Maryland Safety Inspections

What is a Maryland Safety Inspection?

A Maryland Safety Inspection checks that key parts of your vehicle are safe and working properly. Maryland law requires that vehicles pass a Maryland Safety Inspection and receive a certification before a motor vehicle can be sold, titled, or transferred in the State.

When your vehicle passes, you will receive a Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate. You need this certificate to title and register your vehicle with the Motor Vehicle Association (MVA).

When you need a safety inspection

You generally need a safety inspection if you are:

Titling a vehicle in Maryland for the first time
Registering a used vehicle purchased from a private seller. Usually, the seller will be a safety inspection before selling/transferring the vehicle.
Registering a vehicle purchased out of state

What the safety inspection covers

During a safety inspection, the following items are checked to see if they are working properly:

Brakes
Steering and suspension
Tires and wheels
Lights and signals
Windshield and wipers
Mirrors
Seat belts
Fuel system
Exhaust system

Safety inspection vs. emissions inspection

A safety inspection is different from an emissions inspection:

Safety inspection — Checks whether your vehicle is safe to drive
Emissions inspection — Checks pollution levels

You will complete a safety inspection when you get a vehicle, but emissions inspections are every two years. Visit the Emissions Inspections page for more information.

How to get a safety inspection

Step 1: Make sure your vehicle is registered

Your vehicle must be properly registered in Maryland or in another state ahead of the safety inspection.

If you cannot register the vehicle because it has not yet passed a safety inspection, you may qualify for a 30-day temporary registration. This allows you to legally drive the vehicle to the inspection station.

It is the vehicle owner’s responsibility to ensure the vehicle is legally transported to the inspection station.

Step 2: Find a licensed inspection station

You must go to a station licensed by the Maryland State Police. Not all repair shops are one of the 1600 licensed inspection stations in Maryland. Use Maryland State Police's Inspection Station Lookup tool to find a licensed inspection station that is convenient for you.

Step 3: Take your vehicle for inspection

We recommend that you schedule an appointment at the inspection station ahead of time if possible. Always confirm that the inspection station is authorized to inspect your vehicle class before scheduling an inspection. Bring the vehicle and be prepared to pay the inspection fee. Fees are set by the inspection station.

Step 4: Get your results & next steps

If your vehicle passes:

Your vehicle's inspection certificate will sent electronically to the MVA. Your inspection station may give you a paper or electronic receipt of the inspection.
The certificate is valid for 90 days from the date issued.
Title and register your vehicle before the certificate expires
- If your vehicle has a temporary registration and your vehicle passes inspection, you can complete your vehicle registration without visiting an MVA branch office.
- Visit myMVA Online Services on the next business day to finish registering your vehicle and request your one, two, or three-year registration card and stickers

If your vehicle does not pass:

You will receive a Safety Equipment Repair Order listing what needs to be fixed
Repair all items listed on the Safety Equipment Repair Order. You can fix yourself, at the inspection station if possible, or at another facility.
Return to a licensed inspection station for reinspection within 30 days.

Note that the inspection station can charge you for each reinspection, unless the repair can be visually verified. If you miss the 30-day window or drive more than 1,000 miles before reinspection, you will need to pay for a full new inspection.

Only the items that failed need to be rechecked.

See What to do if you receive a Safety Equipment Repair Order for more information.