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Georgia Car Inspection
How Georgia Car Inspections Work
Many states have statewide regulations that require routine vehicle inspections for all vehicles. These inspections help to detect faulty car parts and reduce the risk of car accidents. But unlike other states, the application of Georgia’s vehicle inspection laws is not uniform. It varies depending on several factors, such as the location and the purpose of the vehicle.
As a Georgia resident, you must understand the vehicle inspection laws applicable to your vehicle and location. Knowing the law can help you understand how to keep your vehicle in good condition, which would help keep you and other road users safe.
Complying with the law is also essential because keeping your car in good working condition can help you avoid liability if you’re involved in a car accident. Read on as we explain how this works and the types of vehicle inspections you may need to undergo.
Types of Car Inspections Required in Georgia
Emissions Testing
Georgia operates a comprehensive emission testing program- the Georgia Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Program, also called Georgia’s Clean Air Force. The program requires certain gas-powered vehicles to annually undergo emissions tests to help motorists identify and fix any defects in their emissions systems.
Because vehicle parts are interconnected, these tests could also reveal other faulty car parts jeopardizing your safety. So, compliance benefits you and keeps you from being on the wrong side of the law.
What Type of Vehicles Require Emissions Inspection?
Georgia’s Clean Air Force requires emissions testing for gas-powered vehicles and light-duty trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 8,500 or less. Alternative fuel vehicles do not require an emissions test.
Older vehicles from 25 years and up also generally do not require emissions testing even if they are gas-powered and meet the weight requirements because they are few on the road.
But because new vehicles are presumed to still have working emissions control systems, newer model vehicles produced in the last three years are excluded from emissions testing for each year. For example, suppose you own a 2022 model vehicle. In that case, you and anyone who owns 2021 to 2023 model vehicles are exempt from emissions testing for 2023. But by 2025, your immunity will expire, and you’ll need to comply with the emission testing requirements if your car is registered in any of the covered counties.
What Counties in Georgia Require Routine Emissions Testing?
The emissions testing program does not apply to the entire state but is only required for vehicles registered in certain counties in the Atlanta metro area with high levels of air pollution. The covered counties include :
- Cherokee
- Clayton
- Cobb
- Coweta
- DeKalb
- Douglas
- Fayette
- Forsyth
- Fulton
- Gwinnett
- Henry
- Paulding
- Rockdale County.
If you live in any of these counties, you’ll need to get your vehicle inspected every year unless you qualify for any of the available exemptions. Contact Georgia’s Clean Air Force Customer Service Center to learn more about the exemptions to the annual emissions inspection requirement.
FMCSA Inspections for Commercial Trucks
The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) is an agency under the Federal Department of Transportation. It is tasked with regulating the activities of commercial motor vehicles across the country that are engaged in interstate commerce, among other functions. As part of their function, the FMCSA has established specific safety rules that bind trucking companies and truck drivers whose vehicles fall within the scope of their administration.
Parts of the FMCSA rules require trucking companies to routinely inspect their commercial motor vehicles yearly to ensure they are safe to drive. Truck drivers must also inspect their vehicles before embarking on a trip to minimize the risks of trucking accidents.
Trucks that do not pass or are not inspected should not be on the road because they are unsafe. If you’ve suffered a personal injury in a road accident involving such a vehicle, you may be able to claim compensation from the driver, trucking company, or insurance company based on their non-compliance with the law. Speak with a car accident lawyer as soon as possible to learn your options.
Inspections Required By the Georgia Department of Public Safety
The Georgia Code empowers the officers of the state Department of Public Safety to stop, inspect or test any vehicle in the state if they reasonably believe the car is unsafe.
Once the department has sent you a notice of inspection, you must limit your use of the vehicle until the inspection is complete and the department certifies that it is roadworthy.
If your vehicle is found to be unsafe, you would need to fix the faulty parts and obtain a certificate from the department to that effect within 30 days of the initial inspection; driving your vehicle would be illegal otherwise.
How Georgia Car Inspection Laws Can Affect Your Personal Injury Claim
Complying with Georgia’s car inspection laws helps you keep your vehicle in top shape and could keep you safe from road accidents. It could also help you avoid blame if you get involved in a car accident where you or anyone else suffers Personal Injury, and here’s how.
Georgia is an at-fault state when it comes to claiming compensation for personal injury and damages caused by others. This means that after an accident, an injured person’s compensation depends on who is responsible for the accident. If the other driver is responsible, then the victim can claim compensation from them or their insurance company. But if the victim is shown to have contributed to the accident in any way, the amount of compensation they can get is limited depending on the extent of their contribution. By Georgia’s modified comparative negligence rule, they may not get compensation if they are shown to be at least 50 percent responsible for the accident that harmed them.
Insurance companies always seek reasons to avoid payment on car accident claims. If you were driving a faulty car at the time of the accident, especially when you failed to undergo a statutory vehicle inspection, they can interpret that as you being responsible for or contributing to the accident, which could make them deny or downplay your personal injury claim even if you were not actually at fault. Keeping your vehicle in good shape gives them less ammunition to use against you in such circumstances.
Still, all hope is not lost if you’re already facing such issues. You can seek help from experienced car accident attorneys who can help you navigate the insurance claims process and disprove the insurance company’s claims against you. With their help, you stand a better chance of getting the compensation you deserve regardless of the state of your car.
Contact Do Law Office for Help With Your Personal Injury Claim
Failing to comply with Georgia’s car inspection laws can work against you and affect your ability to claim compensation if you sustain personal injuries in a car accident. But you can overcome those challenges and get the appropriate compensation with a skilled car accident lawyer by your side.
That is our goal at Do Law Office- to help people like you navigate the insurance claims process and recover compensation even if the odds are stacked against them. We understand the tactics insurance companies use to deprive claimants of their entitlements. As such, you can trust us to go all the way to counter their efforts and help you succeed with your case, even if it means filing a personal injury lawsuit against them.
So, if you have questions about filing a compensation claim for personal injury when you did not comply with car inspection laws or Georgia’s Car Seat Laws, do not hesitate to contact us for answers. Let us assess your case and help you determine a suitable strategy to achieve your goals.
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