Many states require drivers to get safety inspections to ensure that vehicles on the road are in good condition. And emissions inspections help to protect air quality. In Pennsylvania, most drivers must get emissions and safety inspections every year.
Due to the city’s Driving Equality Law that went into effect in March 2022, police in Philadelphia are banned from conducting traffic stops for offenses like the operation of a vehicle without an official inspection certificate or unlawful operation without evidence of emission inspection.
- Pennsylvania requires car owners to get a safety inspection and an emissions test from a certified station every 12 months.
- If you get pulled over with an expired sticker you can be fined $25 but won’t receive points on your license.
- There is a 10-day grace period to get the inspection performed once your sticker expires, but technically you should be driving to an inspection station.
What is the penalty for an expired inspection in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, having an expired inspection sticker is considered a minor offence and carries a $25 fine.
The fine increases if the vehicle happens to be a motor carrier vehicle, such as a bus, with a minimum $100 fine and a maximum $500 fine. A police officer may also order the vehicle placed out of service until it obtains a valid inspection.
What happens if you fail a car inspection in Pennsylvania?
The state fee for a safety inspection sticker in Pennsylvania is only $11, however, stations which carry out the inspections will also charge a fee to conduct both the safety inspection and emissions test. Such fees run anywhere from about $40 to around $80. If you own an electric car, you don’t need to take the emissions test.
Of course, there are some additional costs if work needs to be done to bring the vehicle up to snuff to pass the inspection. A certified safety inspector will run your vehicle through a series of checks, including the steering, braking, suspension components, tires and wheels, lighting and electrical systems, windshield and windshield wipers, the exhaust system, horns and warning devices, the car chassis and body. If any are found to be deficient, you will need to get necessary repairs.
Which vehicles require inspections in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, the emissions inspection is due once a year. If your vehicle requires an emissions inspection, the words “emissions inspection required/diesel vehicles exempt” will appear on your registration card. Inspection stickers expire on the last day of the month indicated by the inspection sticker (for example, 12-022 would be December 31, 2022).
Drivers of gasoline-powered cars, vans and light-duty trucks (9,000 lbs. or less) that are the model year 1975 or newer and registered in the following counties are required to participate in Pennsylvania’s Vehicle Emissions Inspection & Maintenance (I/M) Program: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Cambria, Centre, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Washington, Westmoreland and York.
Find out which emission test your vehicle will require
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What is the regulation that governs vehicle inspections in Pennsylvania?
Section 4703 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code is titled “Operation of vehicle without official certificate of inspection.” Under this Section, it notes the penalty:
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person violating this section is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of up to $25.
Where the subject vehicle is a motor carrier vehicle, bus or school bus, the police officer or qualified Commonwealth employee shall place the vehicle out of service and require that the vehicle not be operated under its own power until such time as the vehicle is issued a valid official certificate of inspection.
In addition, the person violating this section commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500.
Is there a grace period for driving without an inspection in Pennsylvania?
According to Section 4703, “newly-purchased vehicles may be driven without a current inspection certificate for 10 ten days after sale or resale or entry into this Commonwealth, whichever occurs later.”
If you have been cited for driving your motor vehicle without having an inspection completed for it, then you should contact the court listed on the ticket for information on the fine amount – if you admit liability and pay the fine within 48 hours, it could be downgraded to a “correctable violation” with a cheaper fine.
What if I get caught driving without an inspection sticker in Pennsylvania?
To register a car in Pennsylvania, you will need valid car insurance. We can help you compare state car insurance rates and find the company offering you the best rates for your needs.
Is an expired inspection sticker a moving violation? It shouldn’t affect your rates if you have been ticketed for driving with an expired inspection sticker since it’s a non-moving offense.
Learn about whether you can buy a car without a driver’s license in Pennsylvania.
How many days can you drive with an expired inspection sticker?
There is a 10-day grace period for driving with an expired inspection sticker, but technically it only applies in specific circumstances. The legislation states that the vehicle “may be driven enroute to an inspection station where an appointment for inspection has been scheduled, provided that such operation occurs no later than 10 days after the expiration of a valid certificate”.
The bottom line
If you live in Pennsylvania, obtaining an annual safety and emissions inspection is one of the requirements of owning a car.
However, things may be about to change.
In the fall of 2023, state Senator Marty Flynn introduced a co-sponsored memorandum to discontinue the safety inspection requirement. He noted that Pennsylvania is one of only 14 states that still require annual vehicle inspections and claims they are an inconvenience to vehicle owners and their wallets.
The legislation, if passed, would not affect vehicle emissions testing, which would still be required.
Guide to buying car insurance in PennsylvaniaFrequently asked questions
Can you get pulled over for an expired inspection in Pennsylvania?
Outside of Philadelphia, where the Driving Equity Law prevents police from pulling you over for an expired sticker, it’s possible to get pulled over for having an expired inspection. It’s more likely that you’ll be pulled over for some other infraction, such as speeding, where it might then be discovered you have an expired sticker.
Do you get points on your license for an expired inspection in Pennsylvania?
There are no points added to your license for driving with an expired inspection sticker, it just carries the $25 fine. The real costs may come down to bringing the vehicle up to snuff to pass the safety and emissions inspection.
Is it illegal to drive without a valid inspection in Pennsylvania?
Yes, it is illegal to drive without a valid inspection. However, it’s considered a minor non-moving violation and only comes with a $25 fine. You will be required to get the vehicle inspected immediately if you plan to continue driving.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- Pennsylvania General Assembly. “2002 Act 229: Vehicle Coe Omnibus Amendments.” Accessed February 2024.
- The Philadelphia Inquirer. “8 common traffic violations no longer warrant a police stop in Philly.” Accessed February 2024.
- Philapark.org. “Penalty Guidelines.” Accessed February 2024.
- Legis State. “Section 4703 – Title 75 – Vehicles.” Accessed February 2024.
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