State Inspections - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

State Inspections

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

South Dakota does not have vehicle inspections. You should be able to find out about Texas by checking with your inspection station, but the way I understand it, you don't have to get another inspection in TX, unless you go back into the state.

I'm sure someone who is registered in TX will be able to help more.

Jim

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

What I have read, and this is NOT legal advice, is that state vehicle inspections are only enforceable by the state that requires them. What that means to me is, that when I am traveling outside the state of Tx and get pulled over they can't issue a ticket for an outdated Tx inspection sticker. But when we do drive through Tx I get the vehicles inspected ASAP.

Colorado_Kid · RV-Dreams Family Member

When I bought my RV in Colorado I did not need to have a state inspection but I did need to have an emmisions test.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

NorCal Dan wrote:
What I have read, and this is NOT legal advice, is that state vehicle inspections are only enforceable by the state that requires them. What that means to me is, that when I am traveling outside the state of Tx and get pulled over they can't issue a ticket for an outdated Tx inspection sticker. But when we do drive through Tx I get the vehicles inspected ASAP.
Be careful about this one, there is another gotcha. North Carolina, as an example, will not issue you a new license tag until the inspection is completed. The window for the inspection opens 90 days before the tag expires. In this case you can’t just have the inspection done in any state, there are specific requirements. (It’s complicated.)
Even if you aren’t a FT’er, this can catch you if you travel for long periods at the “wrong” time of year. It almost did us when we went to Alaska this year. And oh yes, you can’t move the inspection date without re-registering the vehicle, which means more money - a lot more.
I offer this just to suggest you check and make sure the state of residence you pick doesn’t have, or isn’t about to enact, some new regulation that spoils your plans.
Safe travels
Bill

Mallo · RV-Dreams Family Member

State Inspections are one of the reasons we went with My Dakota Address in South Dakota instead of going with Escapees in Texas. Just easier on the vhehicles.

That said Texas is pretty central and not that hard to scrape one of the state line towns to get an inspection if you go that route. That had been our plan before we found all the other things we were going to need to do for me to setup residencey in Texas.

Mallo

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm unfamiliar with state vehicle inspection being from California which does not require one other than a smog inspection every other year. My question: If I am traveling through lets Texas and spending several weeks camping with California license am I required to get a state inspection? Is there a cost for the inspection? Do most states require it? How often is it required?

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trabuco wrote:

I'm unfamiliar with state vehicle inspection being from California which does not require one other than a smog inspection every other year. My question: If I am traveling through lets Texas and spending several weeks camping with California license am I required to get a state inspection? Is there a cost for the inspection? Do most states require it? How often is it required?

If your vehicle is licensed in say California, you can camp as long as you like in Texas without a Texas vehicle inspection. The state inspection is only required if you are licensing your vehicle in said state.

Here in Texas the initial NEW vehicle inspection is good for 2 years. It's an annual thing after that. Through a series of belated inspections (getting my annual inspection the beginning of the month after it was due) I've managed to move my vehicle inspection due date to about 4 months after my registration renewal. That gives me a workable window to get my registration renewed without worrying about the inspection.

Since we will need to get back to Texas at least a couple of times a year for doctors appointments we're not worried about being able to get the inspection done as needed.

Btw, you can renew your Texas vehicle registration online. I'm not even sure they ask about the inspection.

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Carol and Johnny, I have a better understanding now.

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

New York requires state inspection, as someone else said, if I am in NY, I will update my inspection, while out of NY, I will not, G

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ckerr wrote:
Btw, you can renew your Texas vehicle registration online. I'm not even sure they ask about the inspection.

Proof of liability or proof of financal responsibility (large escrow deposit with state) and the required fees will get registration done. Then, have an inspection.

jb · RV-Dreams Family Member

We will use Texas as our state of residence. If you are out of state when your inspection expires, you are required to get a new inspection within 3 days after returning to Texas.

Elaine NB · RV-Dreams Family Member

Being Canadians we are required by law to have all motor vehicles inspected and licensed yearly..this includes all fivers, travel trailers, boats, even utility trailers..the only one not required to be inspected (but still must be plated and licensed) is an ATV...firstly not sure I would ever NOT inspect...for the sake of 30.00 it could be a life saver...secondly I like to go down the road knowing all is well from stem to stern...jmo

Elaine

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Having had my coach inspected in Tx...I would recommend doing your own pre-drive inspection. All they did was check my lights, horn, windshield wipers, tires, and brakes.

sirwinston21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am registered in Texas and I just bought a new trailer in Ohio. I called the Polk county tax office and they sent me a packet with all the info I needed to get my Texas registration and plate. Included in the packet was the note that I would need to have the trailer inspected "if" I ever brought it to Texas. The trailer I traded in on the new one had a Texas inspection in May of 08 and not since.

Elaine NB · RV-Dreams Family Member

NorCal Dan wrote:

Having had my coach inspected in Tx...I would recommend doing your own pre-drive inspection. All they did was check my lights, horn, windshield wipers, tires, and brakes.

Wow Dan...here they literally almost take you apart from stem to stern...pull the wheels off etc....its quite the process...they took one of our mh wheels of last year and found a problem that we most likely wouldn't have found even tho DH is very handy around the coach....We also do all pre drive inspections...I say we when I should say "he'..lol checking tire pressure etc....

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm impressed. Had mine done in Amarillo at an RV center. My pre-drive inspection takes twice as long as they spent doing my inspection. My rig was only a few months old and had less than 8,000 miles on the odometer, but still...