Auto Repair in Philadelphia, PA: Getting Your Vehicle Ready for State Inspections

Roughly 15 states currently require annual or biennial vehicle inspections. Pennsylvania is one of them. Inspections are designed to ensure vehicles are safe for their drivers and passengers, other people on the roads, and the environment. For people in states that require inspections, ensuring they’re ready for those annual once-overs is crucial.

Of course, knowing the time for an inspection is approaching can also be nerve-wracking. After all, if your vehicle fails, you’ll only have around 30 days to resolve the situation. At the same time, you’ll end up paying for not only the initial inspection but also the retest. Fortunately, a shop that offers maintenance and auto repair in Philadelphia, PA can help you avoid the hassles and added expenses of failing an inspection. They cover several points to ensure your vehicle is ready to be scrutinized.

Brakes

One of the most important systems of a vehicle, and the most closely checked during inspections, is the brakes. Maintenance and repair technicians check your brake pads, rotors, brake lines, and other system components to ensure they’re in optimal condition. If they’re not, they can repair them to keep your family safe and guarantee they’ll pass the next inspection.

Lights

Lights are also tested during vehicle inspections. Unfortunately, we don’t always know right away if our headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals aren’t working properly, do we? Your mechanic will check them to be sure and repair them if necessary. 

Tires and Wheels

Inspectors look at tires to ensure they have safe amounts of tread on them and aren’t damaged. They may check for wheel alignment as well to be sure vehicles don’t pull to one side. A mechanic covers those points during routine maintenance and can align your wheels and replace your tires if needed. 

Steering and Suspension

Steering and suspension are essential for keeping vehicles driving smoothly and safely. Inspectors take care to check for loose components and other issues with these systems. If you notice that your vehicle has an odd vibration, is riding rough, or doesn’t feel very stable when you’re going around curves, a repair technician can diagnose and resolve the problem. 

Seat Belts and Airbags

Additionally, inspectors check vehicles’ seat belts, airbags, and other safety features. If they’re not working properly or they’ve been altered, your vehicle will likely fail. Your mechanic can repair or replace them to ensure they’re in working order. If you or a previous owner tampered with your vehicle’s airbags, you can have that issue resolved before an inspection as well. 

Emissions

Another point inspectors check is emissions. They want to be sure your vehicle isn’t giving off more pollutants than it should. Repair technicians can take the necessary measures to get a vehicle’s emissions under control before they cause it to fail an inspection. 

Being Sure Your Vehicle Passes Inspections

Those are only a few of the points that are checked during vehicle inspections. Problems with any of them can cause a vehicle to fail an inspection and leave you with only a limited amount of time to have repairs made. If you have a trustworthy mechanic on your side, though, they’ll help keep your vehicle in optimal condition so you won’t have to worry about those dreaded rejection stickers.