Mon–Sat 8–6 · NY State Inspection Station Reg. No. 712522653-30 97th Pl · Garage #3
GR Auto Center General Mechanic · Corona
ES (516) 423-3877
NYS Inspection · GR Auto Center

What happens at a New York State inspection, and how to pass it the first time.

It is done here, at Garage #3. Come in Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM, or call (516) 423-3877 first and ask about today's wait.

Call (516) 423-3877 Get directions
What gets checked

Two parts: safety, and emissions.

Every vehicle gets the safety inspection. Most gasoline vehicles from 1996 on, and light diesels from 1997 on, also get the OBD II emissions test.

Every vehicle

Safety

  • Service brakes

    Pedal reserve, a fade test, the master cylinder, pad and lining thickness, drums and rotors, lines and hoses. At least one front wheel comes off so the brakes can be seen.

  • Parking brake

    It has to hold the vehicle and release properly, and the braking has to be even side to side.

  • Tires

    Tread of at least 2/32 of an inch, and the condition of the tire. Pressure is noted as advice only.

  • Steering and front end

    Play at the wheel, the linkages, and the power steering.

  • Suspension, frame and fasteners

    Shocks and springs, the chassis and frame, and the fasteners that hold the wheels on.

  • Lighting and reflectors

    Headlamps, tail and stop lamps, turn signals, backup lights on 1969 and newer, plate lights and hazard flashers on 1966 and newer — approved type, working, properly mounted, no broken or missing lenses.

  • Windshield and other glass

    Approved safety glass, its condition, and its tint. No crack 11 inches or longer in the area the wipers sweep.

  • Mirrors

    Mounted properly and usable.

  • Windshield wipers

    The wipers and the blades have to be there, and they have to work.

  • Horn

    It has to sound.

  • Seat belts

    They have to work and anchor properly. The airbag light is noted as advice only.

  • Fuel leaks

    No fuel dripping or pooling anywhere under the vehicle.

Most 1996 and newer

Emissions (OBD II)

  • The check-engine light

    The inspector checks that the malfunction indicator lamp — the check-engine light — works, and that it is not on.

  • The OBD II scan

    The car's own on-board diagnostic system is read through its diagnostic port.

  • The gas cap and emissions devices

    The gas cap and the vehicle's emissions control devices are checked.

  • Readiness monitors

    The car runs its own self-tests. If they have not finished, the result is “not ready” and the OBD test cannot pass. On a 2001 or newer vehicle, only one monitor may be not ready.

Why a car comes up “not ready”

DMV lists four reasons: codes were cleared after a recent repair, the battery was disconnected or replaced, the vehicle's computer needs a software update, or there is a pending problem that has not lit the check-engine light yet. The fix is to drive normally for a few days — the owner's manual describes the drive cycle under “OBD”. A “not ready” result comes with a 10-day extension.

Exempt from the emissions part

Motorcycles, vehicles less than two model years old, vehicles more than 25 model years old, electric vehicles, vehicles on historical plates, most heavier diesels, and vehicles that take the heavy-vehicle inspection.

1996 and older

Instead of the OBD II scan, the inspector checks that the required emissions devices are present and connected — catalytic converter, EGR, PCV, air injection, EVAP, fuel inlet restrictor, thermostatic air cleaner — plus the gas cap.

How long it takes

Plan on about an hour.

Plan on about an hour from the time the car goes into the bay. Call (516) 423-3877 before you come and the shop will tell you today's wait.

Call (516) 423-3877
Every 12 months
New York requires a vehicle inspection once every 12 months.
And again on a change of owner
A vehicle that changes owners has to be inspected again.
Bought from a private seller
You get a 10-day extension, counted from the date the vehicle is registered.
Coming in from another state
An out-of-state inspection stays valid until it expires, or one year after you register the vehicle in New York — whichever comes first.
Why cars come back

The checklist items that most often need a fix

New York publishes the checklist, not failure statistics. These are the items on that checklist that most often need attention — each one is on the list above.

