Both Ken’s Service Center locations are certified Maryland State Inspection Facilities. Give your nearest location a visit when one or more of your vehicles requires inspection to stay legal on our state's roads.

Get directions:

Our Hanover inspection site is only about 15 minutes from Ft Meade, MD.

When Does My Vehicle Need a Maryland State Inspection?

In Maryland, there are two primary reasons drivers need to get a state or safety inspection:

• You are selling a pre-owned vehicle
• You are a new resident

If you're putting a pre-owned vehicle up for sale, it is generally your responsibility to obtain a valid inspection certificate. In cases involving class E trucks, class F truck tractors, and G freight trailers (as well as semi-trailers and dump service semi-trailers), you or the purchaser may obtain the inspection certificate. After obtaining the certificate, the purchaser must submit it to the Motor Vehicle Administration to successfully register the vehicle.

If you're a new resident, you'll need to register your vehicle within 60 days of moving. Waiting beyond this time forfeits any tax credit you could receive for having paid titling tax in another state. It may also make you subject to an out-of-state registration penalty. Please note that your vehicle will need a Maryland state inspection even if it recently passed inspection in another state. To get an inspection, you may need to apply for a 30-day temporary registration that allows you to legally drive your vehicle to a certified inspection center.

Learn more from the Motor Vehicle Administration: MVA state inspections.

Maryland State Inspection Checklist

A list of items that will be inspected are listed in every authorized state inspection facility and can be found below for your convenience. During each state safety inspection, our team must:

1.OBTAIN VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND ODOMETER READING

2. INSPECT STEERING FOR:

(A) STEERING WHEEL CONDITION

(B) STEERING COLUMN CONDITION

(C) LASH

(D) TRAVEL FOR JAMMING OR BINDING

(E) LINKAGE FOR EXCESSIVE FREE PLAY

(F) POWER STEERING CONDITION

(G) VEHICLE MUST BE ROAD TESTED

3. INSPECT WHEEL ALIGNMENT FOR:

(A) TOE READING

(B) CASTER AND CAMBER ONLY IF ROAD TEST INDICATES

(C) REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT & AXLE

4. INSPECT SUSPENSION FOR:

(A) BALL JOINT WEAR

(B) KING PIN OR SPINDLE BOLT CONDITION

(C) WHEEL BEARING CONDITION

(D) SPRINGS AND TORSION BAR CONDITION

(E) SHOCK ABSORBER OR STRUT CONDITION

5. INSPECT BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR:

(A) STOPPING DISTANCE, EITHER ROAD TEST OR DECELEROMETER

(B) HYDRAULIC SYSTEM CONDITION

(C) DRUM AND DISC CONDITION

(D) LINING AND PAD CONDITION 2/32 I- NCH GENERAL MINIMUM

(E) GENERAL CONDITION OF MECHANICAL LINKAGE

(F) VACUUM OR HYDRAULIC BOOSTER SYSTEM

(G) CONDITION

(H) PARKING BRAKE FUNCTION

6. INSPECT TIRES AND WHEELS FOR:

(A) CONDITION OF TIRES, SIZE, TYPE AND TREAD DEPTH

(B) CONDITION OF WHEELS, NUTS, STUDS, OR LUGS

7. INSPECT FUEL SYSTEM FOR:

(A) FUEL TANK CONDITION AND LEAKS

(B) CHOKE, HAND THROTTLE AND ACCELERATOR OPERATION

8. INSPECT EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR:

(A) CONDITION OF MANIFOLD, ALL PIPING, MUFFLER, RESONATOR AND THE TAIL PIPING. TO INCLUDE LEAKS AND PROPER MOUNTING

9. INSPECT BUMPERS FOR:

(A) CONDITION OF BUMPERS INCLUDING HEIGHT AND PROPER MOUNTING

10. INSPECT FENDERS FOR:

(A) CONDITION OF FENDERS TO INCLUDE MOUNTING AND COVERAGE OF WHEELS AND TIRES

11. INSPECT LIGHTING FOR:

(A) CONDITION AND FUNCTION OF OF ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT LIGHTING AND WHATEVER ADDED LIGHTS ARE AUTHORIZED

(B) INSPECT HEAD LIGHTS FOR CONDITION, CANDLE POWER OUTPUT AND AIM

(C) INSPECT AUXILIARY OR FOG LIGHTS FOR AIM AND PROPER MOUNTING

12. INSPECT MIRRORS FOR:

(A) CONDITION OF MIRRORS TO INCLUDE UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW OF BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MIRRORS WHEN REQUIRED

13. INSPECT VEHICLE GLAZING FOR:

(A) PROPER MATERIALS USED FOR SPECIFIC LOCATIONS

(B) OPERATION OF DRIVER WINDOW

(C) DAMAGE THAT EXCEEDS ALLOWABLE LIMITS

(D) TINTING NOT INCORPORATED INTO THE GLAZING EXCEPT AS NOTED IN THE PROCEDURES

14. INSPECT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FOR:

(A) SATISFACTORY OPERATION AND CONDITION OF ARMS AND BLADES

15. INSPECT HOOD/CATCHES FOR:

(A) CONDITION AND PROPER FUNCTION OF HOOD FOR FULL CLOSURE

16. INSPECT DOORS, HANDLES AND LATCHES FOR:

(A) CONDITION AND PROPER FUNCTION OF ALL DOORS, LATCHES, HINGES AND HANDLES

17. INSPECT FLOOR AND TRUNK FOR:

(A) HOLES OR RUSTED OUT AND WEAKENED CONDITIONS IN FLOOR OR TRUNK PAN

18. INSPECT SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER FOR:

(A) OPERATION AND LEGIBILITY

(B) REGISTER IN MPH OR KILOMETERS

19. INSPECT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR:

(A) PROPER CONDITION AND FUNCTION OF HORN

(B) CONDITION OF WIRING AND SWITCHES

(C) NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ONLY

(D) CONDITION OF BATTERY CABLES AND HOLD DOWN

20. INSPECT DRIVERS SEAT FOR:

(A) PRESENCE, CONDITION AND MOUNTING

21. INSPECT SAFETY BELTS FOR:

(A) PRESENCE, CONDITION AND OPERATION AND MOUNTING

22. INSPECT MOTOR MOUNTS:

(A) IF ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED WITH; CHECK PRESENCE AND CONDITION

23. INSPECT GEAR SELECTION INDICATOR FOR:

(A) PROPER INDICATION OF CORRECT POSITION

24. INSPECT UNIVERSAL JOINTS / CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINTS FOR:

(A) ATTACHMENT AND WORN, DAMAGED, OR LOOSE JOINTS

(B) TORN OF DAMAGED CV BOOTS

25. INSPECT EMISSIONS EQUIPMENT FOR PRESENCE AND PROPER CONNECTION:

(A) CATALYTIC CONVERTER

(B) POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION

(C) AIR INJECTION SYSTEM

(D) EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION SYSTEM

(E) EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEM

If you have any questions or concerns about a Maryland state inspection, feel free to contact us in person, over the phone, or online. We're happy to assist you.