• North Carolina requires both emissions and mechanical safety inspections for vehicles.luxury car - model toy car image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
  
  The Federal Highway Administration estimates that there are approximately 3.6 million registered automobiles in North Carolina. With such a large number of cars on the road, safety is an important concern. North Carolina has regulations that mandate emissions and mechanical inspections of all registered vehicles operating within the state.
  
  

Emissions

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that vehicles contribute significant amounts of carbon monoxide pollution in the United States. To help combat this problem, North Carolina requires that certain vehicles registered in the state undergo an emissions inspection. Most counties with large cities require this inspection, while several rural counties do not. This inspection can be performed by any authorized inspection facility in the state.
  
  During the emissions inspection, the on-board diagnostic (OBD) system of the vehicle is accessed. This system is standard on most vehicles since the mid-1990s, and allows inspectors to check the efficiency of a gasoline engine. If the results of an OBD emissions test are not within normal parameters, the vehicle must be repaired before it can be operated in the state.
  
  

Safety

• North Carolina mandates that all vehicles, regardless of county, must complete a mechanical safety check before they can be registered or re-registered. Most modern vehicles are subject to this requirement. Classic vehicles, defined as being more than 35 years old, are not subject to this inspection.
  
  During the mechanical safety check, a certified facility such as a dealership or repair garage will inspect the mechanical systems of the vehicle, including the steering, signals, headlights, windshield and seat belts. If any of these system areas is damaged or broken, the vehicle must be repaired before it is allowed to operate on North Carolina roads.
  
  

Certification

• Once a vehicle has passed both the emissions safety and mechanical safety inspections, it is certified for the duration of its license plate registration period. In the past, windshield stickers were used to signify this certification. Beginning in November 2008, however, electronic certification methods have been used and no sticker is required.
  
  Each vehicle that passes inspection is recorded in a computerized database. Police and other state agencies can access this database to check the status of a vehicle's certification. If a vehicle is found to be operating without certification, citations may be issued.
  
  

Fees

• The state has set a fee structure for both emissions and mechanical inspections, but actual costs can vary depending on the location of the vehicle. This is because individual inspection stations, which are privately-owned businesses, are able to set their own prices within an allowed range.
  
  For the emissions inspection, the state fee is set at $6.25. Inspection stations are permitted to charge between zero to $23.75 additionally. Several rural counties do not require this emissions inspection, and no fee applies in these counties. This decision is made on a county level and can vary. The current status can be found by contacting a motor vehicle department office in the appropriate county.
  
  Regardless of location, a fee applies to all vehicles for the mechanical safety portion of the inspection. The base state fee is $13.60, with additional inspection and station labor fees bringing the total out-of-pocket expense to $27.20. If a vehicle has after-market window tinting, an additional charge of $10.00 is also added. The state accepts payment in the form of cash, money orders or checks.