What’s Changing and Why It Matters
If you’ve been a New Jersey driver for more than a few years, you’ve probably noticed that state vehicle inspections have changed significantly. What used to be a more thorough check-up for your car has quietly shifted into something a bit… less comprehensive. This is due to the state no longer performing safety inspections on most vehicles. Instead, the inspection process now focuses solely on emissions, meaning our car’s brakes, lights, suspension, and tires are no longer part of the state’s inspection process. So what happened, and how can we move forward?
The Shift from Safety to Emissions
For years, New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC, formerly DMV) required both emissions and safety inspections on passenger and private vehicles. This meant your car had to not only run clean but also meet basic safety standards to be considered roadworthy and pass state inspections.