My NJ inspection this afternoon

[Aurel]

I took my SC to inspection this afternoon, since it was 11 months overdue I thought I might as well get it over with. When I was rebuilding the engine I did not have it inspected, obviously. Two years ago when I took it after the rebuild, I passed but I got only 1 year on the sticker since it was already overdue. I found it totally unfair since what matters is the state of the vehicle at the time of inspection, but whatever, I digress.

Soo, the lady sees the papers and says:"temporary insurance card, your are gonna fail for that". Whatever, since I am here I may as well have it inspected and know what I am up against.

Then the lady goes on her break, and an older dude does the inspection.
I stay watching see how he does with the clutch. First try, stall. Classic. But at every try he stalls once before he gets it to move. Slow learner .

At the end, he has to check the gas cap. I watch him amused, trying to figure out how to find the gas cap. After a while he calls me: how do you open the gas flap? I show him. Then comes time for the results: FAIL. Well, I knew that. There are three things to fix:1-insurance card, easy. 2- Emissions: I was a tad high on the HC, 536 ppm with 300 pp limit 3-Safety: did not pass automated brake test.

I asked about the brake test, but since it is automated, he did not have any specifics. "Just take it to your mechanic" was his answer. Now, I know my brakes are fine, and I am my own mechanic, so there.

So, saturday I will get a set of historic plates and be done forever with that stupid ritual of inspection. And registration too. Done. And I will finally install those SSIs I have on my shelf. As for the mileage limitations on historic cars, it is really unfortunate that my odometer has quit working recently .

[g_vaxed]

As bad as we have it here in NJ, it's nothing compared to what they go through in the Republic of Kalifornia. Great timing on the odometer!

[JoeC]

Just a quick note. When you take your car back with Historic or Classic plates make
sure odometer is working. They make you circle the lot and check the mileage. They will
document the mileage and you need to produce that record along with the voucher next
time (inspection). Also your only allowed 3000 miles a year. If the odometer is not working or over the limit you will be flagged from Historic / Classic reg.

Joe

[Aurel]

Thanks. I`ll fix the odometer just before reapplying then .

[Aurel]

By the way, how do you proceed if you have to replace your failed odometer with a new one? Can a new odometer be rolled to where the old one was, or do they always restart to zero? Just curious...

[WIL84911]

I'm due next month. I don't expect problems with SSI as last time I had a pre-muffler and there were no issues (fingers crossed).

[jwasbury]

NJ people...

Don't take your car to the state inspection station. Go down to the neighborhood garage and pay the dude $50, get a sticker, be done with it.

The independent garages that perform inspections are not required to perform the same litany of tests that the state facilities do.

[WIL84911]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

NJ people...

Don't take your car to the state inspection station. Go down to the neighborhood garage and pay the dude $50, get a sticker, be done with it.

The independent garages that perform inspections are not required to perform the same litany of tests that the state facilities do.

Thanks. That will be the backup plan. I actually like the feeling of taking my 911 through the test believe it or not. And where I go it doesn't take more than an hour unlike when I was in Jersey City (hehe).

[bkreigsr]

Aurel - Eatontown or Freehold?
I have found Freehold to be a lot more accomodating - at least for my daily drivers.
Before I got the historic plates, I used Bodymotion in Ocean for the P-cars.
Bill K

[Aurel]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

Aurel - Eatontown or Freehold?
I have found Freehold to be a lot more accomodating - at least for my daily drivers.
Before I got the historic plates, I used Bodymotion in Ocean for the P-cars.
Bill K

Eatontown is closer. I will go this saturday and report how it went. Hopefully get in, hand the form, the two pictures, copy of the tiltle, $44 check and get my plates. At least, that is what the instructions say. And I am paying their salaries with my taxes, so I better get served well, dammit !

[KOH]

I had my '87 inspected in Eatontown back in November. They did the brake test eight times. I asked the first inspector (after he put on my new 2 year sticker) what the problem was. He said he couldn't "feel" the brakes properly. If he hit them any harder he would have felt his fillings leaving his teeth. May be I'll try Freehold next time as Bill K. suggests.

[Physedfailure]

Originally Posted by JoeC

Just a quick note. When you take your car back with Historic or Classic plates make
sure odometer is working. They make you circle the lot and check the mileage. They will
document the mileage and you need to produce that record along with the voucher next
time (inspection). Also your only allowed 3000 miles a year. If the odometer is not working or over the limit you will be flagged from Historic / Classic reg.

Joe

Not True. Freehold was a breeze for me! No donuts in the parking lot needed! Matter of fact I think you can do most of the stuff online now.

[Davewjunior]

Maryland is great with their Historic tags. They don't limit your miles, allow driving on weekends, holidays, and "pleasure rides" and only ask that you don't use the car to commute. No inspections. Oh, and no annual excise tax or personal property tax on vehicles. Maryland ain't so bad.

[Vin-barrett]

Im in NJ and due for inspection in Sept.

My "guy" that did this for me is now gone so I am considering one of the special NJ plates.

From what I see theres Historic, Collector and Antique?
I think Ive seen both Historic and collector on impact bumper 911's like mine.
Which would I want?

[jwasbury]

According to NJ MVC website

Collector vehicle must be less than 25 years old.

Historic must be 25 years or older.

[jwasbury]

From NJ MVC Historic vehicle application form:

Brief Description & Eligibility - Historic registration may be assigned to an antique vehicle which is at least twenty-five (25) years old. The vehicle must be owned as a collector’s item and used solely for exhibition or educational purposes. Please note that the vehicle cannot be altered from the manufacturer’s original design in any way and must be equipped for legal operation on New Jersey roadways. Historic registration must be renewed every three (3) years, but there will be no-fee for the renewal.

Seems to me you can get hosed by Law Enforcement for joyriding in a car with QQ plates..."but officer, I'm educating myself on how fast my car can go"

[WIL84911]

I also believe mileage must be documented and you can only put so much each year if I understood and remember it correctly when I spoke with my insurance company 2 years ago. Just something to think about. You really wanna drive those cars and not turn them into garage queens.

[Todd Simpson]

Just a quick note. When you take your car back with Historic or Classic plates make
sure odometer is working. They make you circle the lot and check the mileage.

With historic tags there is no inspection, so they never know the mileage you are putting on. Maybe this applies for classic but not historic?

I've "heard" you can drive QQ cars around all the time, and you won't get pulled over. And if you did get pulled over, I'd say something like "I was bringing it back from the mechanic" or "just checking it out before the car show next week."

Now, if a local cop sees you multiple times and gets a hard on for your QQ plates, well then you have a problem. Then you just go get the proper registration. For me, no fees and no inspection? I'll take my chances with the QQ plates.

[motorcop]

I just applied for my QQ tags. No inspection, no proof of yearly mileage.....no lines at inspection....and no state employed morons messing with my baby!!

[mercman]

Try getting the collector car registration. 2 years, 3,000 miles per year and only a visual inspection and odometer check and no special plates.