Mr. Tire on the outskirts of Leonardtown inspected my last vehicle for a reasonable price. I think it was $60 at the time. I had already replaced the headlights since the lenses were fogged. They warned me that the rear shoes were reaching the point of replacement, but were within specs.
While people like to rag on Mr Tire, the one in California inspected two cars for me and I had the same experience. They pointed out the items that were getting close to coming due but passed it because they were still within spec.
I have heard good things about the leonardtown and California one but the one in mechanicsville is such a rip off I think they give them all a bad name.
Don't shop on price. Look for the shop that fleeces you the least on unneccesary repairs to 'pass' inspection.
IIRC the state limits the 'inspection' price
its the - oh you need a head light adj, your brake pads need replaced, that coast
LOL, when I saw this thread I had the same thought, the state gives the official fee, but then there is how much you need to bribe the inspector to get the certificate.
I have heard good things about the leonardtown and California one but the one in mechanicsville is such a rip off I think they give them all a bad name.
Good point. I took a car in for inspection once, and the shop failed it on headlight adjustment. I had JUST adjusted them the night before, because I could tell they were out of position when I got it. But they wanted to bill me something ludicrous ($60?) to adjust them again. Even worse, they told me that yes, I COULD take the car home and re-adjust them myself, but then I'd have to pay another inspection fee all over again, while if they did the work, they'd just sign off on the inspection then-and-there.LOL, when I saw this thread I had the same thought, the state gives the official fee, but then there is how much you need to bribe the inspector to get the certificate.
Good point. I took a car in for inspection once, and the shop failed it on headlight adjustment. I had JUST adjusted them the night before, because I could tell they were out of position when I got it. But they wanted to bill me something ludicrous ($60?) to adjust them again. Even worse, they told me that yes, I COULD take the car home and re-adjust them myself, but then I'd have to pay another inspection fee all over again, while if they did the work, they'd just sign off on the inspection then-and-there.
While MD is certainly no libertarian's paradise, I'm SO glad I don't have to deal with Virginia's annual car inspection anymore. It makes these shenanigans barely tolerable.
Yup, mysteriously, the cost to do whatever bull#### they have found is always $1 less than what it would cost to get the car re-inspected. The state could fix that problem by making the re-inspection of up to 3 items part of the initial inspection fee. So if it's just a fuel-cap with a bad seal and a burned out bulb, they can't play their little fleecing game.
While people like to rag on Mr Tire, the one in California inspected two cars for me and I had the same experience. They pointed out the items that were getting close to coming due but passed it because they were still within spec.