Post date: Mar 11, 2014 2:2:32 AM
This a great question and one that is often a source of some confusion. Here is what it states in Subchapter C of the current inspection regulations:
"An annually inspected vehicle will receive an inspection for 1 year from the expiration of the safety inspection sticker which is about to expire, except motorcycles, which receive an expiration in accordance with charts provided by the Department. A sticker may not be issued for more than 15 months from the month of inspection. If a vehicle, other than a motorcycle, does not display a currently valid certificate of inspection, the vehicle shall receive an inspection valid for 1 year from the month of inspection."
Notice that the regulations still allow for an inspection sticker to be issued for up to 15 months. This is best understood as a provision that allows inspections to be conducted (or renewed) up to 3 months prior to the expiration of the current sticker. For example, if it is March of 2014 and a vehicle comes in with a sticker expiring 05/2014, it is within 3 months and upon passing can be issued a 05/2015 sticker. In this case the three month rule, considering that the current month is March, would mean that any sticker expiring with a 3,4 or 5 would be eligible to have the new sticker matched to the same month upon passing. If, in March, a vehicle came in with a 06/2014 expiration and the customer insisted it be inspected, that is outside the three month rule and the only legal option would be to issue a 03/2015 sticker upon passing. The same expiration (03/2015) would be issued for any vehicle that comes in with a sticker that is missing or has already been expired. In April, the three month rule would progress and then 4,5 and 6 expirations would be up for inspection and eligible to be matched upon passing.
*Note: This three month provision is not applicable to Motor Carrier Vehicles as discussed in Bulletin BI19-07.
Notice that this same three month provision is in place for semiannual inspected vehicles as well, as documented in Subchapter C:
"A semiannually inspected vehicle will receive an inspection for no more than 9 months based on charts supplied by the Department."
The "9 month" allowance provides the same option for semianually inspected vehicles, allowing them to be inspected for up to 3 months prior to the expiration date.
Motorcycles are one exception to all of this and are to be inspected according to charts provided by PennDot. This is done so that no motorcycle safety inspection is set to expire in the winter months. Here is a link to the Motorcycle inspection chart.
It is also important to note that if the vehicle is registered in an emissions county, and under 9,000 GVWR it must have a valid emissions inspection prior to being issued the safety inspection sticker. The emissions sticker must be good for at least 90 days, so this means that if the emissions sticker expires in that three month window, (for March, 3, 4 or 5) it will need a renewed emissions first. If the emissions expires after the three month window, it can receive a renewed safety inspection sticker without a renewed emissions. This is requirement is expressed in Subchapter A where it states:
"Upon successful completion of a safety inspection, a certificate of inspection may be affixed to the vehicle if the vehicle’s emissions certificate of inspection is valid for more than 90 days from the date of the safety inspection."