Auto inspection
Having some fiddly car work to do, I recently glanced at my inspection sticker to see that it was good for another few months at least.
Some jurisdictions require periodic vehicle inspections to determine safety and roadworthiness, and others don’t. In West Virginia, vehicles have to be inspected annually to make certain lights and brakes work, there’s enough tread on the tires, there are no dangerous holes in the body, and the insurance is valid. As I gather from Wikipedia, other states that don’t require statewide inspections may do so at the county or municipal level. Jurisdictions without private vehicle inspections leave it to the police to enforce road safety standards by stopping cars that look unsafe.
At the other extreme, though, is Germany (gasp!), with its technical vehicle inspections required every two years for private passenger vehicles. Back when it had the monopoly on inspections, this was carried out by TÜV. The acronym itself is a trademark; it stands for “Technische Überwachung Verein”—a technical standards monitoring organization akin to the American Underwriter’s Laboratories, but on a larger scale and with branch offices or franchises in most larger towns.
The German car inspection is detailed, but also quite specific, defined by minimum benchmark measurements. For one, the brakes are required to have a minimum measured stopping force and be balanced from side to side. Emergency or hand brakes have to be within a certain balance, too. The vehicle is shaken on a rack to make sure the suspension and steering are in good order. Probes in the tailpipe measure whether the vehicle’s engine and exhaust systems are functioning correctly when the accelerator is held wide open. And the headlights are tested not only for functioning, but also for accurate aim and beam strength. I’ve seen people trying to keep old used cars on the road frequently sweating their inspection date beforehand.
Inspections aren’t free, of course. Here they’re under twenty dollars, with prices set by the state (our friends, the West Virginia State Police). In Germany inspections cost around 150 dollars for a passenger car, but the price goes up based on the curb weight of the vehicle. West Virginia drivers would stage an insurrection at that price point, no doubt.
At any rate, to get an idea of what’s involved, here’s a video of an American trying to get an older-model Chrysler minivan through the German inspection.
NC has a tax on food but it is about 2/5 of the regular state sales tax (less if you count the state plus the extra counties add on)
That's always one of those things that sounds so good but doesn't quite live up to expectations. Maybe because I've never had the good stuff.....