  1. 01

    Check-engine light on, or monitors not ready

    What it isThe lamp is lit, or the car's self-tests have not finished, so the OBD II test cannot pass.

    What fixes itHave the fault read and repaired, then drive the car normally for a few days so the monitors finish. Do not clear codes right before you come in.

  2. 02

    Brakes

    What it isThin pads or linings, worn drums or rotors, a soft pedal, or a parking brake that does not hold.

    What fixes itBrake work before the inspection. At least one front wheel comes off, so worn brakes are seen.

  3. 03

    Tires under 2/32 of an inch

    What it isTread below the state minimum, or damage to the tire.

    What fixes itNew tires. Call with your size and ask what is on the rack.

  4. 04

    A burned-out bulb or a cracked lens

    What it isA headlamp, tail or stop lamp, turn signal, backup light, plate light or hazard not working — or a broken or missing lens.

    What fixes itA bulb or a lens. Walk around the car at night while someone presses the brake pedal.

  5. 05

    A windshield crack in the wiper area

    What it isA crack 11 inches or longer in the part of the windshield the wipers sweep.

    What fixes itGlass repair or replacement before the inspection.

  6. 06

    Wipers that don't clear

    What it isMissing or worn blades, or wipers that do not work.

    What fixes itNew blades.

  7. 07

    Horn

    What it isThe horn does not sound.

    What fixes itA horn or switch repair. It is a checklist line like any other.

  8. 08

    Tint darker than the limit

    What it isFront side windows or a windshield that let less than 70% of the light through.

    What fixes itTake the film off the front glass. A medical exemption goes through DMV form MV-80W.

  9. 09

    Loose or missing gas cap

    What it isThe cap is missing, not tightened, or cracked.

    What fixes itTighten it until it clicks. Replace a cracked cap.

  10. 10

    Fuel leak

    What it isFuel dripping or pooling under the vehicle.

    What fixes itRepair the leak before the inspection — it fails the safety part.

Before you come in

Pass the first time.

  1. If the check-engine light is on, get it diagnosed and repaired first.
  2. Don't disconnect the battery or clear codes in the days before. Drive the car normally for a few days so the monitors are ready.
  3. Walk around the car at night: headlights, brake lights, turn signals, plate light, hazards.
  4. Check the tread with a quarter or a gauge. 2/32 of an inch is the minimum.
  5. Replace wiper blades that streak, and fix a windshield crack in the wiper sweep.
  6. Tint: the front windows have to pass 70% of the light.
  7. Tighten the gas cap until it clicks, and replace a cracked one.
  8. Bring the registration, know the plate, and leave time — plan on about an hour, and call (516) 423-3877 for today's wait.
“If your check engine light comes on, do not wait until your annual inspection to get your vehicle repaired.”
— New York State DMV
If it fails

What happens next.

You get the report

The station gives you a Vehicle Inspection Report that states why the vehicle failed. Only an expired certificate is removed from the windshield — a valid sticker stays on until the vehicle passes.

The repair can be done anywhere

New York lets you have the work done wherever you choose.

Within 30 days

The re-inspection repeats only the part that failed — safety or emissions.

After 30 days

Both parts are inspected again.

A lost or damaged sticker

Replaced with DMV form VS-118, or by having the vehicle inspected again.

Failed here? The shop can quote the repair on the spot and re-inspect when it's done.

What to bring

Have these with you.

The registration

The inspector takes the vehicle's information from it.

Your insurance card

Bring it along. It is standard practice rather than a DMV inspection rule.

A plate that matches

The plate on the vehicle has to match the registration.

The key

Someone has to start the car and put it in the bay.

Garage #3

Get it done at Garage #3.

Mon–Sat 8 AM–6 PMClosed Sunday53-30 97th Pl · Corona, NY 11368

Call (516) 423-3877 Get directions Back to GR Auto Center

Sources

Every state rule on this page comes from the New York State DMV.