South Carolina car inspectiom

[DWBOX2000]

Anyone know how difficult it is to pass inspection in SC. My 99 boxster had a check engine light on. It’s the secondary air pump so what from I understand, it’s only on at startup as part of the emissions process. It’s a PITA to fix so I’m reluctant to fix. I know how to fix, just don’t want to dump more money into a toy car that ain’t worth much.
Any thoughts, suggestions?

[DWBOX2000]

SC says no emissions but then says something about federal emissions so not 100% clear.

[David Inc.]

When I lived in SC they didn't have inspections or emissions checks, that was in 2018 when I left. When did they start doing inspections?

[Dixie]

I don't believe SC has had car inspections since 1995.

[Seahawk]

Interesting.

I'll be moving a vehicle to SC next summer so this thread peaked my curiosity.

Non-government website:

https://www.dmv.com/sc/south-carolina/emissions-testing?tg1=DVA&utm_content=dmv.com&utm_medium=dmv_&tg7=dmv_&utm_source=dmv.com&tg9=dmv.com&utm_term=organic_dmv&utm_campaign=organic_dmv

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/surprising-number-u-s-states-dont-require-vehicle-inspections/

All together, there are eight total states that have no required vehicle inspections: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas. Michigan and Mississippi also generally don’t require inspections, except for in some extremely specific scenarios.

Although Alaska doesn’t require any inspections, that doesn’t mean the state won’t require inspections in the future. The state used to have safety inspection requirements, but they were abolished in 2012. Similarly, South Carolina failed to advance a bill that would’ve reinstated inspections.

[DWBOX2000]

I thought they reinstated a couple years back.

[masraum]

I feel like you need someone from SC to comment. What happens here probably has no bearing on what happens there.

Here in TX, some counties have safety inspections, and some have safety-emissions inspections. If they have both, then they check the tires, brakes, bulbs, horn, wipers, and ECU (if diagnostics shows "ready" and no CEL). Where we live now, there's no emissions inspection, and the safety inspection is a joke at least for our cars, presumably because they look nice and well maintained.

But what happens in SC could be completely different.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Interesting.

I'll be moving a vehicle to SC next summer so this thread peaked my curiosity.

Non-government website:

https://www.dmv.com/sc/south-carolina/emissions-testing?tg1=DVA&utm_content=dmv.com&utm_medium=dmv_&tg7=dmv_&utm_source=dmv.com&tg9=dmv.com&utm_term=organic_dmv&utm_campaign=organic_dmv

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/surprising-number-u-s-states-dont-require-vehicle-inspections/

All together, there are eight total states that have no required vehicle inspections: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas. Michigan and Mississippi also generally don’t require inspections, except for in some extremely specific scenarios.

Although Alaska doesn’t require any inspections, that doesn’t mean the state won’t require inspections in the future. The state used to have safety inspection requirements, but they were abolished in 2012. Similarly, South Carolina failed to advance a bill that would’ve reinstated inspections.

The statement may be misleading for Texas. I think it's county dependent. Everywhere that I've lived has always required an inspection of some sort. I'm guessing emissions inspections are likely only done in/near big cities (Houston, Dallas, Austin, etc...).

[Seahawk]

Good point. The SC DMV website was a bit confusing and the private sites seemed more direct:

https://scdmvonline.com/Vehicle-Owners/Types-Of-Vehicles/Automobile

Originally Posted by masraum

The statement may be misleading for Texas. I think it's county dependent. Everywhere that I've lived has always required an inspection of some sort. I'm guessing emissions inspections are likely only done in/near big cities (Houston, Dallas, Austin, etc...).

[DWBOX2000]

Duh, my daughter’s friends live there. I ask them and report back. Brain fart.

[brookwood993]

I'm a SC resident. No state mandated inspections for quite some time.

[DWBOX2000]

Thanks

[masraum]

Originally Posted by brookwood993

I'm a SC resident. No state mandated inspections for quite some time.

3 posts in 10 years, try to pace yourself, fella!

[porsche tech]

We’ve lived here 10 years… X2 on the no inspection, emission or safety.

[DWBOX2000]

Super thanks. I need to figure out shipping now. The 17 hour drive has gotten old.

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

Super thanks. I need to figure out shipping now. The 17 hour drive has gotten old.

Now I'm curious. Why were you asking? Are you moving? Perhaps registering your car in SC is a new Canadian tax dodge?

[David Inc.]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Interesting.

I'll be moving a vehicle to SC next summer so this thread peaked my curiosity.

Get ready for the property tax payments. Always a mystery how much you'll be paying, but it'll be a lot. Only state I've ever lived that has both a registration fee and an annual property tax on cars, not just the sales tax paid up front.

Coincidentally, SC had the highest ratio of super-cars with Montana plates I've ever seen.

Edit: If I remember right, the biggest problem was the absolutely opaque calculations they use for vehicle value appraisals against which the tax is calculated. I was very happy to keep my cars registered in Ohio for most of the time I lived in SC.

[porsche tech]

When we lived in VA, we had registration fee and personal property tax on vehicles. We now pay about a fourth of the real estate tax we paid in VA for a house of approximately the same value. Safety and emissions inspection in VA was a pain. At least they changed the safety inspection to every year…it was every 6 months!

[DWBOX2000]

No tax dodge. I have a small place in SC with no car. Storage is expensive here, tent won’t work and I have another boxster here so I really don’t need. Seems sending south takes care of two issues. These are real 1ST world problems for sure.
Thanks for all the help. It certainly answered my question about the tent.
I’ll wait for the Boxster Jokes.

[DWBOX2000]

Regarding taxes, they punched me hard in the gut with out of state non resident property tax. Nearly tripled. Still cheaper than Massachusetts though.