New York inspections are strict, but most failures come down to small stuff you can catch in your driveway.
The five-minute pre-check
- Check-engine light off (a stored code is an automatic fail).
- All exterior lights working — brakes, signals, plate light.
- Wipers that actually clear the glass.
- Tires with legal tread and no cord showing.
- Windshield free of cracks in the driver's line of sight.
If your check-engine light is on, get it diagnosed before inspection day — and the diagnostic fee credits toward the fix.