August 31, 2010

How State Inspections Affect Auto Insurance Quotes

Most states in the US require annual safety inspections of vehicles. The state inspections are generally performed by a certified agency as required by the local or state governments. In most states, the state inspections are usually performed at state operated garages. During the state inspection, the vehicle is thoroughly tested to ensure that the vehicle meets certain safety standards and that it is safe for the environment. Features such as headlights, brakes, brake lights, seat belts and horns are checked during a vehicle inspection. If any of the safety requirements are not met, the inspection will be marked as a failure and the vehicle's owner will have to get the car inspected again at a later period. This can also affect the auto insurance quotes.

While state inspection is mandatory in some states, that is not the case with all the states. The state inspection could be annual or bi-annual. Each state has the right to decide whether or not they should enforce state inspection and if so, how often it should be done. The state can also decide what kind of tests and inspections need to be performed during an inspection.

In most states, it is mandatory to have auto insurance for your vehicle to clear the state inspection. If there is no auto insurance, your vehicle will not pass the inspection.

If your vehicle is involved in an accident, the damage has to be fixed to an acceptable condition before a state inspection. Failure to do so could mean that the vehicle will not pass the inspection.

State inspection can affect auto insurance quotes. If a vehicle fails a state inspection, it means that the vehicle has not met certain safety requirements. Insurance companies will take these aspects into account when providing a quote and in most cases the quote will be on the higher. Most insurance companies require that a vehicle's brakes, windshield wipers, mirrors, horns, seat belts, tires and signals are in order. If any of these are damaged or not in working condition, it can affect the insurance quote.

In some states the state inspection can also include emission tests. If the emissions are found to be too dangerous for the environment, your will vehicle will fail the state inspection. If you suspect a problem with the emissions, it is a good idea to get it rectified before a state inspection.

For your vehicle to pass a state inspection, you must ensure that the vehicle meets specific safety requirements. It must be safe for the road and for the environment. If the safety requirements are not met, the vehicle can not only fail the state inspection, it will also affect auto insurance quotes.