4 Wheel Vehicle Verification

[Stefanie Mordaunt]

Dependingon the make, model, and year of your vehicle, as well as how the vehicle is being used, an inspection may be required annually or just periodically. Generally, personal vehicles (e.g., cars and trucks) do not require a safety inspection.

Connecticut Motor Vehicle Regulation 14-137-120 requires commercial motor vehicles over 18,000 lbs. GVWR and commercial trailers over 10,000 lbs. GVWR seeking temporary registrations be inspected in accordance with the North American Standard Level I inspection at a DMV facility.

If a medical condition exists that requires your window tint to be between 32 percent and not less than 20 percent, a medical exemption may be granted. If this is the case, request an application and special permit for exemption from tinted window requirements (Form E-220).

Window tint with a light transmittance of less than 20 percent fail the measurement and are not issued an exemption. You are referred to the Medical Review Unit for further review if you need an exemption.

The windows to the rear of the operator may be tinted as dark as desired provided the vehicle is equipped with left and right- side rearview mirrors.

Note: If you wish to verify that your vehicle tints are within the legal limit, you may bring the vehicle to the Wethersfield inspection lane. If the vehicle fails, you receive a warning ticket.

A vehicle window tinted or darkened with any tinted material after factory delivery, is an after-market tint. You need to bring these vehicles to the Department of Motor Vehicles for inspection.

If a medical condition exists that requires your window tint to be between 32 percent and not less than 20 percent, a medical exemption may be granted. If this is the case, request an application and special permit for exemption from tinted window requirements (Form E-220).

The windows to the rear of the operator may be tinted as dark as desired provided the vehicle is equipped with left and right- side rearview mirrors.

Note: If you wish to verify that your vehicle tints are within the legal limit, you may bring the vehicle to the Wethersfield inspection lane. If the vehicle fails, you receive a warning ticket.

The addition of no more than two auxiliary driving lamps, passing lamps, or fog lamps producing white or amber light, is allowed if they are mounted at a height in accordance with Connecticut State Law Title 14 Sec. 14-96o.

In addition, in accordance with Connecticut State Law Title 14 Sec. 14-96y, there may be no more than four lamps exceeding 300 candlepower illuminated at the front at any one time. This means that if the headlamp system has two lamps on each side illuminated at any time, then the auxiliary lamps must extinguish automatically.

Also, any auxiliary lamps of over 300 candlepower must only illuminate with the tail lamps and may not be independent for use on the road. Any additional lamps of less than 300 candlepower must produce amber or yellow or white light.

Since some parking lots are considered public access, this prohibition would also apply. If your vehicle were used indoors at shows, the operation of strobe lamps at that location would not be regulated by the DMV.

The loudness is affected not only by the mufflers utilized, but also by any engine modifications. There can be two different vehicles with the same exhaust system, however, they may have different engine modifications. One of the vehicles may pass the noise level measurement test and the other vehicle may not.

A composite vehicle is NOT a vehicle that has been declared salvaged or rebuilt salvaged.

Before a composite vehicle can be registered, it must pass a special composite vehicle inspection, which is only done in the Wethersfield DMV inspection lane. These inspections are done Monday through Friday from 8 am - 3 pm.

No. In accordance with Connecticut State Law Title 14 Sec. 14-99g, the side and rear windows may be tinted to the point where at least 35% light transmitted can still be transmitted through the window as darkened, provided that the reflectivity does not exceed 27% reflectivity.

Note: Persons with medical conditions can obtain a permit for tinted windows to the level where only 20% of the light transmitted through the window is tinted. The windows to the rear of the driver on trucks, buses, multipurpose passenger vehicles or MPVs (a.k.a. SUVs), trailers and mobile manufactured homes are exempt from the light transmissibility requirements.

No, however, your out-of-state vehicle requires a vehicle identification number (VIN) verification. This can be done at a VIN Verification Inspection Station. Your out-of-state vehicle may require an emission test. Visit the Connecticut Emissions Testing website for further information.

