Do not let the inspection land in harvest
For a household that farms, or works around farming, the calendar has a few weeks a year when nothing else gets done. A vehicle inspection that comes due in the middle of those weeks tends to get pushed until it becomes urgent, and an urgent inspection is the one most likely to turn up a repair at an awkward moment.
The fix is simply to plan for it. Look at when each vehicle's inspection is due, and if it falls in a busy season, book it in a quiet month beforehand where the state's rules allow. Ask the store or check with the state about how early an inspection can be done for your vehicle.
The same thinking applies to a farm pickup that only gets driven on the road part of the year. It is easy to forget until the day it is needed.
Preparing the vehicle
Requirements are set by the state and change from time to time, so confirm the current requirement for your vehicle when you book. What you can do beforehand is check the items that cause many avoidable failures:
- Every light, including brake lights and the plate light.
- Wiper blades and washer fluid.
- Tires, for tread and visible damage.
- Any warning light showing on the dash.
Fixing those in the driveway takes minutes. Finding them on inspection day costs a second visit.
If something needs work
This store also does brake repair, suspension repair, tires and the rest of the car and light truck list, so a correction can usually happen in the same place. Ask what it will cost before work starts. Pairing the inspection with scheduled maintenance on the same morning saves a trip.
The national state inspections page covers what to expect on the day.
About this store
The Jackson store runs seventeen services and is managed by Mike Rhymer.
See the national state inspections page for all 10 locations.