A motor vehicle must pass an annual safety inspection before it can be registered in North Carolina or the registration can be renewed. The inspection must be completed within 90 days of renewing the vehicle registration.
Motor vehicles registered in
19 North Carolina counties must also pass an emissions inspection, which is conducted at the same time as the safety inspection.
Failure to get a vehicle inspected by the due date will result in a vehicle's registration being blocked until the vehicle is inspected.
Fees
Out-of-state exemptions
To receive an out-of-state exemption, you will need to submit a vehicle maintenance receipt such as an oil change, tire rotation performed or other maintenance on the vehicle.
The service invoice must include the name, phone number and address of the Out-of-state company who performed the service. The service invoice must also include vehicle information with plate or vin and vehicle year, make, model along with a recent date of service or an out-of-state inspection (showing vehicle information mentioned previously).
Documents sent must be dated within the past three months when received.
To request an exemption, go to the Investigative Services Unit Portal and select "Request a Service."
Go to portal
Frequently asked questions
Below are common questions about North Carolina inspections. For answers to questions not addressed on this page, please contact the N.C. State Highway Patrol Investigative Services Unit.
When your vehicle is inspected, a record of your vehicle’s inspection is entered electronically into the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles' vehicle registration database within two hours, which is used by license tag agencies and law enforcement personnel.
Your next inspection will be due the same month your vehicle registration renewal is due and must be obtained no more than 90 days before your plate expires.
A new vehicle must be inspected before it is sold at retail in North Carolina. Upon purchase, you will be provided a receipt certifying inspection compliance. The inspection conducted prior to your purchase is valid until the license plate is due for renewal.
A used vehicle must be inspected before it is offered for sale at retail in this state. Upon purchase, you will be provided a receipt certifying compliance. The inspection conducted prior to your purchase is valid until the license plate is due for renewal.
A used vehicle acquired from a private sale in this state must be inspected before it is registered unless it has received a passing inspection within the previous 12 months.
An unregistered vehicle must be inspected before the vehicle can be registered.
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles may issue a 10-day temporary license plate that authorizes an individual to drive their vehicle for inspection and registration. You should contact
an NCDMV license plate agency for the plate.
To receive an out-of-state exemption, you will need to submit a vehicle maintenance receipt such as an oil change, tire rotation performed or other maintenance on the vehicle.
The service invoice must include the name, phone number and address of the company who performed the service. The service invoice must also include vehicle information with plate or VIN and vehicle year, make, model along with a recent date of service or an out-of-state inspection, showing vehicle information mentioned previously.
Documents sent must be dated within the past three (3) months when received.
To request an inspection exemption, go to the State Highway Patrol Investigative Services Unit Portal and select "Request a Service."
No. You will not have to get your vehicle inspected until its current registration expires.
You will be allowed to register the vehicle without an inspection. When your next annual registration renewal is due, you must have the vehicle inspected to renew your registration.
A vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 pounds requires only a safety inspection.
Permanent-plated vehicles must be inspected every year, but their inspections are not synchronized with registration renewal. The date of the inspection will not affect the vehicle’s registration, if the inspection occurs on a yearly basis.
Window tinting
As of December 1, 2025, window-tint checks are no longer required as part of North Carolina safety inspections. The additional $10 window-tint inspection fee has also been eliminated (S.L. 2025-47).
Under the same law, during a traffic stop, drivers of vehicles equipped with window tinting must roll down the window on the side that the law-enforcement officer approaches.
Vehicles with after-factory window tinting must still comply with the requirements set by G.S. 20-127. Tinted windows may not measure darker than 32 percent when tested with a North Carolina-approved window-tint meter. The tint on the windshield may not extend more than 5 inches below the top of the windshield or below the AS1 line, whichever is longer.