Inspection Station Minimum Requirements

Minimum Space Requirements

Pursuant to Saf-C 3206.02, each inspection station shall:

• Have a testing space that has no obstructions and is large enough for a mechanic to walk around a vehicle with its doors open;
• Be a minimum of 12 feet by 25 feet in length, if the station inspects motor vehicles;
• Be a minimum of 12 feet by 50 feet in length, if the station is equipped with a headlight testing screen or board; and
• Be a minimum of 8 feet by 12 feet in length, if the station inspects only motorcycles

Tools and Equipment

Pursuant to Saf-C 3206.04, each inspection station shall have the following tools and equipment:

• A brake drum gauge;
• A gauging device to measure the thickness of brake pads;
• A ball joint gauge;
• A lift or jack, capable of hoisting a vehicle to check its:
  • Ball joints;
  • Suspension linkage;
  • Wheel play;
  • Exhaust system;
  • Undercarriage; and
  • Frame of the vehicle;
• Tools necessary for the proper assembly and disassembly of any parts, which shall include:
  • Hammers;
  • Portable lights;
  • Socket sets, including metric sizes;
  • Wrenches, including open and box end;
  • Screwdrivers; and
  • Electrical test lights;
  • Headlight aimer(s) or headlight board capable of determining the proper headlight angle of all vehicles to be inspected;
  • Tint meter, if the station inspects vehicles with tinted glass;
  • An on-board diagnostic scan tool capable of communicating with all model year 1996 or newer on-board diagnostic equipped light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks; and
  • any other tools necessary to conduct a proper vehicle inspection.

Motorcycle Inspection Required Tool List (pursuant to Saf-C 3206.04(10))

• Each inspection station shall have the following equipment to inspect motorcycles:
• Straight line on floor (to check tracking of wheels)
• Straight edge with pointed end, minimum three feet long, and a two foot level (to check trail)
• Adjustable protractor (capable of checking rake on front forks)
• Vernier caliper (to measure thickness of rotors)
• Tire pressure gauge
• Tread depth gauge
• Decibel meter (ANSI Type 1 or 2, capable of external calibration and equipped with a wind screen)
• External Field Calibrator with an accuracy of plus of minus 0.5 decibels
• Anemometer (for measuring wind speed)
• Tachometer (for measuring engine speed of motorcycles not so equipped)
• Tape measure
• Headlight aiming board or machine
• Frame lift (to lift front or rear wheel off the floor)

Inspection School/Field Test

Saf-C 3205.03 Attendance at Inspection School

A management representative and all mechanics who seek approval to conduct inspections shall attend one session of the department's monthly inspection school which is held at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the DMV Concord office, 23 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH, or other location as the director shall determine. Each mechanic shall also be required to attend refresher sessions of the monthly inspection school, as necessary. Inspection School classes are open to the public; however, pre-registration is required and can be done by calling the Dealer and Inspection Desk at (603) 227-4120 prior to the class.

In the event a mechanic is deficient in any area necessary to the completion of an inspection, the director shall require the mechanic to undergo re-training at the monthly inspection school.

Saf-C 3205.04 Mechanic Field Test

Following attendance at the monthly inspection school, a State Trooper shall contact those seeking approval to conduct inspections to schedule an appointment for a trial inspection.

The person shall demonstrate his/her ability to inspect a motor vehicle based upon the inspection criteria contained in the rules.

Any mechanic who has not conducted inspections for a period longer than one year shall:

• Attend the inspection school pursuant to Saf-C 3205.03; and
• Meet the requirements of above.

All inspection stations (with the exception of motorcycle) shall be required to obtain an OBD II computer from Gordon Darby. You may reach them by calling (800) 383-4124.