ my ex's Sentra that I drove to my night job at a shop got "inspected" on an almost daily basis :)

my BIL is an inspector. I hate to hit him up about it though so only call him when I really need him to inspect my older vehicles. Our DD's we just get inspected anywhere.

slefain wrote: With the new OBD--II systems it is pretty much impossible to cheat anymore. Check engine light on? You fail. Doesn't matter if it is because of a loose gas cap or a missing converter, it fails the same. It could even blow clean on a dyno but if that little light it on you are toast.

Which is precisely the reason I'm ready to kill the PO of the Manic Miata for not starting with a '94 instead of a '96.

In Delaware, all inspections are done at the state DMV. No chance of "working with" the inspectors.

Is there a point in this conversation that I should point out that where I live there are absolutely zero inspections of vehicles? Just renew the tags every two years (or 4 if you pay for 4) and off you go.

rebelgtp wrote: Is there a point in this conversation that I should point out that where I live there are absolutely zero inspections of vehicles? Just renew the tags every two years (or 4 if you pay for 4) and off you go.

Same here. Say what you will about Kentucky (and, outside of Lex/Lou/South Cinci, it's probably true...), that the most they do is check that the VIN matches the registration when you first register a car is the most stringent inspection is quite nice.

In reply to rebelgtp: In behalf of allthe PA residents here:

Thank goodenss we don't have inspections any more.

Oh yeah also heard on the radio the other day that Oregon is the least expensive state in the country to own a car. Comes from our no sales tax, low licensing fees and lower than average insurance rates all add up. Then you get out of the metro areas and you don't even have to do the DEQ checks.

I have two rigs ready for new tags. I literally just need to go into the DMV pay for the new tags and they give me my new tags and that is it. Around here I can basically walk in get my tags and get out in 5 minutes

Sheeeit, the DMV doesn't even ask to see the car when I register something. More than once I've had plenty of tabs on cars that A- didn't run at all, or B were bonafide rolling death traps.

rebelgtp wrote: Is there a point in this conversation that I should point out that where I live there are absolutely zero inspections of vehicles? Just renew the tags every two years (or 4 if you pay for 4) and off you go.

same here, no inspections, except we have to renew every year for standard registrations, but never for antique auto registrations (one time fee).

One of the few things I like about Michigan. Zero inspections of any kind. If you can screw a license plate to it, you're good to go.

mndsm wrote: Sheeeit, the DMV doesn't even ask to see the car when I register something. More than once I've had plenty of tabs on cars that A- didn't run at all, or B were bonafide rolling death traps.

yes, we do have it made in the Land of the Sky Blue Water...

We used to have state inspections in Illinois a couple decades ago. I believe that if you live a certain distance from Chicago, you still have to get a smog inspection.

I'm ok with not having inspections, but with some of the death traps that are still on the road, I kind of wish there was some days.

novaderrik wrote:

mndsm wrote: Sheeeit, the DMV doesn't even ask to see the car when I register something. More than once I've had plenty of tabs on cars that A- didn't run at all, or B were bonafide rolling death traps.

yes, we do have it made in the Land of the Sky Blue Water...

NJ got rid of the safety inspections for financial reasons.. I wish they would get rid of inspecting pre-96 cars for emissions

Which begs the question. If they only inspect for emissions, do electric cars need stickers, or are you going to get pulled over by every cop for not having a sticker?

California: Most stringent smogs laws in the land.

No safety inspection.

Go figure

With some of the rolling death traps I see on the roads I wish we had them. I remember when I lived in IL in the 90s we had safety and I never had a problem passing even with my questionable Ford LTD.

I dunno, but I'm so berkeleying glad I don't have to deal with that bullE36 M3. I suppose it's only a matter of time though.

I would (and still do) go to the local Spanish garage. Those guys were so quick. Half the inspection was driving it into the bay. They overlooked all my smog issues. I guess they hooked up to another car, not sure, but I passed every time.

...and the inside of the lobby/shop looks like the "Good God Almighty" thread with posters.