Motor Vehicle Inspection

The Need for Motor Vehicle Inspection

There are three factors involved which contribute to the overall traffic crash experience. They are the driver, the roadway, and the vehicle. All of us have seen vehicles that prove many owners fail to properly maintain their vehicles. The function of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Motor Vehicle Inspection Program is to identify defective vehicles, requiring them to either be repaired or be removed from Missouri highways.

The only way to be reasonably certain vehicles are maintained mechanically safe is through periodic motor vehicle inspection. Since the program began in 1969, over one million defects have been identified annually. This has contributed to the continual decrease in the death rate per 100 million miles.

Items That Will Be Inspected

• Brake System
• Steering Mechanism
• Headlights
• Taillights, Brake Lights, and Turn Signals
• Turn Signals
• Horn
• Windshield Wipers
• All Window Glass
• Front Seat Belts
• Rearview Mirrors
• Tires and Wheels
• Fuel System
• Bumpers
• Exhaust System
• Air Pollution Control Devices

Frequently Asked Questions

When is a motor vehicle safety inspection required?

Inspection requirements related to motor vehicle registration may be viewed on the Missouri Department of Revenue website. Inspection requirements related to the sale of a motor vehicle may also be viewed on the Department of Revenue site.

Who performs vehicle inspections?

Individuals 17 years of age or older, with at least one year of practical experience as an automotive mechanic or having successfully completed a course of vocational instruction in automotive mechanics from a generally recognized educational institution, are eligible to apply for inspector/mechanic licensure. Only individuals licensed as inspector/mechanics by the Missouri State Highway Patrol are authorized to perform motor vehicle safety inspections.

Can I drive my unlicensed vehicle to the inspection station?

Yes, but only for the purpose of obtaining an inspection and over the most direct route between the owner's residence and an inspection station. If repairs are needed, the vehicle may be operated from the inspection station to a place of repair and returned for reinspection provided the repairs are made within 20 days.

What is the wait time at an inspection station?

A vehicle shall be inspected during normal business hours within two hours after being presented unless other vehicles are being inspected. When a vehicle is presented during the 20-day period for reinspections, a reinspection must begin within one hour.

If my vehicle needs to be reinspected, is there an additional fee?

If a person returns the vehicle to the original inspection station within 20 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, the rejected items will be reinspected at no additional cost. The inspection station is only required to perform one free reinspection.

How do I file a complaint against an inspection station?

Complaints regarding motor vehicle safety inspection stations should be directed to the Motor Vehicle Inspection office at the nearest Missouri State Highway Patrol troop headquarters.

What items are necessary for a person to take with them to the inspection station?

The only items that are required for an inspection are the fee and the vehicle to be inspected. Proof of ownership and renewal notices are not necessary. The inspector/mechanic should obtain the needed information from the vehicle and the person presenting the vehicle.

If the vehicle is rejected and repairs are made elsewhere, must I show a repair bill to the inspection station at the time of reinspection?

No, since the inspector/mechanic visually rejected the vehicle, he must visually reinspect it. The reinspection shall take place in the area approved for inspection purposes.

Motor Vehicle Inspection Offices

Have a Question or a Problem?

There may come a time when you have a question or a problem concerning Missouri's Motor Vehicle Inspection Program. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is vitally interested in seeing that the program is administered properly and that the vehicle owner is treated fairly. If you should have any questions or problems, please call the troop headquarters or satellite in your area or the Driver and Vehicle Safety Division in Jefferson City, MO.