The most common reasons a car fails the Maryland safety inspection are worn brakes, bad tires (including tread below 2/32 inch), burned-out or badly aimed lights, a cracked windshield or worn wipers, window tint darker than 35 percent, loose steering or suspension parts, exhaust leaks, and fluid leaks. Most of these are easy to spot before you go in.
Quick answer
- Top failures: brakes, tires, lights, windshield and wipers, tint, steering and suspension, exhaust, and leaks.
- Tires fail with tread below 2/32 inch, exposed cords, bulges, or mismatched tires on the same axle.
- Aftermarket tint on side and rear windows of a passenger car must let through at least 35 percent of light.
- If you fail, fix the listed items and come back to the same station within 30 days and under 1,000 miles to have only those items rechecked.
What does the Maryland safety inspection check?
The Maryland safety inspection is required before a used vehicle can be sold, titled or transferred in the state. It happens once, when the vehicle is first titled in Maryland. It is not a yearly inspection. The Maryland State Police inspection chart covers the lights, glass, mirrors, wipers, seats and seat belts, horn, steering, brakes, tires, suspension, exhaust, fuel system, frame and bumpers, plus a short test drive. The inspector looks at the car from the driver’s seat, from outside, under the hood and from underneath.
A car can drive fine and still fail because of something the owner never noticed, like a dead license plate bulb or a small leak. See how it works at our shop on our Maryland State Inspection page.
What are the most common inspection failures?
Brakes
The inspector checks brake pedal firmness and reserve, the brake warning light, the parking brake, the brake master cylinder and booster, the hydraulic brake lines, and the pads, shoes, drums and rotors. Worn pads, damaged rotors, a leaking line, a soft pedal, or a weak parking brake are common problems. Our brake repair team can check these before your safety inspection.
Tires
Under Maryland rules, a tire is rejected if the tread is worn below 2/32 inch, if cuts, cracks or snags expose the cords, if there are bumps or bulges from tread separation, if it’s regrooved or recut, or if it’s marked “not for highway use.” Tires on the same axle also need to be the same size and type. Tire size, construction and pressure are all on the checklist, so if your tire pressure light is on, find out why first. We handle tire pressure sensors too.
Lights and headlight aim
The exterior lamps and dash lamps are checked, along with headlight aim and the turn signals on the test drive. A burned-out bulb (including the license plate light), a cracked lens, or headlights aimed too high or too low are common findings.
Windshield, glass, wipers and tint
Windshield damage in the area directly in front of the driver is rejected if a crack, chip, star break or bull’s-eye is larger than 1/4 inch. In the wider critical area of the windshield, the limit is 1/2 inch. Wipers and washers have to work, so torn blades or an empty or broken washer system can cause a fail.
For aftermarket tint, the side windows next to the driver need at least 35 percent light transmittance. On passenger cars, that applies to all side and rear windows. Windshield tint can’t go below the AS1 line or more than 5 inches from the top, whichever is less. If the rear windows are tinted, the car needs outside mirrors on both sides.
Steering and suspension
The test drive checks steering, handling and alignment, and the inspector looks underneath at the suspension and wheel bearings. Worn tie rod ends, ball joints, bushings, leaking shocks or struts, and loose steering are common findings. See our steering and suspension service if the car wanders, clunks over bumps or feels loose.
Exhaust
The emission and exhaust systems are checked under the hood and underneath. Holes, rusted-through pipes, broken hangers, and leaking joints are typical failures. Our exhaust and muffler repair covers leaks, pipes and hangers.
Seat belts, horn, mirrors, doors and fluid leaks
- Seat belts: the driver’s seat and the seat belts are checked. Make sure every belt latches, releases and retracts.
- Horn: the steering wheel and horn are both checked, so make sure the horn works.
- Mirrors: mirrors are on the checklist, so replace cracked, missing or loose ones.
- Doors and latches: the driver’s door and window, door latches, the hood latch, fenders and bumpers are all checked.
