All gasoline-fueled vehicles are required to go through inspection at least once every
two years to ensure that they are still fit for the road (except new vehicles, which get
a five-year reprieve). That Model T your great-great-grandfather left you in his will
is cool to look at and all, but if it doesn’t pass inspection, you’re not driving it to the
prom.

There are plenty of Official Inspection Stations in New Jersey (HINT: they sport a
sign that says “Official Inspection Station” out front), so to get your car inspected,
just make an appointment. If you pass, you’ll get a fun sticker to put on your car. If
you don’t pass… well, for starters you’ll have to get your car fixed. Then you’ll have
to go through inspection again.

The Inspection Station will check a ton of different things on your car, but here are
some of the major ones:

• Clearly visible Vehicle Identification Number (VIN);
• Undamaged rear view mirrors;
• Horn able to be heard from 200ft away;
• Working windshield wipers;
• Working defroster;
• Working and proper turn signals, headlights, stop lights, rear lights, and
• plate lights;
• Working foot brake and parking brake;
• Undamaged and properly tinted windshield and windows;
• Working and unworn steering and front end parts;
• Working exhaust system, free of holes, leaks, or unnecessarily loud
• noises;
• Proper tire treads;
• Properly attached license plates;
• Undamaged body and chassis parts;
• Working speedometer/odometer;
• Unaltered bumper height;Unaltered fuel inlet;
• Properly installed and unaltered catalytic converter;
• Updated flux capacitor.

Ok, so maybe they aren’t too worried about that last one, but everything else should be in fine working order if you’re hoping to pass inspection.