What You Need to Know.
While the typical car is said to spend its days parked about 95% of the time, there’s no denying that most of our vehicles get a lot of use every day! It is important to ask questions about your vehicle’s safety status. Is your vehicle still up to modern emissions standards? Are the lights and safety signals of your vehicle still working properly? Will certain features restrict your vehicle from being registered with the DMV in your state? Make sure your vehicle is always up to date with the standards set by the state of North Carolina, with Pat’s Auto Service Center!
What is a North Carolina State Inspection?
You should never drive around without a registration and, depending on the state or county you live in, the rules can be different in order to pass an NC state inspection. Make sure you know that your vehicle is in tip top shape, so you are not saddled with more headaches overtime! When most people think of a NC state inspection, or any vehicle inspection for that matter, one usually starts thinking about the big problem such as, “my check engine lights is illuminated.” While illuminated engine lights are indeed a huge issue that needs correcting, it’s not the only aspect you should worry about for an inspection in North Carolina. General safety issues are important too! So, make sure when it’s time for your vehicle to be inspected, that you stay on top of all aspects of your vehicle. This includes small items that we often don’t think about, like the lights that illuminate your rear license plate.
What Are Some Items Looked at in an NC State Inspection?
Here are some of the following items that ASE certified professionals will be looking at when they inspect your vehicle:
- Brakes: This part of your vehicle should be a no-brainer! Your vehicle needs to stop when you need it to, every time and in all weather conditions. Most will immediately think of their front and rear brakes, but the parking brake can also cause marks against your vehicle in an NC state inspection. Brakes that are under 15% life left will start to inhibit your personal safety, but brakes that are metal to metal will generally fail inspections.
- Lighting: Lights on your vehicle aren’t just important for helping you see the road ahead in low light driving conditions, but lighting on your vehicle is also important because it lets other drivers know your position on the road. Lights that will be included in an NC state inspection include headlights, brake lights, taillights, license plate lights, parking lights and turn signals.
- Tires: Good tires aren’t just vital for gas mileage and ride quality; tires are an important safety component of any vehicle. The tread on a tire helps you to stay on the road in both dry and adverse weather conditions and avoid a potential loss of control. Tires must have at least 2/32 of an inch left for tread depth in order to pass an NC state inspection, and any tires that are below this vital requirement will fail inspect standards in the state of North Carolina. Exposed signs of cord, wear and tear, dry rot or cuts can also reduce your chance of passing an inspection.
- Windshield Wipers: Wipers help you safely view hazards and other important markers on the road and worn blades could even damage your windshield. Make sure your wipers are in proper working order and avoid failing an inspection.
- Window Tinting: This is often a special case that can really catch unsuspecting drivers off guard. For a North Carolina state inspection, vehicle windows must have at least a 32% level of light transmittance or greater in order to pass. Especially dark windows usually end up being an instant fail condition for most vehicles. Light reflection on a tinted window needs to be 20% or greater for a window to pass, and a windshield’s tint may not be red, yellow or amber colored.
How Can We Help?
When you take your vehicle to Pat’s Auto Service Center, you can count on our hawk-eyed technicians to make sure your vehicle is where it needs to be to pass a North Carolina state inspection. We will do everything in our power to ensure when your vehicle returns to the road, it’s safe and sound. If your vehicle does fail an inspection, you are welcome to re-present it to us after a 60-day period! In the meantime, whatever issues cause your vehicle to fail an NC state inspection are taken seriously and rectified in a timely manner.
