New York State requires that all vehicles that are driven on the road must be inspected. Inspections must take place by a certified inspector. The car must have an inspection sticker that is current in the lower left hand side of the windshield, by the registration sticker. If your car is not up to par it may not pass inspection. Inspectors look for and check certain things to ensure the vehicle is safe. If any one of those things is faulty the car will not pass inspection until repaired.
Check your dashboard to see if there are warning lights on while the vehicle is running. Use a wire tester to check all fuses and replace any sensors, such as the oxygen sensor, which cause the "service engine soon" light to be on. Change the oil and check the levels of your car's other fluids to get the oil light to go off, and to stop overheating, all of which could contribute to your vehicle not passing NYS inspection.
Take your vehicle to a repair shop that has a lift if you were told the frame of your car or truck is the reason why it did not pass inspection. Look at it closely, looking for weak spots, cracks and excessive rust. Decide if you want to junk the vehicle due to its bad frame or if you want to have it repaired. Take proof of the repairs with you when you try to get the vehicle inspected again.
Test all of the lights on your vehicle, including the headlights, brake lights, back up lights, turn signals and four-way caution lights. Replace any bulbs that are not lighting up by removing the screws that hold the light cover on, removing it and changing the bulb. Hold the light cover in place then use the screw driver to put the screws back in through the holes on the cover to secure it back into place.
Ask the inspector if your vehicle failed due to emissions, if it is a make and model of automobile that requires an emissions test. Take your car to a certified mechanic if your vehicle did not pass NYS inspection due to emissions as this means that toxic fumes are being released and the vehicle is not safe to be on the road.
Start your car and give it some gas. Listen to see if your exhaust system is rattling and is too loud. Get down on your hands and knees and actually look underneath your vehicle at the exhaust system to see if anything is rotten, hanging or coming apart as a vehicle will not pass NYS inspection if the vehicle's exhaust is in need of repairs. Replace the exhaust then try to have it inspected again.
