Car tags and vehicle inspection

**Lady D** · 09-05-2007, 09:16 PM

Here in Memphis we have to run our cars through a vehicle inspection every year before we can get a renewal sticker for our car tag. We pay a $106 a year for a little sticker that has 07, 08 for the year, etc. The residents of Memphis have to have a full vehicle inspection, windshield, lights, turn signals, brakes, brake lights, wipers, emissions, etc. Now the residents of Shelby County only have to take their cars through to test their emissions which I feel is unfair. And this testing for the emissions in their cars just started around a year or two ago. Before that they never had to go through inspection. They can drive around with broken windshields while city residents have their vehicles failed for a cracked windshield, even if it is on the passenger side. I feel this is unfair. We have to replace our windshield first which I am going to have to do on our Honda for a 8 inch crack on the passenger side, nearly $300 down the drain. Wondering what other cities require a vehicle inspection before getting a renewal sticker and what they charge for a sticker. Mississippi is cheap on the sticker if it is a used vehicle but on a brand new one they charge around $400 or $500 or more depending on the vehicle, and just for a sticker. That is what I've heard anyway.

**GIjo** · 09-05-2007, 09:23 PM

I feel your pain!!

I live in California now, and it is outrageous what you have to do here!!!! We have to do "smog" tests.....I guess it is like emissions (which I had to do in New Mexico), but it takes about an hour to get one done and it costs anywhere between 50-75 dollars. Then, it is just stupid how much car tags are here!!!!!! Even with my military afidavit, it is still expensive!!!
Back in OK, I signed a form every year and if you are active duty, you can get your car tags for 21 dollars, no matter the year, type or model. When I lived there, we had to do an "inspection" every year which was 5-10 dollars and they would put a sticker on the inside of your car. Too easy.
In Albuquerque, people would register their cars in a different county to keep from having to get emissions done every year. Oh, if your car doesn't pass smog test or emission, they won't give you a car tag until it does. (more $$ to fix it)

**Lady D** · 09-05-2007, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by GIjo

I feel your pain!!

I live in California now, and it is outrageous what you have to do here!!!! We have to do "smog" tests.....I guess it is like emissions (which I had to do in New Mexico), but it takes about an hour to get one done and it costs anywhere between 50-75 dollars. Then, it is just stupid how much car tags are here!!!!!! Even with my military afidavit, it is still expensive!!!
Back in OK, I signed a form every year and if you are active duty, you can get your car tags for 21 dollars, no matter the year, type or model. When I lived there, we had to do an "inspection" every year which was 5-10 dollars and they would put a sticker on the inside of your car. Too easy.
In Albuquerque, people would register their cars in a different county to keep from having to get emissions done every year. Oh, if your car doesn't pass smog test or emission, they won't give you a car tag until it does. (more $$ to fix it)

It does here also. But sometimes it can be something as simple as changing out the pcv valve on a car and that will fix it. People in the city would register their cars in the county here also to keep from going through. Here really there is a 30 day grace period if your car does fail for emissions. The stupid thing about the entire deal here is that part of that $106 includes a $50 wheel tax. What the heck is a wheel tax for??? We have always had to pay a wheel tax, used to be $25, has been $50 for many years now. Everything about this city is backwards, especially the government, mainly the mayor and his cronies.

**GIjo** · 09-05-2007, 09:50 PM

Well, there you have it, the "WHEEL" Tax........ that's so dumb!!!!

Let's get rid of all of these idiots in charge and write in Miss Kitty for President!!!! (I put this in the politics forum too)

**Lady D** · 09-05-2007, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by GIjo

Well, there you have it, the "WHEEL" Tax........ that's so dumb!!!!

Let's get rid of all of these idiots in charge and write in Miss Kitty for President!!!! (I put this in the politics forum too)

It is dumb! I wish we could get rid of this city mayor here. He is an embarrassment to this city and its residents. He has been mayor 16 years too long. And he constantly berates the city council members, more or less threatens them, and the residents also. I am all for it. And the mayors race is in November here and he is running again, and really, there is no one running that can beat him unfortunately. Many people dislike him and bad mouth him all the time but they continue to vote for him like the ignorant people they are. The only way we will be rid of him is when he is 6 feet under.

**GIjo** · 09-05-2007, 10:15 PM

**Smiling JOe** · 09-06-2007, 12:52 AM

NC requires vehicle inspections, and many years ago, GA also required them.

**Smiling JOe** · 09-06-2007, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by greenroomsurfer

I've had to go through inspections in many states and countries. It would be a great way to find illegal people drugs etc. When they open the U.S. to the Mexican truck company's we had better have them at each state.

The inspections to which ladydebubba refers are not surprise inspections. The vehicle owner decides when to go, within a certain period. In NC, I could go to a gas station which did a little mechanic work for the inspection. In Memphis, there is Gov't entity which seems to be running things, and you never get out of the car. You drive through some 8 lane building, and they check the basic visual inspection including tire treads, signal lights, brake lights, etc, then hook you up to an emissions tester before sending you on your way. NC didn't even check emissions. If they were looking for drugs, one would have to be very stupid to get caught. They are looking for money.

