One of the more mundane things I have to do each year is to get my car inspected. It's usually not a headache, but I dread it because of the unknown - what expensive thing could be wrong with my car, and how quickly can it be fixed.
Today, I took my car in for its yearly inspection, along with an oil change, tire rotation, and wiper replacement. And I got out of there for only the expected price. No, this is not a negative comment about a bad mechanic. Instead, it is a positive statement on how a reputable shop services its clients. After spending $2,000-$3,000 in the past year to keep my car in good operating condition, I expected that my car would pass inspection - and it did.
A friend in New Jersey felt that New York's system is much more convenient than the system used there. That may be true. But New Jersey's system has a bias towards honesty in its inspections. The inspection stations have nothing to gain by failing a car. The mechanics get paid no more or less if a car passes or fails inspection. Contrast this with New York, where some inspection stations employ unscrupulous people out to make money from cars failing inspection.
What do you think about your state's method of getting unsafe cars off the road? I'd love to find out....
PS: Shortly after I went out for the evening, the TPMS Warning (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) showed up on my car's display. It looks like I'll be going back to the mechanic sometime next week if this doesn't reset by itself.
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