I swear, I am going to schedule a meeting with my representative over this...

As many of you know, your car license plate renewal is tied to your car inspection. That means that you can't even pay for your license renewal unless your car has SUCCESSFULLY PASSED inspection.

My car inspection was due at the end of August with the tags set to expire on Sept 15. About 2 weeks before the inspection, the check engine light came on. I knew it would not pass inspection, but I also knew I could go in an get an extension. I went it to get it inspected, it failed, and I got my 60 day inspection correction slip.

I called the State DOT, and asked them if my renewal was extended with the inspection (in other words, am I going to get a ticket if I get pulled for not having the tags up to date). I was told that the renewal is NOT extended with the inspection, and I can be written a ticket.

So, basically, even though I am technically in a legal state with the inspection (I have 60 days to be compliant), I am not in compliance with the car registration renewal, even though I want to get that paid.

I am leaving out all the details that the problem with the check engine light is NOT an easy fix, and requires an iterative approach, trying one thing at a time, resetting the check engine, driving it for a few days to see if it throws a code again. I am already through round 1 of this, and my mechanic has my car for round 2 (of course, now my car isnt legal to be on the road since the license tags are out of compliance).

Idiot legislators.

[Edited on September 16, 2010 at 4:01 PM. Reason : .]

9/16/2010 3:57:09 PM

Quote :

"My check engine light is on and my annual emissions inspection is due. Should I get my vehicle repaired before bringing it in for an emissions inspection? If your emission inspection is due soon, have the vehicle inspected first. The vehicle will fail due to the MIL light being commanded on, but you will receive the Vehicle Inspection Receipt/Statement (VIRS), which will document the cause of the failure. You can then provide this information to your repair technician (repairs must be made within 30 days of the initial failure to receive a free re-inspection). If the vehicle then returns for re-inspection and fails a second time, you may be eligible for one-year waiver from DMV. See the question dealing with waivers qualifications below."

http://daq.state.nc.us/motor/inspect/emission_faq.shtml

9/16/2010 4:04:27 PM

It is nice to know I 'could' get a waiver, but still doesnt explain why the tag renewal and inspection extension dont go hand in hand.

The first go round, I spent about $100. This go round, will be over $200, but I wouldnt have passed the threshhold until after the 15th of September.

9/16/2010 4:09:22 PM

you expect legislators to pass laws that make sense?

9/16/2010 7:42:50 PM

what is the check engine light on for? what are the stored codes?

9/16/2010 9:25:07 PM

You're not going to the correct inspection station.

9/16/2010 11:00:26 PM

I think my thread on retarded inspections beats yours....it has to do with an inherited station wagon, legal registration card. and a dickhead trooper

9/16/2010 11:27:10 PM

While it's a pain, that's just bad luck. But who cares, if you get pulled over for an expired registration the worst thing that happens is you have to leave work in the middle of one day to go to court and when there show your new registration to the assistant DA and get it dismissed on the spot.

All it will cost you is time.

9/17/2010 12:15:06 AM

If its going to be an $$ fix, maybe its time to finally retire the Z?

[Edited on September 17, 2010 at 6:47 AM. Reason : ]

9/17/2010 6:47:17 AM

Nah, its a source of pride, now. I really want to get this car to 300k miles. I am over 250k now. I need a new top, but I know as soon as I put it on, the engine will blow...

9/17/2010 9:21:57 AM

It's retarded that the no longer put the sticker on your windshield with the inspection due date on it...

9/17/2010 10:23:43 AM

Just spoke to my mechanic. The screwiest thing is happening. The check engine light was regarding a 'major tank venting' fault. Normally, this is the gas cap. We replaced it. The alarm triggered again. But while doing vacuum testing on the system, he found that it would have a vacuum up until you turned the gas cap ALL the way to the right. If you stopped about 1/8 of a turn before it would hard stop, the system would keep a seal...

What a bunch of shit.

9/17/2010 10:55:35 AM

Quote :

"you expect legislators to pass laws that make sense?"

Yeah, that's too much to ask apparently.

I paid a "Highway Use Tax" on a trailer that I titled in my name last week. A trailer that I didn't get a license plate for and that will not be used on the street. Since it was titled it was in my best interest to transfer it to my name (makes all the difference in the world when I sell it to the next guy), but that's just ridiculous to have to pay a highway use tax on something that I'm only going to use around the yard.

[Edited on September 17, 2010 at 11:18 AM. Reason : s]

9/17/2010 11:18:24 AM

I had the same problem and when I fix one code another would pop up! After about a $1000 it comes to find out the computer had gone bad and was throwing out random codes. You can reset the system and drive it a lil while and then go get it inspected before the light comes back on. I think its set up that if the light isnt on one code can fail the test and still inspect the car

9/17/2010 12:14:28 PM

Quote :

"So, basically, even though I am technically in a legal state with the inspection (I have 60 days to be compliant), I am not in compliance with the car registration renewal, even though I want to get that paid."

