What vehicles are exempt from PA Safety Inspection?

Post date: Aug 20, 2018 11:47:37 AM

Every vehicle registered in Pennsylvania to operate on highways must bear a valid PA certificate of inspection except for the following:

    • Special mobile equipment.

    • Implements of husbandry.

      • Registered commercial implement of husbandry with an implement of husbandry body type.

    • Motor vehicles being towed.

    • Motor vehicles being operated or trailers being towed by an official inspection station owner or employee for the purpose of inspection.

    • Trailers having a registered gross weight of 3,000 pounds or less.

      • A trailer or semitrailer with a gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 17,000 pounds displaying a currently valid Federal certificate of inspection.

    • Motorized pedalcycles.

    • Vehicles being repossessed by a financier or collector - repossessor business or vehicles enroute to a wholesale vehicle auction by a transporter business using the appropriate miscellaneous motor vehicle business registration plates.

    • New vehicles while they are in the process of manufacture, including testing, and not in transit from the manufacturer to a purchaser or dealer.

    • Any military vehicle used for training by a private, nonprofit, tax exempt military educational institution when such vehicle does not travel on public roads in excess of one mile and the property on both sides of the public road is owned by the institution.

    • A motor vehicle registered as an antique pursuant to section 1340 (relating to antique, classic and collectible plates).

    • A motor vehicle being operated by the vehicle owner while enroute to an inspection station where an appointment for inspection has been scheduled, provided that such operation occurs no later than ten days after the expiration of a valid certificate of inspection issued under this chapter.

    • New vehicles in the possession of a second-stage manufacturer which are in transit:

      • from a dealer or distributor for completion; or

      • to a dealer or distributor upon completion.

    • A neighborhood electric vehicle.

This list of vehicles comes from Title 75 Chapter 47 § 4703.

There are also 10 day exemptions for newly purchased vehicles and vehicles that have been outside of Pennsylvania for more than 30 days:

    • A vehicle which does not display a valid certificate of inspection at the time of sale, resale or entry into this Commonwealth shall be inspected within 10 days of sale, resale or entry into this Commonwealth, whichever occurs later. The inspection shall be coordinated with the staggered registration system regardless of the date of a previous inspection in this or another jurisdiction.

    • A vehicle subject to inspection which has been outside this Commonwealth continuously for 30 days or more and which, at the time of reentering this Commonwealth, does not bear a currently valid certificate of inspection, is not required to be inspected until 10 days after reentering this Common wealth.

Vehicles registered in another state or territory are also exempt from the inspection requirement.