Minnesota State Inspection

Many states require you to have a mechanic inspect your vehicle for safety and emissions. Safety inspections ensure cars are running properly, and emissions inspections ensure vehicles aren't polluting the air. It's important to understand what these inspections cover, which vehicles are required to have them, and who can perform them. 

If your state requires an inspection, you typically need to do this annually. In Minnesota, only certain vehicles need to pass safety and emissions inspections. This article delves into inspection requirements to help you understand your responsibilities.

What Is a Safety Inspection?

A safety inspection will include a comprehensive review of your vehicle. At a minimum, you can expect it to include checks on the key components of your vehicle.

Brake Inspection

A certified mechanic will inspect your entire brake system to ensure it's operating properly. This will include checking brake lines, rotors, discs, drums, pads, master cylinder, calipers, and brake lines. 

Tires and Wheels

Your inspector will check your tires for adequate tread and pressure. In addition, they'll check your wheels for damage that might lead to a flat tire or other mechanical failure.

Lighting Systems

A thorough inspection of your vehicle's exterior lighting system will encompass the headlights, taillights, daytime running lights, fog lamps, turn signals, and reverse lights. The inspector will make sure the bulbs light up when activated.

Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers play a critical role in vehicle safety. Your inspector will ensure the system works and the blades effectively clear water from your windshield.

Seat Belts

A qualified mechanic will inspect your seat belts to make sure they latch correctly. They'll also check for frayed or partially torn belts that could fail in an accident.

Steering and Suspension Systems

Your car's steering and suspension systems help you maintain control in various road and weather conditions. Your inspector will ensure these systems respond as designed and operate normally.

Side and Rearview Mirrors

Broken or missing mirrors affect your ability to see around your vehicle. An inspection will reveal whether any mirrors need replacing.

Horn

Every car should have an operational horn. You use your horn to alert other drivers and pedestrians of your presence and intent.

After your inspection, the mechanic will provide you with a list of what works and what needs replacing. You'll also receive projections regarding wear and tear on parts that might not need immediate replacement.

Vehicles requiring a safety inspection will receive a state-issued sticker that you must display on your windshield. The sticker will have an expiration date that tells police officers your vehicle passed the inspection.

What Is an Emissions Inspection?

An emissions inspection looks at the number of pollutants your car emits when running. This inspection helps keep vehicles that produce high amounts of chemicals off the road and prevents them from harming the environment. These chemicals include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and more.

Government regulations require vehicles to have emission control systems that clean or reduce harmful contaminants from the engine and exhaust systems. The year, make, and model of your vehicle will determine the standards it must meet to pass the inspection.

The emissions inspection will review various parts and systems to check how they perform.

Ignition System

Your inspector will make sure the vehicle starts appropriately and without creating excessive pollutants.

Oxygen Sensor

The oxygen sensor measures the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust. Too much leads to lower performance and increased fuel consumption and releases more contaminants into the air.

Fuel Injector and Fuel Lines

The inspector will look at your fuel lines and injection system to ensure there are no leaks.

Air Injection System and Vacuum Leaks

Modern vehicles have an air injection system with a mass airflow sensor that prevents air from leaking into the engine. If you have a vacuum leak, your engine will underperform as air and contaminants leak.

Valve Defects

Your engine has a series of valves that control the flow of fuel. A defective valve can damage your engine's cylinder and cause your motor to burn excessive amounts of fuel.

Emission Control Systems

Vehicles now have emission control systems that monitor pollutant levels and prevent harmful chemicals from escaping into the atmosphere. They do this by recirculating the unburned pollutants back into the cylinder to burn them. A catalytic converter prevents dangerous chemicals from being released by passing them through a honeycombed chamber coated with palladium or platinum. These metals, when heated, convert hazardous chemicals into less harmful water vapor, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.

Unfortunately, your vehicle won't pass the emissions inspection when these systems fail. You'll need a mechanic to repair or replace the affected parts before you can legally drive your car.

The Importance of Emissions Inspections

The first emissions inspection was implemented by the Clean Air Act in 1977. However, the legislation put the power of inspections into the hands of each state. Minnesota only requires emissions inspections for certain vehicles.

An emissions inspection will reveal if you have leaking fluids, excess chemical emissions, and other hazardous problems that affect you and your community. A vehicle that passes the emissions inspection will run more efficiently and without causing harm to the environment. 

Today, Minnesota only requires certain commercial vehicles to pass an emissions inspection. However, if you want your car to run at its peak for longer, we recommend you have a mechanic inspect your emission control system at least every two years. 

The Importance of Safety Inspections

Similar to emissions inspections, the law in Minnesota means that only certain commercial vehicles need to pass a safety inspection. Still, we recommend a qualified mechanic perform a yearly safety inspection of your car. In addition to early warnings, you might find recalls on your vehicle that you didn't know were in effect.

Many critical components wear down over time and can present safety hazards. This gradual wear depends on many factors, including the weather and your driving style. Therefore, an annual inspection will help you spot potential safety hazards before they cause problems. You owe it to yourself, your family, friends, and other motorists to drive a safe vehicle.

Where Can I Get a Safety or Emissions Inspection?

At Tom Kadlec Kia in Rochester, Minnesota, we can provide a safety or emissions inspection for your car, truck, or SUV. In fact, we perform these inspections on all the pre-owned vehicles we sell before we put them on our lot, so you know your car will run at its peak when you buy it from us. We recommend you schedule an inspection online.