Why a Smog Check is Necessary if you Live in Philadelphia, PA

Did you know that the state of Pennsylvania requires a smog check on vehicles before the registration can be completed? Each state manages the requirements to check the emissions, with the goal to reduce air pollution. If it is time for your car to have a smog check in Philadelphia, PA, we encourage you to contact our team at Schafer’s Auto Center.

Do You Need to Schedule a Smog Check?
How do you know if you need to have an emissions test for your car? There are several instances where these inspections are required by the state. The first time you will have this inspection is when you purchase a car and are preparing to complete the registration. The state requires that both a smog check and a safety inspection be completed at this time.

Additionally, the vehicle needs to be re-registered each year. When the registration date rolls around, you will need to take the car in for these inspections again. This schedule depends on the type of car that you drive. For example, cars that are only a few years old might only require an inspection every other year.

How to Get Your Smog Check Certificate
To complete your car registration, you need to bring in a certificate showing that the emissions inspection was done. The easiest solution is to take your car to a mechanic that you know, and they will follow the guidelines to complete the emissions test and the safety inspection. These two certificates can be provided to the registration office so that you can renew your registration for the coming 12 months.

What happens if your vehicle doesn’t pass the inspection? Don’t worry! You will have a window of time to complete the necessary repairs so that your car is compliant. If the repairs are done within this timeframe, the mechanic will offer a free check again to ensure that the vehicle meets the requirements. If you decide to wait to complete the repairs, you might need to pay for a full inspection again when you are ready to pay for the registration renewal.

Why Do All Vehicles Need These Inspections?
It might seem like a hassle to take your car in each year for these inspections. But, there are a few good reasons why the inspections are required. For example, monitoring the emissions output of each vehicle will protect the air quality here in the area. Since there are more cars on the road than ever before, air pollution levels are rising. This pollution can have a negative impact on everybody’s health. The government regulation helps to minimize the amount of pollution released by each vehicle, helping to protect our environment and control air quality.

In addition to the emissions test, the safety inspection is designed to protect all vehicles on the road. Small maintenance and repair tasks are necessary to keep a vehicle in good condition. As the owner of the car, you’ll want to make sure that you are keeping up with these tasks to keep your family protected.

Maintaining your car can also positively influence other drivers on the road. Failing to maintain your car could potentially cause an accident that involves multiple people. Regular inspections are helpful to identify small problems that might be present. As a result, you can take a proactive approach to repairing these things before the problems turn into big issues.

Requirements for Each State
If you previously lived in a state where emissions tests weren’t required, you might not be familiar with the idea that you must have a vehicle smog check each year. Remember that these regulations are governed on a state level. So, if you move from one state to another, it is important to familiarize yourself with the local requirements.

One of the best things that you can do is establish a good relationship with a trusted mechanic in the area. Car repair shops stay informed about the recommended maintenance schedules for all vehicles. Your mechanic will be able to answer your questions and offer advice about when you should bring your car into the shop.

Anytime you suspect that something might be wrong with your car, it is important that you take action right away instead of waiting for a big problem to occur. Small problems can be identified with a diagnostic inspection, helping you to maintain the performance of your car.

At Shafer’s Auto Center, we want to build a strong relationship with each customer. We offer top-notch service for every person that visits our shop. Whether it is time for a smog check, maintenance or repair work for your car, we can help! Visit Schafer’s Auto Center at 1924 S Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19148. Call us if you have any questions about the services that are available for your vehicle: (215) 755-1270