All vehicles are required to go through inspection at least once a year, during the month of the owner’s birth. (Certain large trucks and buses are required to go through inspection twice a year, but you probably aren’t driving one of those.)

There are over 2,500 Official Inspection Stations in New Hampshire (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.

Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles also need to go through inspection, within 10 days of registration, and annually by July 1st.

All registered trailers with a gross vehicle weight of 3,001 pounds or more must go through inspection within 10 days of registration, and annually during the month of registration renewal.