- Fluid leaks: leaks in the brake, fuel or steering systems are a common reason to fail. The battery, wiring and engine mounts are checked too.
Pre-inspection checklist you can do in the driveway
Fifteen minutes and a helper can save you a return trip.
- Walk around with the lights on. Have someone press the brake, work each turn signal, and put the car in reverse while you watch. Don’t forget the license plate light.
- Look at the windshield. Check for chips and cracks in front of the driver’s seat. A small chip can sometimes be repaired before it spreads.
- Test the wipers and washers. Fill the washer fluid and make sure the blades clear the glass without streaking.
- Check the tires. Put a penny upside down in the tread. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, you’re at about 2/32 inch or less. Look at the sidewalls for bulges and cuts.
- Honk the horn and buckle and unbuckle every seat belt.
- Open and close every door from inside and outside, and run the driver’s window up and down.
- Set the parking brake on a slight slope and see if it holds.
- Look under the car after it sits overnight. Fresh drips mean a leak worth checking.
- Listen for exhaust noise at startup and clunks or pulling on your next drive.
- Look at the dash for warning lights, especially the brake light.
This won’t catch brake wear, suspension joints or exhaust leaks underneath, which need the car on a lift. But it catches the simple stuff that fails a lot of cars.
Need a Maryland State Inspection in Rockville?
We’re a licensed Maryland inspection station for cars, SUVs, minivans and light trucks, and we send certificates to the MVA electronically.
What happens if your car fails the safety inspection?
If the car fails, you get a receipt that lists what needs to be repaired. You can make the repairs yourself or have any shop do them. Then you bring the car back for reinspection.
If you come back within 30 days of the original inspection and have driven fewer than 1,000 miles, only the items that failed are rechecked. The reinspection has to be done by the same registered inspection mechanic at the same station. If you miss either limit, the car needs a complete new safety inspection, paid in full. Stations may charge for a reinspection unless the repairs can be verified visually.
Because we’re also a full repair shop, we can fix the failed items here and do the recheck at the same station.
How can you avoid failing the first time?
- Do the driveway checklist a week ahead so you have time to replace bulbs, wipers or tires.
- Fix known problems first. Grinding brakes or a loud exhaust will almost certainly fail.
- Ask about the fee up front. Each station sets its own inspection fee and has to display it. Ours starts at $110 for passenger cars and $140 for SUVs, including mid-size SUVs. These are starting prices, and the exact price depends on the make and model.
Maryland inspection failure FAQ
What is the minimum tire tread for a Maryland inspection?
Tires are rejected when the tread is worn below 2/32 inch. They also fail for exposed cords, bulges, regrooving, or not matching the other tire on the same axle.
Will a cracked windshield fail inspection in Maryland?
It can. Damage in the area directly in front of the driver fails if it’s larger than 1/4 inch, and damage in the wider critical area fails if it’s larger than 1/2 inch.
Can window tint fail a Maryland inspection?
Yes. Aftermarket tint on the driver’s side windows, and on all side and rear windows of a passenger car, must let through at least 35 percent of light.
How long do I have to fix things after failing?
Come back within 30 days and under 1,000 miles to the same station and inspector, and only the failed items are rechecked. After that, you need a complete new safety inspection.
Do I have to get the repairs done where I was inspected?
No. You can fix the items yourself or at any shop, but the reinspection has to be at the same station with the same inspector to count as a recheck. See our Maryland State Inspection page for how we handle it.
Sources: Maryland MVA, Safety Inspections, Maryland State Police, Vehicle Inspections. Rules can change, so check with the MVA before your appointment.
Bring your car to New Level Auto Service
We’re at 716 E Gude Dr in Rockville, MD. Walk-ins are welcome, and calling ahead gets you in faster.
- Phone (301) 762-1200
- Hours Monday to Friday 8 AM to 5 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 2 PM
- Extras Night drop and 24-hour emergency towing