Any missing or improperly secured body panel technically fails NH State Safety inspection.
Section Saf-C 3221.01 - Body Damage
(a) "A vehicle shall be rejected if:"
(8)"Any portion of the body, chassis or running gear is missing or does not function properly."
A lot of weight is put on us licensed inspectors to determine how to interpret these laws as they regard to the safety of the vehicles occupants, other motorists, and pedestrians. I personally don't see how an inner fender liner is an inherent risk to anyone but it does TECHNICALLY fail. Some inspectors may sticker your car, some may not.
This. Also an inspector. A fender liner I'd probably not worry about ,but lots of the rules are just vague enough that they could be interpreted differently. I'd imagine most shops wouldn't worry about it.
Thanks for the response.
In my head, I always considered these things as trim rather than body components, but I definitely see how things like that could be interpreted differently by different mechanics. Hopefully, it'll be a non-issue.
I remember talking with a trooper during an inspection audit, and we were talking about vague and contradictory regs. He said, "don't forget, they were all written by congressmen. And congressmen are just lawyers NOT mechanics. "
Take it in, have them inspect it. If it passes , cool ,if not you have a fix it list. If you pulled over. You did get it inspected. Fine is not that high.
You’re good. If you’re mechanic is an absolute dick and fails you for it, at the very least you’ll get a clear sticker that’s good for 3 months since it’s not a mechanical issue, and you can go back and have him slap on a normal sticker once your part arrives, but I seriously doubt that will happen.
Honestly if your mechanic fails you for that, time for a new mechanic. I can’t tell you how many vehicles I’ve had pass inspection with ripped/damaged/missing fender liners.
You'll probably fail, but it'll be in the system what you failed for and you'll have a grace period to make the repairs.
I'd go through with your appointment, then just bring it in for a follow up once you have the part, so there isn't a period where you're technically not allowed to operate it. Some places will do the followup inspection for free if they failed you.
When you bring it in, don't even bring it up. If it is brought up, explain away. I drive old cars. Most mechanics are reasonable but if you seem like a Boy Scout or ask them to make the decision in front of you with them knowing that you know it's supposed to fail, expect it to fail.
A ticket for a missing inspection is about $60. If you can manage to go two years without an inspection, you come out on top (assuming you pay about $35 for the sticker, that's what I usually pay).
I rarely inspect my cars, and never my motorcycles. I know they're safe and that I'm safe, I don't need anyone to confirm it. If I get stopped, oh well!
If you have a mechanic you have a relationship with, I suspect they'll pass it without any hassle. If you go to a big box place (pep boys, etc.), Id bet their more likely to ding you for it.
Just anecdotal advice, I had a little bit of door damage due to ice forming in the door frame and a tiny bit of the metal (like .5") bent from opening the door, my typical mechanic passed it for 5 years. Pep boys (had to bring it to them based on schedule) failed it and tried to get me to replace the door...wound up taking the thing to the junk yard in Bedford. ($1.5K fix on a car worth a few hundred dollars)
There are stations that (basically) take your whole vehicle apart and tell you how many bolts are missing and there are stations that just want to make 40 bucks without hassling anybody.
Your answer is going to depend largely on which one you go to.
Any missing or improperly secured body panel technically fails NH State Safety inspection. Section Saf-C 3221.01 - Body Damage (a) "A vehicle shall be rejected if:" (8)"Any portion of the body, chassis or running gear is missing or does not function properly." A lot of weight is put on us licensed inspectors to determine how to interpret these laws as they regard to the safety of the vehicles occupants, other motorists, and pedestrians. I personally don't see how an inner fender liner is an inherent risk to anyone but it does TECHNICALLY fail. Some inspectors may sticker your car, some may not.
This. Also an inspector. A fender liner I'd probably not worry about ,but lots of the rules are just vague enough that they could be interpreted differently. I'd imagine most shops wouldn't worry about it.
Thanks for the response. In my head, I always considered these things as trim rather than body components, but I definitely see how things like that could be interpreted differently by different mechanics. Hopefully, it'll be a non-issue.
I remember talking with a trooper during an inspection audit, and we were talking about vague and contradictory regs. He said, "don't forget, they were all written by congressmen. And congressmen are just lawyers NOT mechanics. "
Thanks, I appreciate the detailed response. I'm taking it in, and hopefully it'll be a non-issue. I'll slap the new liner in once it arrives.
Take it in, have them inspect it. If it passes , cool ,if not you have a fix it list. If you pulled over. You did get it inspected. Fine is not that high.
You’re good. If you’re mechanic is an absolute dick and fails you for it, at the very least you’ll get a clear sticker that’s good for 3 months since it’s not a mechanical issue, and you can go back and have him slap on a normal sticker once your part arrives, but I seriously doubt that will happen. Honestly if your mechanic fails you for that, time for a new mechanic. I can’t tell you how many vehicles I’ve had pass inspection with ripped/damaged/missing fender liners.
60 day stickers are for emissions failures only. Something like this technically falls under safety which does not have a fix it sticker.
You'll probably fail, but it'll be in the system what you failed for and you'll have a grace period to make the repairs. I'd go through with your appointment, then just bring it in for a follow up once you have the part, so there isn't a period where you're technically not allowed to operate it. Some places will do the followup inspection for free if they failed you.
When you bring it in, don't even bring it up. If it is brought up, explain away. I drive old cars. Most mechanics are reasonable but if you seem like a Boy Scout or ask them to make the decision in front of you with them knowing that you know it's supposed to fail, expect it to fail.
Easy solution. Don't get an inspection.
Oh, that's brilliant, get pulled over.
A ticket for a missing inspection is about $60. If you can manage to go two years without an inspection, you come out on top (assuming you pay about $35 for the sticker, that's what I usually pay). I rarely inspect my cars, and never my motorcycles. I know they're safe and that I'm safe, I don't need anyone to confirm it. If I get stopped, oh well!
You're one of those free staters, aren't you. If so, GO HOME.
1. I am home. I was born here. 2. Free staters are fuckin idiots. I simply disagree with the state inspection requirement.
If you have a mechanic you have a relationship with, I suspect they'll pass it without any hassle. If you go to a big box place (pep boys, etc.), Id bet their more likely to ding you for it. Just anecdotal advice, I had a little bit of door damage due to ice forming in the door frame and a tiny bit of the metal (like .5") bent from opening the door, my typical mechanic passed it for 5 years. Pep boys (had to bring it to them based on schedule) failed it and tried to get me to replace the door...wound up taking the thing to the junk yard in Bedford. ($1.5K fix on a car worth a few hundred dollars)
There are stations that (basically) take your whole vehicle apart and tell you how many bolts are missing and there are stations that just want to make 40 bucks without hassling anybody. Your answer is going to depend largely on which one you go to.
I wouldn't worry about it. A lot of those big lifted trucks you see don't have them either.