**Miss Kitty** · 09-06-2007, 07:16 AM

Thanks for the reminder LadyD! My inspection was due at the end of August!

**Ocean Lover** · 09-06-2007, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by Miss Kitty

Thanks for the reminder LadyD! My inspection was due at the end of August!

2 years ago I unknowingly went almost a complete year with out of date tags!!!!! It still baffles me that a. I didn't get pulled over and b. that I had no clue.

We don't have an inspection and pay around $55 for tags....I'm sure we pay in other ways tho...

**jessifunn** · 09-06-2007, 08:44 AM

Do they do vehicle inspections in Florida?

**30A Skunkape** · 09-06-2007, 08:45 AM

It is a tax cloaked in what sounds like a good idea. There was a need for vehicle safety inspections 40 years ago, but modern cars are safe and the need for somebody to double check your wipers and brakes is obsolete. I don't know about anyone else, but I head to the mechanic when my brakes don't sound right. In Louisiana they had these 'brakes tags', and the rationale for continuing them was that the proceeds went to purchasing equipment for the State Police. That sounds great, but when you read the state's line by line budget and see the millions of dollars of worthless junk people are already paying for, you inderstand it is simply politricks.

**30A Skunkape** · 09-06-2007, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by jessifunn

Do they do vehicle inspections in Florida?

No. Thank goodness. But I am sure somebody will propose it eventually.

**Biff** · 09-06-2007, 10:40 AM

Interesting points;

going from a + inspection to NO inspection state...; I would like to see inspections come back. Most especially for safety; not necessarily of the deemed "driver/owner; but for ME!!!!!

As a motorcyclist; and FIVE "O", there are too many autos in our state now that just DO NOT belong on the streets;

SKUNKMYSTER

UNLIKE YOU; Most people treat there autos like they do their lawn mower; they drive it until it falls apart; then trade it in on a new one

Hoo Raw.... proven point; if people have to pay to play, they usually play fair......

**Curtis** · 09-06-2007, 11:06 AM

I lived in Virginia for a few years where inspections were mandatory. At first, I didn't like the idea or expense of it. I moved and realized that it really kept cars in first rate condition for road travel. Nothing worse than getting behind a car that is a rolling smoke bomb or could self destruct at any moment. It cost more but it did work. The cost probably wound up being less than the injuries, etc that were caused by vehicles that shouldn't have ever been on the road in the first place. Preventive maintenence so to speak.

**GIjo** · 09-06-2007, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Biff

Interesting points;

going from a + inspection to NO inspection state...; I would like to see inspections come back. Most especially for safety; not necessarily of the deemed "driver/owner; but for ME!!!!!

As a motorcyclist; and FIVE "O", there are too many autos in our state now that just DO NOT belong on the streets;

SKUNKMYSTER

UNLIKE YOU; Most people treat there autos like they do their lawn mower; they drive it until it falls apart; then trade it in on a new one

Hoo Raw.... proven point; if people have to pay to play, they usually play fair......

Good point little bro!!!

**30A Skunkape** · 09-06-2007, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Biff

Interesting points;

going from a + inspection to NO inspection state...; I would like to see inspections come back. Most especially for safety; not necessarily of the deemed "driver/owner; but for ME!!!!!

As a motorcyclist; and FIVE "O", there are too many autos in our state now that just DO NOT belong on the streets;

SKUNKMYSTER UNLIKE YOU; Most people treat there autos like they do their lawn mower; they drive it until it falls apart; then trade it in on a new one
Hoo Raw.... proven point; if people have to pay to play, they usually play fair......

Yep, and then they drive around a heap with an expired sticker or a red one that says they failed the test. And then......?

**Jdarg** · 09-06-2007, 12:58 PM

Louisville used to have mandatory Vehicle Emissions Testing, and I never minded the once a year visit to the V.E.T. It was cheap (like under $20). Of course if your car was found to be in violation, the problem had to be fixed. I didn't have a problem with that part either- if your vehicle is spewing out more than it's fair share of fumes, it should be fixed.

Louisville has stopped the VET test, and as I recall, the biggest reason for discontinuing the program was people saying how inconvenient it was to get their cars tested once a year. Wow. It usually only took 30 minutes start to finish.

**Biff** · 09-06-2007, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by 30A Skunkape

Yep, and then they drive around a heap with an expired sticker or a red one that says they failed the test. And then......?

Originally Posted by GIjo

Good point little bro!!!

**Sheila** · 09-06-2007, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by jdarg

Louisville used to have mandatory Vehicle Emissions Testing, and I never minded the once a year visit to the V.E.T. It was cheap (like under $20). Of course if your car was found to be in violation, the problem had to be fixed. I didn't have a problem with that part either- if your vehicle is spewing out more than it's fair share of fumes, it should be fixed.

Louisville has stopped the VET test, and as I recall, the biggest reason for discontinuing the program was people saying how inconvenient it was to get their cars tested once a year. Wow. It usually only took 30 minutes start to finish.

I got my emission test last week at, " While U Watch".

I made sure I filled in the memo space of the check I wrote. I know what I'd think if I saw this in FBB's checkbook!

