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Here in Oregon (Portland area) if it is an OBD II car they just plug into the data port and scan the pcm. OBD I systems, they do the tail pipe sniffer. $21 only if you pass and it is done by the state. Required every 2 years along with registration renewal.

I forgot to mention this before, but in NJ I'm pretty sure here it's actually if you go to an official NJ state inspection center but they wont fix anything and you'll fail and have to come back. If you go to a certified inspection shop (any auto repair shop that has been certified by the state and paid $63,000 for the equipment) they'll charge you around $75 (or whatever the shop feels like charging) and they can fix the issue and pass you if possible.

Water 97SSEi wrote:Check engine light on and you fail. Light bulb out, you fail.

And your point is???!!!

Yeah, I agree it's a minor pain in the a$$. But it's NOTHING like the Bad Old Days in NJ. If you're from North Jersey (like I am) I am sure you have visited the Lodi inspection station at least one time in your life. Do you know why they have 3 lanes that stretch about 1/2 mile from the entrance to the start of the inspection station itself? Because that's how long the lines were before they changed the way NJ use to test their cars. You could wait more than 4 hours in line before one of those inspectors would check your credentials. I usually take my car there a few minutes past 7am, when they open, and I'm in and out of there in about 15 minutes. They don't even check half the stuff they use to. Do you know NJ Inspectors use to check the headlamps to make SURE they were DOT approved AND they would check the alignment of your headlights???!!!! Just how many cars today do you think would pass on that one item alone? The rest is just common sense. Before you go, check ALL of your lights to make sure they light and/or blink. If your check engine light is ON, I don't understand the logic that if the car still runs, why do I need to get it fixed? They check your horn, they check your windshield glass and wipers, they check your tire tread, brake operation, shock absorbers, and gas cap (boy are they tough). AND all this is included in the price of your annual car registration (unless you choose to go to that Certified Inspection Shop that charges you an additional $75 for that private appointment).

NY has their program run through private shops. They don't have any official testing stations that I know about. Then again I've lived all my life in western NY (except for the past 1.5 years in SC), far away from the city. I can't think of the last time they checked headlights beyond making sure the bulbs weren't burned out.

The CEL's are emissions-related, so I can see failing a car that may be polluting more than other cars.

The rest is safety stuff that is necessary to survive winter in the Northeast. One good snowstorm at night and you're glad to know everything's working...