If you’re a New Jersey driver, understanding what will fail a car inspection in NJ is necessary for keeping your car roadworthy and compliant with state law.
To put it simply, It is possible for a car to fail an inspection in New Jersey if it has problems with its brakes, emissions, lights, tires, or frame. The purpose of New Jersey’s vehicle testing process is to make sure that cars meet safety and emission standards. If checks aren’t done properly, it may be necessary to make big-budget repairs and take the test again, which can be difficult.
The point of this piece is to look into the reasons why cars in New Jersey fail checks. Knowing the main things that make an inspection successful can save you time, money, and possibly a lot of stress,
Inspection Requirements For Vehicles In NJ
Drivers need to stay up to date on the new rules because New Jersey is currently changing the rules for car inspections.
Most vehicles need to be inspected every two years. However, for the first five years, new cars don’t have to be inspected. Vehicles that are more than five years old will need to pass an emissions test before the check. This means that drivers should ensure that their cars are well taken care of and that any problems are fixed right away.
Even though these changes might seem like they would be annoying, they are meant to improve the air quality and make driving on New Jersey roads better.
The state has also modified some criteria for inspection failures. For example, cars won’t be turned away because their windows are broken, their mirrors are broken, their lights don’t work, or their horns don’t work.
For some reason, cars with dashboard warning lights will not pass inspection. Checking the engine light and doing emission tests are the main parts of the inspection process. Both must be approved in order to pass.
It is important to keep your car roadworthy by following the latest rules when driving in the Garden State.
How should you get your car ready for inspection?
It is easy to prepare our car for a state vehicle inspection. However, this is based on how you deal with your vehicle’s scheduled maintenance. To prepare your car for a safety inspection, focus on all safety factors to verify they are working correctly.
However, Checking your state’s inspection requirement list can provide you a full overview of the objects that need to be inspected. If you can’t find a car safety inspection checklist for your authority, check the following:
- Clearly ensure that no diagnostic fault codes or check engine lights are present.
- Ensure that the wiper blades are in perfect condition.
- Check the performance of your blinkers, flashers, taillights, and headlights are in good position.
- Make sure the tread depth on your tires is within the recommended range by checking it.
- You must ensure that your car’s horn is working properly.
Before getting your car tested, you should also make sure you have up-to-date license and auto insurance. Usually, the inspector will put themselves in a position as the driver and drive your car to check how well all of its parts work.
What Paperwork Should You Bring to Your Car Inspection?
To get your car inspected, you’ll need to take it to an authorized vehicle inspection facility. Before we get started with the inspection, there are a few things we need to prepare to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Please ensure that you have the following items on hand:
- Registration Papers: Please bring your car’s registration papers with you to the check station. With these papers, you can show that the car is registered and officially allowed to be on the road.
- Identification: Don’t forget to bring a valid form of identification, like your driver’s license, to show that you own the car!
- Insurance Papers: Don’t forget to take your car insurance papers before going to the inspection station. These papers prove that your car’s got insurance and is covered if anything happens.
- Service Information: It’s a great idea to bring your car to the inspection station if it has a service history! This will help the inspector understand how well the car has been taken care of and serviced.
- Payment: Finally, You have to pay for the inspection. As it depends on the kind of car and the inspection station, it is best to double-check the fee before you go.
Once you have all these items, you may drive to the inspection station to go through the procedure.
Common Issues That Cause Inspection Failures and How to Avoid Them?
There are a number of common issues which could arise while having an inspection done on your car. You may save time, money, and worry by identifying these issues and taking easy steps to avoid them.
This information will assist you in avoiding inspection failures. Let’s know more details.
- Emission System Failures:
First of all, The emission system lowers air pollution, protecting the environment and ensuring the vehicle fulfills air quality regulations.
So, Car inspectors in New Jersey mostly use an On- Board Diagnostics (OBD) test, which searches the computer of the vehicle for problem codes connected to emission control.
They also look visually to make sure important parts like the gas cap and catalytic converter are in place. A tailpipe emissions test detects exhaust emissions for older cars. Any clear exhaust smoke could signal a quick failure.
How to Avoid:
- Maintain it with regular service and tune-ups.
- Inspect the dashboard warning lights and solve any problems without delay.
- Keep the system working smoothly by using high-quality fuel and replacing the air filter on a regular basis.
- Windshield and Windows:
Windshields and windows play an important part in keeping visibility clear, shielding passengers from materials, and helping to maintain the vehicle’s strength during accidents.
The windshield and windows of the car are also part of the vehicle’s frame.
In New Jersey, car inspectors carefully checked the windshield and windows to confirm that there are no major cracks, chips, or damage that could affect the driver’s visibility.
They also ensure that windows, particularly those on the front side, stay within legal shading limits, as excessive tinting may reduce visibility. The windshield wipers undergo a thorough inspection to confirm their proper performance, as maintaining clear visibility is important for ensuring safe driving conditions.
