Maybe back in the old days. Now in the "modern" era in counties with emissions testing, shops can even issue a sticker without a VIN and actual test procedure. I suppose you could fake it parts of it by hooking up another car, but I'm not 100% sure.. But the last time I was stopped (speeding), I believe the first thing they did was scan my registration and inspection stickers and make sure they came back to the same vehicle. If you know a shop that wants to take that risk for $100, I know a line of people that would bite...Target1911 wrote:yep....the inspections get beat all the time. I can get an inspection sticker for $60-$100 depending on the garage. I could tow one in with no keys and get a sticker if i were willing to pay a lil extra
There is marginal safety involved. The tests are pretty basic and really don't battle test a brake system. They're going more and more electronic - like requiring clear OBD-II codes. I once had a vehicle that would set an OBD-II code automatic transmission problems (it was a manual) - that car would fail inspection... We were doing something with the part of the ECU that was used for the automatic. Very little to do with safety, other than maybe tires. There is a basic brake check, but if you drove up, you're able to pass it.
I agree with that the biggest thing they're testing for these days is emissions, not safety... And maybe that's OK, depending on your perspective. The other check is for insurance - and that check is a joke, any idiot with a printer can make it work - but that's something that may be fixed in the future and fixing it would have great value to all of us that actually buy insurance to cover the other 50% of drivers that don't have it.
I am aggravated at the frequency. A new car is OK for 2 years. That's taxation as cars are warrantied for longer than that. If you've got several vehicles, it seems that one of them always needs some sort of inspection.
I hear TX is going to registration/inspection stickers, so that will take some of the frequency out of it... Maybe...