A private individual cannot drive or tow the salvaged vehicle to the DMV office. Vehicles may only be brought in on a flat-bed trailer or car carrier (i.e., no wheel of the vehicle may touch the ground).

The vehicle can be driven/towed by a bonafide dealer/repairer employee with dealer/repair plates only when the dealer is the owner of the vehicle. But if it fails inspection it must be transported away on a flatbed trailer

A motorcycle is any vehicle (including motor bikes, bicycles and tricycles, aka trike) with attached motors. All residents operating a motorcycle in New Jersey must have a motorcycle endorsement on their existing driver license or a separate motorcycle license. All motorcycles must be titled, registered and insured.

Anyone who would like to operate a trike must apply for a motorcycle endorsement and a restriction will be placed on the driver license that only allows the operation of a 3-wheel motorcycle. Trikes must be titled, registered and insured.

Low-speed motorcycles are less than 50 cubic centimeters (cc) or have a 1.5 brake horsepower motor or less with a maximum speed no more than 35 miles per hour on a flat surface. Low-speed motorcycles may not be driven on any state toll road, limited-access highway or any public road with a posted speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour. Low-speed motorcycles must be titled, registered and insured. Basic auto license holders can operate a low-speed motorcycle without any endorsement or separate motorcycle license.

The following sections explain the necessary processes for obtaining a motorcycle endorsement or license; obtaining a permit may be part of the process as well. Read all information carefully to determine which steps apply to you. In addition, a Driver Manual and a Motorcycle Manual are available for your information and review.

All certified motorcycles must be titled and registered in New Jersey and meet the minimum safety standards as outlined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A dirt bike is any two-wheeled motorcycle that is designed and manufactured for off-road use only that does not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or the United States Environmental Protection Agency on-road emissions standards. A dirt bike shall not exceed 600cc. See registration information.

Use of motorcycles, ATVs and Dirt Bikes in state parks

ATV's and Dirt Bikes are prohibited in all New Jersey state parks and forests. However, in some parts of Lebanon, Bass River, and Brendan T. Byrne State Forest in Southern New Jersey you may be able to operate a motorcycle. Call the Division of Parks and Forestry at (800) 843-6420 for more information.

Effective August 1, 2010, motorcycles are no longer required to submit for an inspection in New Jersey. Riders should keep in mind that it is their responsibility to make sure their motorcycles are free from mechanical defects and are operating properly. Law enforcement may still cite a cyclist for equipment out of compliance or failure to make repairs.

Yellow Taxis, Green Taxis, and For-Hire Vehicles are fully inspected by the TLC at its Safety and Emissions Inspection Facility in Woodside, Queens. The New York State-licensed inspection facility tests brakes, seatbelts, lights, suspension components, and emissions systems. A successful vehicle inspection is required for TLC-Licensed Vehicles to transport passengers for-hire.

A reinspection fee is only owed if a vehicle fails its initial inspection and is brought back and reinspected after making the necessary repairs. No reinspection fee is owed if a vehicle passes its initial inspection.

An original letter from an approved vehicle modifier indicating that the modifications done to the vehicle have been done so, in accordance with ADA regulations and specifications, and that the vehicle is considered a wheel chair accessible vehicle in compliance with all applicable ADA specifications and requirements.

Most people think that wheel alignment is best left to the professionals.This is true in many respects, but some alignment specs are easy to checkyourself, and toe is one aspect of alignment that can be checked at home.This can come in handy after replacing steering or suspension components sothat the vehicle won't be wildly out of adjustment for the trip to thealignment shop, or at the very least provide a better understanding of thealignment process.

Toe-in

Car front tires are slightly pigeon-toed to intentionally place a veryslight load on the wheel bearings. Typical toe-in specs vary fromone-thirty-second to one-eighth-inch, depending on the vehicle. Check aservice manual for your car's acceptable range.

The best tip-off to a toe problem is a saw-tooth wear pattern that's equalon both front tires. If the tread blocks point toward the frame, thentoe-in is excessive; pointing outward indicates too much toe-out.

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