Effective August 1st, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) implemented two significant changes to the state’s Enhanced Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Program.  The purpose of this letter is to explain the rationale for these changes, which will result in a total savings of approximately $17 million in fiscal year (FY) 2011, and how such changes will be implemented.  This letter also reflects our commitment to keep you apprised of any major MVC initiatives that affect you and your constituents.

First, in eliminating the mechanical portion of the biennial inspection that is required of all passenger automobiles New Jersey will be joining 29 other states (including the District of Columbia).  Currently, all passenger vehicles must undergo an inspection every two years that tests for both emissions levels and mechanical defects.  Under a new state law, the inspection process will entail only an emissions test.  Additionally, inspections will be eliminated entirely for motorcycles and certain diesel-powered vehicles (which are already exempt from emissions testing).  Mechanical inspections will continue to be required for various commercial vehicles such as taxicabs, limousines, jitneys, and school buses.

Please note that any vehicle which failed an inspection for mechanical defects prior to August 1 will still need to get the required repairs and return for a re-inspection in order to obtain a valid inspection sticker.

The decision to eliminate mechanical inspections comes after careful review of other states’ programs and various academic studies conducted by educational institutions as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Our research indicates that motor vehicle crashes are overwhelmingly related to driver error and/or poor road conditions, rather than the result of any mechanical defect.  Also, data obtained by the MVC illustrates no significant difference in fatality rates when comparing states that check for mechanical defects versus those that do not.