How to Avoid:
- Inspect your windshield on a regular basis for cracks, chips, and other damage.
- Fix the damage as soon as possible if it’s not too bad.
- Make sure that the window tinting you use doesn’t break any local rules and doesn’t make it hard to see.
- Light System
The light system is another important part for maintaining safety in low-light and nighttime situations since it improves driver awareness and alerts other road users to the vehicle’s movements.
Car inspectors in New Jersey inspect the lighting system to make sure that all of the external lights—brake, turn signal, taillight, and headlights—are operating as planned.
They look for any broken lenses, burned-out bulbs, or broken lights that may affect safety or visibility. In order to ensure that headlights properly show the road without blinding other drivers, they are carefully set. Failure of the inspection may occur from any problems with the lighting system.
How to Avoid:
- Regularly check all of the outside lights.
- Fix any cracked lenses and replace burned-out bulbs right away.
- Ensure that your headlights are properly positioned to maintain best visibility.
- Tire Condition
Keeping your tires in good repair is essential for your vehicle’s safety and performance on the road, since they influence traction, handling, and braking.
In New Jersey, car inspectors look at the tread level to make sure it meets safety standards, which is usually more than 1/16 an inch. Plus, they look for signs of irregular wear, damage to the sidewalls, or bulges, which could mean that there are problems with the position or the air pressure. The tires’ proper pressure is also checked to make sure they are safe for the road. The car may fail the test if the tires have too much damage or wear.
How to Avoid:
- Regularly check tire tread depth.
- Regularly rotate your tires to maintain even wear.
- Check for damage or bulges in the sidewalls and replace tires as required.
- Steering and Suspension
The steering and suspension systems are important because they enable vehicle stability, control, and safe handling, which have a direct influence on the driver’s ability and ride comfort.
So, Car inspectors in New Jersey check the steering and suspension by seeing how well the car responds to steering inputs and looking for signs that the steering is loose or that the car is hard to turn.
They check parts of the body like shocks, wheels and springs for damage or wear that could make the ride less stable. Any strange sounds, movements, or too much play in the steering wheel can fail the check if they make the car less safe.
How to Avoid:
- Pay attention to any unexpected sounds, vibrations, or trouble steering.
- It’s a good idea to have the suspension system checked regularly.
- Check the level and fix any problems that are found before they get worse.
What is checked during a car inspection in New Jersey?
When talking about car inspections in New Jersey (NJ), it’s great to know that the process helps make sure vehicles meet the state’s safety and emissions standards. NJ car inspections play an important role in keeping our roads safe and protecting the environment.
Moreover, Getting vehicles inspected is a great way for drivers to follow state regulations while also helping to minimize the chances of accidents caused by mechanical problems. Plus, it plays a part in reducing harmful emissions too! Here’s a friendly overview of what the state checks during a car inspection in NJ .
- Emissions System: The inspector ensures that the emissions control systems are working, which usually happens via an OBD scan for newer vehicles or a tailpipe test for older ones.
- Steering and Suspension: They take a close look at how the vehicle handles and check for any damage or wear that might impact safety or ride comfort.
- Tire Condition:The safety and stability of a vehicle depends on properly inflated tires that have been checked for tread depth, wear, and damage.
- Brakes: The brakes are checked to make sure they work right and have thick enough pads to stop safely.
- Light System: To make sure they are operating properly, inspectors test turn signals, brake lights, headlights, and other external lights.
- Windshield and Windows: They ensure that the windshield is clear of large cracks, that the wipers operate, and that the window tint meets the requirements of the law.
- Safety Features: Safety features like seatbelts, airbags, lights, and more are checked to make sure they meet the standards.
The vehicle will require repairs in order to pass inspection if any of these areas do not satisfy the standards.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ):
Q. What can cause you to fail an inspection in NJ?
- In New Jersey, a vehicle may fail an inspection due to a variety of factors, including damaged lighting, failed tires, defective brakes, emissions errors, a “Check Engine” light, or structural damage.
Q. Will a car pass NJ inspection with check engine light on?
- No, you’ll always fail with a check engine light on. To pass inspection, you must first address the primary issue that has caused the check engine light to come on and then turn it off.
Q. What is the grace period for car inspection in NJ?
- New Jersey does not provide a grace period for car inspections; cars must be inspected before the expiry date to avoid fines.
Q. How old does a car have to be to not need inspection in NJ?
- A passenger car that is more than 25 model years old is free from inspection.
Final View:
Finally, if you’re a New Jersey driver, it’s important to pay attention to what will fail a car inspection in NJ so that you’re well-prepared.
However, It is best to be prepared for your inspection by fixing common issues like broken lights, emissions violations, and brakes before you even think about them. You can pass the inspection, stay safe on the road, and help keep the environment clean by keeping up with your vehicle’s maintenance.
Avoid wasting time, energy, and resources on dealing with unexpected failures by arming yourself with knowledge and being ready. Make sure your car is always in the best possible shape to pass inspections in New Jersey by avoiding common mistakes.
