NH Budget Bill Eliminates Vehicle Inspections: How does this impact you!
The recent passage of New Hampshire's state budget bill has brought a controversial change: the repeal of mandatory vehicle safety inspections. As of January 30, 2026, annual inspections will no longer be required for most vehicles in the state. While some may celebrate this as a step toward reducing red tape, we at Accomplished Auto believe this decision poses serious risks to public safety, financial stability, and environmental health.
This shift is not a panacea. It removes a structured, professional safety check and replaces it with a hope that vehicle owners will self-regulate. It also places more responsibility on police officers, who must now identify unsafe vehicles during routine traffic stops, without the specialized tools or knowledge of trained mechanics.
It is important to understand that this repeal does not eliminate any of the existing safety or emissions laws. All regulations under RSA 266 regarding vehicle condition—such as functional brakes, safe tires, intact frames, emissions controls, and lighting—remain on the books. The change only removes the structured, annual inspection process. The key difference now is that the burden of compliance has shifted from the inspection station to the individual driver. Whether they know the rules or not, drivers are still legally obligated to keep their cars in safe operating condition. Enforcement of these existing laws will now fall to state and local police officers, who will be responsible for identifying unsafe or noncompliant vehicles during routine traffic stops and accident investigations. According to testimony from the New Hampshire State Police, this creates an undue burden on law enforcement and increases the chances that safety issues won't be identified until they cause real harm.
Every day in our shop, we witness firsthand why these inspections are critical. Just recently, three vehicles highlighted the dangers of skipping regular safety checks:
One vehicle came in with the front subframe—responsible for holding the engine and front suspension—completely detached from the body. This catastrophic failure could have easily led to a total loss of vehicle control.
Another car arrived with rear brakes so worn that the driver could barely stop. The brake caliper had completely failed, and there were no brake pads left.
A third vehicle, from a state with more lenient window tint laws, had windows so dark they allowed only 0.5% light transmission. Looking out was like trying to see through black gauze, dramatically increasing the risk of accidents. In contrast, New Hampshire requires at least 35% light transmission for rear windows.
These are not isolated incidents. We routinely find vehicles with bald tires, rust-compromised frames, and failing suspension components—problems that, without mandatory inspections, could easily go unnoticed until they cause accidents or require extremely costly repairs.
Beyond the immediate safety concerns, there are significant financial implications for both vehicle owners and the state. Inspections often catch minor issues early, allowing for affordable repairs before problems escalate. Without them, drivers risk facing major, more expensive fixes down the line. For example, ignoring a check engine light—a warning that emissions or engine systems are malfunctioning—can result in catastrophic engine failure over time. Something that might be a $100 sensor today can easily snowball into a $2,000+ repair if left unresolved.
Additionally, the state stands to lose revenue from inspection sticker sales and station registrations, not to mention the logistical and financial burden of terminating contracts with companies like Gordon-Darby, which supplies inspection and emissions testing equipment.
Another important financial consideration is the potential impact on auto insurance rates. There is some evidence suggesting that states without mandatory vehicle inspections may experience higher accident rates, leading insurers to charge higher premiums to account for the increased risk. Anecdotally, one of our own technicians who relocated from Texas—a state without vehicle inspection requirements—found that his car insurance premiums in New Hampshire were hundreds of dollars lower. If the repeal of inspections leads to higher accident claims, New Hampshire drivers could ultimately face rising insurance costs as well.
Drivers who forgo regular professional maintenance may face higher repair costs when unnoticed issues escalate into serious failures. For example, worn suspension parts or tires that go unchecked can lead to breakdowns or blowouts. Tow-ins for mechanical failures are likely to become more frequent, and accident investigations will be complicated by underlying equipment failures that were never addressed. Speaking anecdotally to other shop owners I know in states that repealed their state inspection requirements this has been their experience.
It’s also important to note that New Hampshire is not a mandatory auto insurance state, unlike many others that have eliminated inspections. If vehicle safety declines and traffic accidents or fatalities increase, the state could be forced to introduce mandatory insurance laws to offset the risk—as has happened in other states following the repeal of inspections. Some states have even implemented laws that allow a police officer or mechanic to declare a car unfit to drive until repairs are made. That kind of enforcement could become necessary here if the number of unsafe vehicles on the road increases.
We may also see a return to the post-COVID challenge of finding good used cars. Without annual inspections, more drivers may run their vehicles into the ground—only trading or selling them once they are no longer safe or worth repairing. This could flood the used car market with vehicles in poor condition requiring major repairs to become safe and roadworthy again.
A Summary of the Financial Cost
The repeal of the inspection program is expected to cost the state approximately $3.5 million annually in lost revenue, most of which was allocated to the Highway Fund for road and bridge maintenance. Roughly 12% of that revenue was distributed to cities and towns across New Hampshire, meaning municipalities will also see a funding reduction. Additionally, funds that once supported emissions control efforts through the Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Abatement Fund will be lost, with no clear plan for replacement.
Health Risks from Increased Emissions
Removing emissions inspections from the inspection program is expected to lead to more high-emitting vehicles staying on the road. Poorly maintained engines release more pollutants like nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter—both linked to increased rates of asthma, respiratory issues, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. New Hampshire already spends over $170 million per year managing asthma-related health costs. With fewer checks on pollution, those numbers could climb.
In light of these concerns, we strongly urge New Hampshire's legislators to reconsider this policy change. Vehicle safety inspections serve a vital role in protecting all of us—drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike. Convenience should never come at the cost of safety, health, and financial wellbeing.
Stay safe out there, and remember: regular maintenance saves lives and money. We may follow up with a deeper dive into the public health data and environmental outcomes in a future blog post.
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