Uhm... a failed inspection sticker is a failed inspection sticker recognizing that you're not in compliance. The 60 days is just a nice way of letting you be able to legally drive the car to get fixed and also let you fit the repair into your schedule.


A failed inspection sticker means you're not in compliance. Remember that.


I can't believe you're in college.

9/17/2010 2:33:52 PM

Quote :

"failed inspection sticker"

I can't believe you're in college.

9/17/2010 2:58:33 PM

Quote :

"I can't believe you're in college."

Yuh, or managed to graduate in his situation I can't even respond to his post, because he is trying to make some point which makes zero sense when compared to my original statement. I'm not so sure why he doesnt understand it. If you are given 60 days to fix a code, and during those 60 days you are legally allowed to drive the car, then the license tag renewal should also be extended 60 days if passing an inspection is a requirement for tag renewal...




[Edited on September 17, 2010 at 3:13 PM. Reason : .]

9/17/2010 3:08:18 PM

Good luck thinking I fail at life while you figure out why the hell the world just isn't working out for you.

9/17/2010 3:12:09 PM

Haha. If he only knew...

9/17/2010 3:13:20 PM

I obviously don't know. Why don't you tell me.

9/17/2010 3:16:13 PM

If I gave two shits about you knowing my successes, I might bother. But I don't.

9/17/2010 3:19:30 PM

I guess understanding why the state can't renew your license because they know that your car doesn't comply with their codes swamps all the rest of your successes in life.

9/17/2010 3:23:27 PM

Thats not my problem, you ignorant asshat. I understand why the state won't renew my "tags" until the car is compliant. My problem is that the grace period for getting your car in compliance with the inspection does not coincide with a tag renewal grace period. Apparently this is rocket science to you.

[Edited on September 17, 2010 at 3:28 PM. Reason : ,]

9/17/2010 3:28:13 PM

Quote :

"Alpha: My car inspection was due at the end of August with the tags set to expire on Sept 15. Beta: About 2 weeks before the inspection, the check engine light came on. Gamma: I knew it would not pass inspection, but I also knew I could go in an get an extension. Delta: I went it to get it inspected, it failed, and I got my 60 day inspection correction slip. "

Now that we are done beating chests, I recommend renewing your license while your inspection was still valid (15 days early)(Reference Alpha). You knew you had no intention of getting your car fixed earlier than 60 days.(Reference Gamma). You knew you could get an extension on an inspection(reference gamma), but you didn't know that they don't give 60 day extensions on renewals (even though you don't know anybody who has had one or have seen one).

Knowing is half the battle, and this is where you messed up.

9/17/2010 3:37:17 PM

Holy crap. You have NO idea how the system works now.

YOU CANNOT RENEW YOUR TAGS UNTIL AFTER YOUR CAR HAS PASSED INSPECTION.

If you attempt to renew prior to inspection, they will not let you.

get a fucking clue before you post somewhere other than chit chat.

Your name has got to be the most ironic name on the entire site.

[Edited on September 17, 2010 at 3:54 PM. Reason : .]

9/17/2010 3:49:16 PM

Quote :

"YOU CANNOT RENEW YOUR TAGS UNTIL AFTER YOUR CAR HAS PASSED INSPECTION."

You had 31 days in August to inspect your car.

What you're saying is that your inspection was already expired?

Quote :

"If you attempt to renew prior to inspection, they will not let you."

This is stupid logic since every month in existence is prior to your next inspection.


I don't see your point.

[Edited on September 17, 2010 at 4:02 PM. Reason : .]

9/17/2010 4:00:54 PM

in the chance that this genius isn't trolling...

NC changed the law regarding inspection/registration. they are now linked.

don't you live in VA?

9/17/2010 4:06:41 PM

Dude, you have to have a fresh PASSED inspection before you can get your tags renewed in NC. It doesnt off of last years.

If this guy isnt trying to go down in flames...

9/17/2010 4:38:52 PM

I know up here in MA your car is not legal to drive if it fails inspection, but you have to have the car registered before you can get it inspected. The whole setup is weird wherever you are. Good luck getting it fixed.

9/17/2010 5:14:18 PM

After reading for 3 minutes on the ncdot website about inspections they give you 90 days before the expiration date to get an inspection.

Quote :

"You must have your vehicle inspected before you can renew its registration. You may have your vehicle inspected up to 90 days prior to midnight of the last day of the month designated on the vehicle registration sticker on the license plate. (cited: 3rd bullet, http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/vehicle_services/emissioninspection/nomoresticker/works.html) "

That means it's valid for the entire next year effectively eliminating the advantage of waiting until the last minute. You should inspect it as soon as possible while everything is fine.


