Description

In the United States, vehicle safety inspection and emissions inspection are governed by each state individually. Fourteen states have a periodic safety inspection program, while Maryland requires a safety inspection and Alabama requires a VIN inspection on sale or transfer of vehicles which were previously registered in another state. Maryland also requires a safety inspection prior to the sale or transfer of ownership of a pre-owned vehicle. Seven states require periodic emissions inspections statewide, and eighteen additional states require periodic emissions inspections only for vehicles registered in heavily-polluted areas.