Millions of people today aren’t getting their annual checkup. They aren’t going to the doctor for a number of reasons. You may think that you are going to be just fine, and if there’s nothing wrong, then you don’t need to go. The same goes with dentists. People are so afraid of dentists that they don’t go get a checkup that they are supposed to have done every 6 months. What does this all have to do with automotive repair? Well, the thing is, many people’s health issues relate to the same thing that people experience with their vehicles.
The big issue is that your car is not going to be running well for a lifetime. You may think that it can, and in some instances, it can in fact work very well. But what if it doesn’t? What happens when your vehicle isn’t running so well? You’re going to find that there are a variety of issues that come with your vehicle’s wear and tear. You may be driving a few miles a day, not really paying close attention to the minor details, but the car may be breaking down. A little sputter here and there, a noise in the engine, a back fire, and so much more could be seen as warning signs that your car is in fact not doing so well.
That’s just the beginning, because there are a lot of things at play when it comes to vehicle emissions testing. This may seem like something that is rudimentary at first glance, but honestly, many people forget to look into it from time to time, until the DMV comes knocking with a request to renew or to check things out. This is very important, and if you’re not sure as to why it matters so much, consider a few notes in regards to this simple element.
Protecting Against Modern Issues
Every car today is made to last, within reason. Your car may last you 10, 20, or even 30 years if you maintain it well. The problem is, there are normal wear and tear elements that are at play. Even if you were to take very good care of your vehicle, you’ll still need to subject it to testing from time to time. In fact, experts suggest that cars be tested very 2 to 4 years to ensure that they are doing well moving forward. You may think that this is a lot, but it’s not. Think of it like you would medical testing.
Sometimes, you will need to work with medical testing to ensure that you don’t have illnesses like cancer, or something else. Tests aren’t bad, they help people see what is wrong, and that’s what is going on with vehicle diagnostics today. When you go to get emissions testing done, you’ll be able to not only see if there’s something wrong, but you can apply a fix so that it doesn’t get worse.
What If You Fail Testing?
If your vehicle is taken into a shop and it fails the testing needed, don’t panic. Every state is different, and there are waivers that can be garnered in order to continue driving your vehicle. However, there are some things that you should know about beforehand. The biggest deal here is that you’ll have to spend money on repairs. In some states the low end of repairs can be as simple as $450. However, the costs in other states could be upwards of $750.
You have to not only have this done right, you have to get proof that you did the repairs, and that the mechanic has run the testing again only for your car to fail. Emissions tests can end up being an awful thing to deal with, if you’re not careful, which is why you may want to look at what your local DMV requires here.
Knowing The Exemptions
There are some vehicles that are exempt from all testing. This is a good thing. However, you need to know which autos are part of this, and which ones are not. Not every auto on the road is exempt, even though some may think that they are. In many states, brand new cars don’t have to get retested upon registration as the dealership will have the passing records, and more. Another exemption is placed often for motorcycles, farm equipment, and government vehicles. Now, there are some other options like hybrids, clean diesel, and electric vehicles that are also exempt from this. Hot rods, and cars made before 1967 are also in this category sometimes, and it’s up to you to read through those exemptions with the DMV as you may not have to deal with any emissions testing at all.
Never Ignore Your Vehicle’s Signals
Your car may be sending you signals. It may not be illuminated in the dash up front, but it’s important to consider. Your vehicle is going to be telling you that something is wrong via the way it drives. Your car may start to be sluggish, it may have a sputter when you turn it on, and it may die on you from time to time. Don’t relegate this to age or anything like that.
Always double check to see if the problem can be replicated. If it can, run it by a mechanic and let them utilize diagnostics to figure out what is going on. The last thing that you want is for something to be seriously wrong with your car, and not know it. In a way, that’s what emissions tests do for you. The test lets you know if your car is sending signs.
At the end of the day, the whole purpose of testing is for the health of your car, and the environment as well. To comply with the laws in your local area, you simply need to stay on track with testing, so that you can gain the upper hand on the road. You want to drive with peace of mind, well, that’s what you get with this option.
