Fall is a busy season for car paperwork in Rockville. People buy and sell used cars before winter, and VEIP notices keep arriving from Twinbrook to King Farm. We hear the same question at our shop on North Stonestreet Avenue every week: "Which inspection do I need?"
Maryland has two separate vehicle inspections, with different purposes, locations, and schedules. Here is how each one works and how to prepare.
Two Inspections With Two Different Jobs
The Maryland Safety Inspection checks whether your vehicle is safe to drive. The Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program, known as VEIP, checks pollution levels. A safety inspection does not test emissions, so a used car that just passed one will still need a VEIP test later.
When You Need a Maryland Safety Inspection
Maryland law requires a vehicle to pass a safety inspection before it can be sold, titled, or transferred in the state. Most drivers face it when buying a used car, selling one, or titling a car here after moving to Maryland. It is not a yearly requirement.
A few details are worth knowing:
The seller usually gets it. According to the Maryland State Police, the seller normally obtains the inspection certificate for a used car sale.
It must be done at a licensed station. Maryland has about 1,600 inspection stations licensed by the Maryland State Police, and not every repair shop is one of them. Stations are also licensed for specific vehicle types, so confirm the station can inspect yours.
The certificate lasts 90 days. Once your car passes, the result goes to the MVA electronically, and you have 90 days to title and register the vehicle.
You can check a car before you buy it. The Maryland State Police offer an online lookup where you enter a VIN to see whether a car has a current safety inspection.
Fees vary by shop. Each station sets its own labor rate, and the fee must be posted at the station.
What the inspector looks at
The Maryland State Police list brakes, tires, lights, steering, and suspension among the key items, plus wipers, exhaust leaks or damage, and the interior.
If the car does not pass
You will get a list of what needs fixing. You can repair it yourself, have the inspection station do it, or use another shop. If you return for reinspection within 30 days and drive fewer than 1,000 miles, only the failed items are rechecked. Miss either limit and you pay for a full new inspection.
How VEIP Emissions Testing Works in Montgomery County
Montgomery County is one of the Maryland jurisdictions where registered vehicles must pass VEIP testing. Most vehicles test every two years. A new vehicle (model year 2019 or newer, original owner, first titled in Maryland) gets its first test 72 months after its model year and then every two years.
The MVA emails a notice 8 weeks before your due date if your email is on file. Otherwise, a notice arrives by mail about 6 to 8 weeks before the due date. If you just bought a used car, expect a VEIP notice about four months after you register it.
VEIP tests are done at state testing stations and self service kiosks, not at private repair shops, and no appointment is needed. For most Rockville drivers, the closest full service station is the Rockville Vehicle Emissions Testing Station at 15910 Chieftain Avenue in Derwood. Kiosks are open around the clock and work with most vehicles from model year 2005 or newer.
The test costs $30 at a station or $26 at a kiosk. Kiosks take credit cards only. If you miss your due date, a $30 late fee applies the day after, and again every 28 days until you test.
What causes a VEIP failure
The MVA lists common reasons including onboard diagnostic (OBD) failures, gas cap failures, and removed or altered emission equipment. Inspectors also look for leaking fluids, excessive smoke, dashboard warning lights, and badly worn tires. If your check engine light is on, get it diagnosed before you go.
A Fall Prep Checklist for Both Inspections
These are simple checks you can do in your driveway in East Rockville, Lincoln Park, or anywhere else in town:
- Walk around with the lights on. Check headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and the license plate light before the earlier October sunsets.
- Test your wipers and washer fluid. Streaky wipers are an inspection item and a safety problem in fall rain.
- Look at your tires. The MVA recommends proper tire pressure before an emissions test, and worn tires are an issue for both inspections.
- Tighten the gas cap. The MVA specifically recommends a properly fitting gas cap before testing.
- Top off oil and coolant. The MVA suggests both be at the manufacturer's recommended levels before an emissions test.
One local note: City of Rockville fall leaf vacuuming starts October 12 in some neighborhoods and runs into mid December. The city asks drivers not to park near leaf piles.
If You Fail VEIP, Bring the Paperwork
The MVA asks you to bring your Vehicle Emissions Inspection Certificate and diagnostic report to your mechanic. The technician should record the emissions repairs on the back of that certificate, and you bring it back to any VEIP station for a retest. The first retest is free. If your car still fails after at least $450 in qualifying emissions repairs, you may be eligible for a repair waiver.
How Mid Atlantic Auto Works Can Help
We are a family owned shop that has served Rockville since 1995. If your car needs a Maryland safety inspection, we can arrange it through a licensed inspection partner, and we handle the repairs that come up on the report. If your car failed VEIP, bring us the certificate and diagnostic report and we will find and fix the cause, from check engine lights and oxygen sensors to mufflers and catalytic converters. Most repairs carry our 12,000 mile or 1 year warranty.
If you are buying or selling a car this fall, or your VEIP notice just arrived and the check engine light is on, call us at 240.601.6983 or stop by 422A North Stonestreet Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, near the Rockville Metro station between East Rockville and Lincoln Park. We are open Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