Therefore if you got it done 2 months ago, the 60 day extension is more logical. Having a 60 days extension when you get your inspection on its absolute expiration date makes less sense because it only gives you 15 days to drive without serious probability of a penalty.

Because the states can't tell an expired failed inspection sticker without looking at it, they reserve the right to pull you over.

Quote :

"if you are stopped by a law enforcement officer, you are subject to be cited with a traffic ticket any time you are driving the vehicle with an expired sticker. (cited: 2nd paragraph, http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/vehicle_services/emissioninspection/denialPenalties.html "

That's what "are subject to be cited" means.

Pfft and even if you DO get a ticket, which I doubt you will if you're within the 60 days and your license is still valid, then when you go to court on your court date in 30-60 days, you can present to them that you fixed the problem and they will drop the ticket.

[Edited on September 17, 2010 at 5:58 PM. Reason : .]

9/17/2010 5:56:36 PM

there is no more inspection sticker in NC

you're all up in the kool-aid and you don't even know the flavor

9/17/2010 6:17:12 PM

That helps my case even more because the only way they'd pull you over for inspection violation is if your plates have already expired.

[Edited on September 17, 2010 at 6:23 PM. Reason : .]

9/17/2010 6:22:52 PM

i'm not sure what you're arguing here

9/17/2010 6:24:57 PM

I don't think he knows either. Shit, based on that logic I ought to get my shit inspected every fucking day, you know... just in case.

9/17/2010 7:16:01 PM

Quote :

"Shit, based on that logic I ought to get my shit inspected every fucking day, you know... just in case."

"You may have your vehicle inspected up to 90 days prior to midnight of the last day of the month designated on the vehicle registration sticker on the license plate."



Reading comprehension.

9/17/2010 7:59:52 PM

I agree with you OP, the new linked inspection-registration thing makes it difficult (if not impossible) to operate your vehicle legally in this situation...

im not going to read through all the trolling up there, so did you ever get your problem sorted out?

a little taste of CC ITT

9/17/2010 11:54:42 PM

We'll see. The check engine light is off, but the emissions state is still in diag mode, and I won't be able to get it inspected until I drive it a couple more days.

9/18/2010 2:28:17 PM

My '95 vehicle passed inspection last year with a check engine light. Is it possible I was given a pass because of my vehicles age? Or was it just an awesome inspection station?

9/18/2010 2:32:19 PM

I don't know for sure but I think the code has to be emission related.

9/18/2010 6:49:19 PM

it's b/c it was a '95 model. only '96 and newer vehicles have to be CEL free.



[Edited on September 18, 2010 at 7:53 PM. Reason : 96]

9/18/2010 7:50:00 PM

[user]That helps my case even more because the only way they'd pull you over for inspection violation is if your plates have already expired[/user]

you dont know what comes up when a tag is run do you?

9/18/2010 8:37:50 PM

spend $200 on parts and labor to get it repaired.. they will give you a waiver to pass inspection.....so you dont have to spend all that money just to get the engine light off if the car still runs fine

9/18/2010 9:17:05 PM

FWIW, I drove around with an expired registration for a few months this year - nobody noticed. Don't drive like a dick and you probably won't get pulled.

And, yes, the law is stupid. This is news?

9/18/2010 11:00:15 PM

there is to much facepalming in this thread.

im a NCSI and i cant beleive the amount of stupid in here

9/19/2010 10:48:52 PM

Use peake tool, reset check engine light, drive 30 miles and go get inspected. Or do you just want to be proper citizen all the time. My registration expired in '08

[Edited on September 20, 2010 at 5:34 PM. Reason : btw, major tank venting sometimes goes off because you need a new charcoal filter in the tank]

[Edited on September 20, 2010 at 5:40 PM. Reason : had both of those on two diff BMWs]

9/20/2010 5:32:28 PM

I wish it was that easy. It's not. I have borrowed a good code scanner from my mechanic. It tells me when the car is out of inspection mode for emissions. For my car, it takes a couple days driving and about 100 miles. Hasn't made it. The dumb fucking car is still throwing the light. Heading to the DMV tomorrow.

9/20/2010 7:25:41 PM

sounds like a problem only poor people have

[Edited on September 20, 2010 at 8:03 PM. Reason : and procrastinators]

9/20/2010 8:02:28 PM

good lord GeniuSxBoY is a fucking moron.

9/20/2010 10:03:47 PM

LoL

9/20/2010 10:12:51 PM

OP: My wife's car is in the same situation. We've been pulled & warned twice since the 15th, when it expired (once at a checkpoint coming back from a funeral, the other today on the way home from a closed dmv).

Quote :

"you expect legislators to pass laws that make sense?"

I'm only offering a theory, but it quite possibly might be an attempt to streamline/save money on the paperwork side of the equation. By having (a) universal expiration date(s) you can build a more effective administrative/collection model.

9/20/2010 11:10:26 PM