How Long Does Vehicle Inspection Take at the DMV?
2 Answers
It usually takes about one hour. The new vehicle inspection process at the DMV is as follows: Photography: The photographer will set up the number plate based on the last four digits of the VIN and place it at the lower right corner of the windshield, then take photos of the vehicle. Before photography, the "CCC" sticker and "Vehicle Fuel Consumption Label" affixed to the windshield must be removed. It's best to complete this task before arriving at the DMV, as these two stickers can be difficult to peel off. Rubbing: Rubbing is typically performed in the DMV inspection area. Sometimes the 4S shop may have already done the rubbing, but it's important to check whether they have provided the correct number of copies, as the license plate registration requires two copies of the engine number and three copies of the VIN rubbing.
Last time I went to the vehicle inspection station on a weekday and waited about an hour and a half. During peak hours with more people, it might drag on to over two hours. I suggest you avoid Monday morning rush hour or Friday afternoon when the queues are longest. Also, make sure to prepare all your documents in advance, such as the vehicle license, ID card, and copies of the insurance policy, to avoid wasting time going back and forth if you forget something. If you live in a big city, the location of the inspection station branch can also affect the time it takes—suburban locations are usually faster than downtown ones. By the way, if your car is in poor condition, it's easy to fail the inspection and have to redo it. I heard about a friend whose brake lights weren't working and had to fix them twice before passing, so doing a simple self-check beforehand can save a lot of trouble.