**Lady D** · 09-06-2007, 04:41 PM

There are three vehicle inspection stations here. And the best one to go to is on Washington Avenue downtown as for being the least busy. But the White Station one is very close to us right by the interstate but is always busy now, usually out to the street and wrapped around onto the next street, and the Lamar Ave one is busy also now. The first of the month is the busiest time and it used to be the middle of the month was a great time to go. We kept watching the lines last month around the middle of the month and it was backed up all three lanes out to the street for two weeks solid. So the tag on the one car expired because we could not get it through before we went on vacation. But we lucked up yesterday with the Washington Ave. one yesterday, had only 1 or 2 cars in it. We can check them by webcam that refreshes every 60 seconds. They keep incorporating these Shelby County communities into the city of Memphis and then they have to go through also which doubles the number of cars.

**Minnie** · 09-06-2007, 05:00 PM

Inspections here are based on the renewal of your car tags, when they expire you can not purchase a new one until you have gone thru and passed inspection.

At least your cracked windshield is an easy fix. My husband's 89 Chevy truck has failed 4 times and we have had it at 3 different repairs shops and it's at number 4 right now, we me driving and picking him up daily from work.

We have spent close to $1000 getting fixed and it still will not pass emissions and it does not even smoke.

We hope the hot weather recently in August with record highs over 100 for days was the cause and a break in the weather with some rain and cooler temps will help. His tag expired on the 31st and we are on a 30 day probation, even though during that time you can still get a ticket and then you have to go to court to get it dismissed.

I want to move so bad.

**Lady D** · 09-06-2007, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by Minnie

Inspections here are based on the renewal of your car tags, when they expire you can not purchase a new one until you have gone thru and passed inspection.

At least your cracked windshield is an easy fix. My husband's 89 Chevy truck has failed 4 times and we have had it at 3 different repairs shops and it's at number 4 right now, we me driving and picking him up daily from work.

We have spent close to $1000 getting fixed and it still will not pass emissions and it does not even smoke.

We hope the hot weather recently in August with record highs over 100 for days was the cause and a break in the weather with some rain and cooler temps will help. His tag expired on the 31st and we are on a 30 day probation, even though during that time you can still get a ticket and then you have to go to court to get it dismissed.

I want to move so bad.

Minnie, can you tell me what all they replaced on his truck? Sometimes something like the pcv valve can cause an emission problem as can a oxygen sensor. My husband said to ask if they replaced the catalytic convertor. That sometimes plays a big part in emission problems. Things like the air filter can even affect emissions. We want out of Memphis also but cannot afford to move, we would never be able to unload this house. It does make you mad. Our house note went down last month the lowest ever at $708.00 a month, and now all of a sudden I just a notice in the mail from the mortgage company that notified me of the mortgage payment adjustment back in July, now they have raised it back to nearly where it was before it dropped in amount, for all of 1 month we got to enjoy an $18 a month decrease in our mortgage payment. And I am sure it is due to a property tax increase somewhere or a increase in the homeowners insurance premium. Everything sucks here. My husband just got his car through yesterday, the tag on it expired August 31st, and I have to take the one through with the cracked windshield this month as the tags on it are up the end of September.

**seaside2** · 09-07-2007, 08:42 AM

Lady D, Minnie:

Time to get out of Willie World. Are you wondering why so many people live outside the Memphis city limits or in another county or even the M or A states?

This car inspection thing is the tip of the Willie World iceberg. Memphis politics and procedures SUCK.

Taxes are way too high for what you get, the public official corruption makes you want to upchuck, and on and on we go.

Get out while the getting is good!!!

Rant over, soap box back under bed.

**ShallowsNole** · 09-07-2007, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by 30A Skunkape

No. Thank goodness. But I am sure somebody will propose it eventually.

Florida USED to do them. Cross your fingers they don't re-enact it.

**Smiling JOe** · 09-07-2007, 10:05 AM

One pain in the butt thing about all of the different requirements needed to be met in order to drive, is the fact that no two are done at the same time and place. I still don't know why we cannot get our driver's license at the same place we get our car tags (and vehicle inspections). I hear that Okaloosa County is one of two counties in FL which will actually make this possible, but why the hell did it take this long, and why isn't Walton Co riding the same bus?

**Biff** · 09-07-2007, 10:43 AM

OUR state; on that same note S.J.- JUST imposed the objective to take the driving test in Spanish 6 yrs ago; prior to that; if (and I am not intending on getting into the immigration issue or sanction(ed) cities, but.....

) one were to attempt to take our test and did not speaka da engla~, they would just trot up to Kansas; and Whalla; instant DL...(there were at that time no other options) ...imagine that...???

of course i am sure 911 had some objective in the new implementation/polices for D.L. and such is that...... nation wide....

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

One pain in the butt thing about all of the different requirements needed to be met in order to drive, is the fact that no two are done at the same time and place. I still don't know why we cannot get our driver's license at the same place we get our car tags (and vehicle inspections). I hear that Okaloosa County is one of two counties in FL which will actually make this possible, but why the hell did it take this long, and why isn't Walton Co riding the same bus?