As you may know already, every year your vehicle must pass an annual inspection to renew your vehicle registration. However, what many don’t know is what all is covered in the inspection. In order to pass the inspection, your vehicle will be inspected from the inside, outside, and under the hood. To save you time and money, we recommend that you do a brief self-assessment of your vehicle before taking your vehicle in for inspection.
Below we’ve listed some of the common ways vehicles fail the Texas State Vehicle Inspection.
Check Engine Light
A fairly common cause of a vehicle failing it’s inspection is the check engine light being on. The light can be on for many reasons, so it’s best to take your vehicle into be diagnosed and serviced before taking it in to be inspected.
Horn
This can be easily overlooked since the car horn is not something that is used frequently. The inspector will check to ensure that the activating device and wiring are in proper working order.
Steering
The steering will be inspected to make sure it has the proper give. If there’s any interference to full range of motion, the vehicle may fail the vehicle inspection.
Mirrors
All mirrors, inside and outside, will be inspected for cracks, proper mounts, and obstruction of view. Be sure to check all mirrors, inside and out, before bringing your vehicle in for its inspection.
Windshield Wipers
Similar to the horn, this can be easily overlooked, especially if it has not rained in quite some time. Inspectors will check to make sure the wiper system is working and to ensure there is no damage to the actual wipers.
Brakes System (Including the parking brake)
The inspector will check the brake system to make sure no part of the system is worn or stretched thin. In addition, will check for leakage, worn hoses, and make sure the stopping power of the system is proper. The parking brake will also be checked to ensure it is in proper working condition. Parking brakes should remain on when applied and fully released when it is unengaged.
Lights
When it comes to lights, each vehicle should have two red stop lights, a license plate lamp, two headlights, and two red reflectors. Therefore, all lights and indicators should be fully operational, not obstructed, and not damaged or burnt out.
Tires
If tires are worn or damaged, they will cause your vehicle to fail the inspection. Tires, in general, should be checked often as a safety precaution to prevent any unnecessary safety risks.
Other vehicle components the vehicle inspector will test for are:
- Seat Belts
- Wheel Assembly
- Exhaust System
- Exhaust Emission System
- Beam Indicator
- Turn Signals
- Vehicle Identification Number
- Gas Caps
- Window Tint
If you’re concerned about any of the components listed above, please contact us online or give us a call. We’re happy to be of assistance. Colony One Auto Service is also a certified Texas State Vehicle Inspection shop, so not only can we repair your vehicle, we can inspect your vehicle too.
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