TX RV and trailer owners are in trouble.

I live in Texas and have had two travel trailers. Both had an inspection sticker. When they expired I asked the dealer for another. He said that they don't do inspections and told me to go to a truck stop up the road. So I didn't do anything. Now I guess I will have too.

wborst wrote:

pulsar wrote:
North Carolina has long required inspection of trailers with GWR of 4000 lbs or greater.

Every couple of years, our state legislature introduces a bill to repeal the inspection requirements.

I think vehicle inspection requirement is a good idea. According the AAA, "In states that still have the mandated inspections, as opposed to those that don't, accidents are about 27 percent less,"

In NC, I don't see how one can argue that the inspection requirement is a state money grab. The state get $0.85 for a vehicle inspection; the inspection station receives $12.75. The state's 85¢ is distributed as follows: 55¢ to highway fund, 18¢ to Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund, 12¢ to Rescue Squad Workers' Relief Fund.
There is a different fee structure if an emission test is required but, in NC, motorhomes (and trailers, of course) are exempt from the emission requirement.

Tom

I have lived in North Carolina for over 40 years and never had a trailer inspected. I wouldn't even know where to take a trailer to have it inspected. :hTo my knowledge, there is no state requirement for trailer inspections in NC.

I don't own a trailer, so I don't have firsthand information. (When we started RVing we use a tow dolly for our toad. In those days, tow dollies did not have to be licensed, let alone inspected.

Here is what NC law has to say about inspecting trailers.

Article 3A

§ 20-183.2. Description of vehicles subject to safety or emissions inspection; definitions.
(a) Safety. - A motor vehicle is subject to a safety inspection in accordance with this Part if it meets all of the following requirements:
(1) It is subject to registration with the Division under Article 3 of this Chapter.
(2) It is not subject to inspection under 49 C.F.R. Part 396, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
(3) It is not a trailer whose gross weight is less than 4,000 pounds or a house trailer.

BTW, any Inspection location that can inspected a car would be able to inspect a trailer, if the location has sufficient access for a trailer. Access is also the issue with finding a location that can inspect a motorhome.

Tom

dvitale300 wrote:
......
Where do you go for the inspection? I live in a small town of about 15K people and there's only 2 car dealers here who do them. Do the RV dealers / service centers offer inspections?

Texas inspection station locator

Call them. Trailer inspection is fairly simple, brakes, lights, tires.

And yes, it has been required for many years, just not enforced.

mobilcastle wrote:

pulsar wrote:
...

In NC, I don't see how one can argue that the inspection requirement is a state money grab. The state get $0.85 for a vehicle inspection; the inspection station receives $12.75. The state's 85¢ is distributed as follows: 55¢ to highway fund, 18¢ to Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund, 12¢ to Rescue Squad Workers' Relief Fund.

There is a different fee structure if an emission test is required but, in NC, motorhomes (and trailers, of course) are exempt from the emission requirement.

Tom

Where does the rest of the money go?

$13.60 is the entire fee for a safety inspection in North Carolina, unless an emission test is also required. BTW, the total cost when an emission test is required is $30. Of that the state receives $6.25 distributed as follows:
$0.55 - Highway fund
$3.00 - Inspection program account
$1.75 - Telecommunications Account
$0.18 - Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund
$0.12 - Rescue Squad Workers' Relief Fund
$0.65 - Division of Air Quality

On edit: The cost of renewing a vehicle registration in NC is more complicated. For a car, the fee is $28. For a motor home: $28. For a camping trailer: $11. Private trucks depends on it weight. For example, Under 4000 lbs: $28. Under 5000 lbs: $43.50. Under $6000: $51.60 There is an additional $30 fee for a vanity plate.

Tom

pulsar wrote:
North Carolina has long required inspection of trailers with GWR of 4000 lbs or greater.

Every couple of years, our state legislature introduces a bill to repeal the inspection requirements.

I think vehicle inspection requirement is a good idea. According the AAA, "In states that still have the mandated inspections, as opposed to those that don't, accidents are about 27 percent less,"

In NC, I don't see how one can argue that the inspection requirement is a state money grab. The state get $0.85 for a vehicle inspection; the inspection station receives $12.75. The state's 85¢ is distributed as follows: 55¢ to highway fund, 18¢ to Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund, 12¢ to Rescue Squad Workers' Relief Fund.
There is a different fee structure if an emission test is required but, in NC, motorhomes (and trailers, of course) are exempt from the emission requirement.

Tom

I have lived in North Carolina for over 40 years and never had a trailer inspected. I wouldn't even know where to take a trailer to have it inspected. :hTo my knowledge, there is no state requirement for trailer inspections in NC.

dvitale300 wrote:

4huskers wrote:
The inspection law has been on the book in Texas for years. The new law makes it more enforceable and eliminates the need for inspection sticker. Since I follow the law it's not a problem for me. Hopefully it will get some unsafe vehicles off the road and at least put a dent in the underground market for bogus stickers and other documents.

Where do you go for the inspection? I live in a small town of about 15K people and there's only 2 car dealers here who do them. Do the RV dealers / service centers offer inspections?

Thanks

Got mine inspected at a small shop that deals in auto inspections. They had me park along the curb in front and just checked the tires and lights. Have a friend who got his inspected at a RV sales and parts place. They actually used his truck to pull it around a short distance.
I did get a letter from DMV that I would not be able to renew my plates until I got my trailer inspected.

I live in Waco, TX. We have always had to inspect our Trailers for 4500 lbs and over as this includes car haulers, and some farm trailer. Just last Thursday, I pulled the 5er out getting ready for the spring since weather is finally starting to warm. I went to get our new registration sticker. I had always gotten an inspection after registration. This time I had to get it inspected, bring the official paper after inspection to the county office and get my regestration. The cost at the inspection station was 7 bucks and the cost at the county was another 7 bucks. There is no inspection sticker on any trailer or vehicle now. It is all in the states database. To me its no big deal as I always had it inspected. Folks the cost is still the same, just regulated properly. Before, only 5 percent of Trailers were inspected. Maybe, just maybe, this will catch some of the things that RVers do not catch, like a bad light bulb or a bad tire. Yes it adds a bit of funds to the states system. 14 bucks, spend more than that on soft drinks in a year! Any inspection station that has a large enough area, can inspect any trailer, so don't fret over who can inspect.

for one time I can say California wins. and build a street rod or offroad vehicle from a registered vehicle NO PROBLEM. I am still stunned done them both.

New York (The land of taxes) has required inspection for as long as I can remember.

4huskers wrote:
The inspection law has been on the book in Texas for years. The new law makes it more enforceable and eliminates the need for inspection sticker. Since I follow the law it's not a problem for me. Hopefully it will get some unsafe vehicles off the road and at least put a dent in the underground market for bogus stickers and other documents.

Where do you go for the inspection? I live in a small town of about 15K people and there's only 2 car dealers here who do them. Do the RV dealers / service centers offer inspections?

Thanks