There are really two inspection that you need to be road legal in Philadelphia. While it may seem like a hassle, both are very important to the health and safety of all drivers on the road.

First, and most importantly, there is the Safety Inspection. States that require annual safety inspections have lower rates of mortality in vehicular collisions. Mandatory safety inspections mean that you can rest easy knowing that your tires are strong and your brakes will work. It also mean that the person driving next to you has good tires, and the person behind you has good brakes, too.

There’s also a federally required Emissions Inspection, managed by the State of Pennsylvania and part of the Safety Inspection. You need to PASS the Emissions Inspection to pass the Safety Inspection.

Especially if you live in the city, you can see why this is important! Emissions inspections help keep the amount of dangerous chemicals to a minimum. It means that are Philly is healthier, and we can let our children breath the air without fear. Emissions inspections are also a great way to gauge if your car is running efficiently. Is your CHECK ENGINE Lite ON? It may be an emissions related problem, so have us check it out BEFORE your annual inspection is due!

90 days BEFORE the current Inspection Stickers expire.

Your car needs to PASS both the Safety and Emissions Inspections BEFORE the last day of the month on your current windshield sticker. You can get your car inspected 90 days BEFORE the sticker expires and get that same month, so you don’t lose any time getting it inspected early, and you save the frustration of waiting until the last minute and letting your sticker expire if you don’t pass the first time. And remember, if you fail the first inspection, we do not charge you to re-inspect within 30 days of the initial inspection.

We get asked a lot about the cost of inspection, especially when the car fails. “Why do I have to pay for the inspection if my car didn’t pass”, “Why does the cost seem so high?” or my personal favorite “Why didn’t you tell me my car wouldn’t pass when I dropped it off?”

So, why do we charge for inspections? Since there aren’t any parts, you may wonder why it costs anything at all. Well, when you pay for a State Inspection sticker, you are paying a highly skilled professional to take a serious look at your vehicle. You’re also helping pay for the (expensive) equipment -required by the State of Pennsylvania for every licensed Inspection Station – that we use to make sure you car is safe and to test the emissions control systems.

Our prices and Inspection Mechanic license information is clearly posted in the waiting room, as required by PA State Law

If you ever have pricing or any other questions about your vehicle and the PA Inspection Program, please ask your service writer or call us! People ask all the time if “this broken thing” will pass. While we can’t technically fail your car until we inspect it, we’re happy to give free advice, and we’re always willing to do whatever it takes to explain the Inspection Program to you.

Oh, and if your CHECK ENGINE Lite is ON, chances are very, very good your car will not pass the Emissions Inspection. The Law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania says I have to “test the vehicle as presented” which means it’s illegal for me to tell you you’re going to fail before I test your car. Crazy, right? Of course it’s fine and legal for me to warn you when you’re in for your oil change a month before your Inspection Stickers expire… which is another reason why you should use us for all your automotive needs!