Ohio Auto Inspection Laws

• Before you put an automobile on the road in Ohio, you're going to need to have it inspected. Ohio inspects motor vehicles for different reasons ranging from legitimacy of the parts to environmental protection. New residents moving to the state of Ohio or those registering a car for the first time should be aware of Ohio's auto inspection laws.
  
  

Salvage Inspection

• Ohio has laws that specifically pertain to salvaged and self-assembled automobile inspections. This inspection process does not attempt to determine if your salvaged or self-assembled car is ready for the road, safe or competently put together. Rather, the salvage inspection seeks to ensure that you legitimately own all the parts the vehicle.
  
  A salvage or self-assembly inspection verifies that you have all the necessary documentation of ownership. This documentation is required for all major components of the car. Major components include parts such as bumpers, doors, air bags, engines, transmissions, frames and tailgates. All parts with a fair market value of over $100 as of 2010 will also require a receipt. For a self-assembled car, a vehicle identification number is required for the donor vehicle. All private party sale parts must have a notarized receipt.
  
  

E-Check

• In 1996 the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles introduced E-Check. This is the inspection procedure to ensure that excessively polluting cars are kept off the road. The current testing method is the Acceleration Simulation Mode 2525 (ASM 2525).
  
  As of 2010, E-Check is required in only eight northern counties. All cars running on gas or diesel under 10,000 lbs, including hybrid vehicles, newer than 25 years old must be tested. State law requires that all nonexempt vehicles be inspected once every 365 days, with even-numbered vehicles being tested in even-numbered years and odd-numbered vehicles being tested in odd-numbered years. For example, a 1998 model car must be tested in an even-numbered year like 2010. A number of inspection stations are authorized by the state.
  
  You will be presented with a certificate that you must present when titling the vehicle. If the certificate is lost there is a toll-free number you can dial to obtain the necessary information for titling.
  
  

E-Check Exemptions

• New vehicles do not have to be tested for the first four years they are on the road. Antique and collector vehicles are permanently exempt from E-Check. Additional types of cars enjoying permanent exemption are cars with a gross vehicle weight over five tons, motor homes, RVs and motorcycles.
  
  

E-Check Waivers

• In addition to standard exemptions, you can also get a special exception for your car in the form of a waiver. These waivers are available for cars that have failed inspection at least once where the owner has attempted to make emission related repairs. One option for a waiver is to reduce your emissions by 30 percent after spending $200 on repairs as of 2010. Your car must also have been manufactured before 1995. You may also apply for a waiver regardless of emission reduction or age of the car if you have spent $300 or more on repairs.