Utah State Inspection — What to Know

How You Should Prepare

As many state residents know, Utah officially removed the requirement of a safety inspection in order to obtain your registration earlier this year in January 2018. Although drivers will still need to meet safety standards, many drivers are now free to file for vehicle registration without taking the test. With that being said, there are still special vehicles that must take the exam. Here is a list of those vehicles:

• Commerical

• Street-Legal ATVs

• School Buses

• Buses/Vans for Hire

• Ground Transportation

• Vehicles w/ 3+ Axles

• Salvaged Vehicles where owners request a rebuild title

Along with that, you may need to take the Smog & Emissions test if you fall within these counties:

• Davis

• Salt Lake

• Utah

• Weber

• Cache

Does your vehicle fall within that criteria? If so, don’t worry. The safety inspection and emissions test are a lot easier to pass if you understand how to prepare. Here are a few tips to ensure you pass!

Get Rid of the Engine Light

When going through a car inspection, many stations will utilize an OBD II tool to inspect your vehicle. This tool can read the codes that the sensors in your vehicle send to the computer system. By reading these codes, the inspectors will easily determine if something is wrong with your vehicle, even if the check engine light is on. The best way to properly get rid of the light is to visit our shop and have one of our technicians handle the problems. Utilizing that same tool, our technicians can quickly determine what needs servicing and fix the issue so you increase your chances of passing the test.

Check the Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter plays a huge part in whether or not you pass the smog and emissions test. This component is responsible for converting the harmful gases that are created by your vehicle into safe ones. Without it, gases such as carbon monoxide will be released into our atmosphere and harm the environment. If you notice you have a bad or broken catalytic converter, make sure you take care of it before having your vehicle inspected. If not, you’ll find yourself failing the test and having to request a retest.

For more information on the Utah State Inspection and its new requirements, please visit the DMV’s Utah Smog Check and Car Inspection page.