I recently had a state-required safety inspection performed on my car. Everything came back as in working order, but my brakes started squeaking a few weeks later.
It got me to wondering, are brakes checked during inspection? All state safety inspections require that the mechanic check your brake system, but the thoroughness of the check varies from state to state. Many routine services and regular inspections also include a brake inspection.
But this isn’t the full story. Some states don’t require state inspection at all, and the rules vary from state to state. Read on to find out all the details.
State Inspections
The point of a state-required inspection is to ensure that your vehicle does not lose its functionality to the point that it becomes a danger to yourself or others when you drive it. It is looking for a minimal level of safety.
But when it comes to your brakes, you might not want just a minimum level of safety.
Only 19 states in the US require annual or biannual vehicle safety inspections.
A few states require an inspection only when the car transfers to a new owner, but most require no inspection despite the fact that safety inspections help make the roads safer (source).
Here are the states that require inspections:
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Washington, DC (not a state, but still requires inspections)
(source)
It is important to note however that the quality of the inspection required from state to state varies greatly. Some states basically only require that the brakes work, with a few guidelines as to what that means, while other states have more stringent guidelines.
New York state for example, only requires that one front tire be removed to inspect the brakes. If this is as far as the mechanic went, then a problem in the back brakes would not be detected. (source)
If you have any of the warning signs of brake trouble, even if you have recently had an inspection, you should get your brakes checked out. With your brakes, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
What Happens During a Brake Inspection
A brake inspection is a thorough evaluation of your entire brake system. This is not the same inspection your mechanic would do at a state safety inspection.
Some garages and service stations offer brake inspection for free in the hopes of drumming up some business.
How thorough the brake inspection is will vary depending on where you take your car, but a brake inspection may include the following:
- A test drive, especially if you mentioned any strange noises
- Visual inspection of all parts of the brake system including brake pads, calipers, hoses, rotors, booster, and master cylinder.
- Inspection occurs both under the hood, behind the tires, and in the undercarriage.
- The wheels will be removed in order to inspect all parts of the brake system.
- Rotors will be inspected and measured using a micrometer.
- Brake fluid inspection, and maybe a Strip Dip brake fluid test
- All seals, valves, gaskets, and connections are inspected
- Brake booster check
- Emergency brake inspection
Services that Include a Brake Inspection
Oil Change. Service shops, like Jiffy Lube, provide preventative maintenance services like brake inspections as part of their oil change service.
Multi-Point Inspection. Any multi-point inspection offered by some garages would include a brake inspection.
Tire Change or Rotation. Some garages will include a visual inspection of the brake pads when they rotate your tires or when they replace your tires, but this is not a thorough inspection of the entire system.
How Often Should You Have Brakes Inspected
The average cost of a thorough brake inspection is between $88 and $111. There are no parts associated with this service, so the cost is all labor costs. Thankfully, you do not need this kind of thorough brake inspection often.
There is no guideline about how often the brakes should be inspected as it is difficult to estimate how fast any one brake system wears.
From driver to driver and car to car, the wear and tear placed on your brake system vary depending on how much driving you do, your personal driving style, and the conditions under which you drive.
If you frequently drive in areas with stop and go traffic and steep mountainous terrain, your brake system will be used much more often and will wear much rapidly.
In addition, your brake system will also wear more quickly if you have a tendency to ride your brake or slam on the brakes often.
A good rule of thumb is to have a visual inspection of your brakes performed when you have your tires rotated approximately every 6,000 miles. This is a convenient time as the tires will already be off the car, and the brake rotors will be easily visible.
Inspecting the Brakes Yourself
Without extensive mechanical knowledge, it would be difficult to do the level of inspection you would get at a garage, but you can do a visual inspection on some parts of the brake system.
Inspecting the Brake Pads
To inspect the brake pads, you will probably only need a flashlight. The brake pads are visible on most cars by looking through the holes in the tire. If the brake pad has reached ¼ of an inch in thickness, they need to be changed.
If you cannot see the brake pads, you will need to jack up the car and take off the wheel in order to see them.
Inspecting the Rotors
Inspecting the rotors requires a little extra work. You will need to jack up the car and remove the tire in order to see the rotors.
It is impossible to know if your rotor is the legal thickness just by looking at it. Mechanics use specially designed micrometers to measure the thickness of rotors.
But you can inspect the rotors for grooves or rust, which are both signs that they need to be replaced.
Inspecting the Brake Fluid
The brake system is a closed circuit, meaning in theory, you should never be low on brake fluid, but the reality of this closed circuit is that occasionally, a little fluid might escape.
If you are running low on brake fluid, it is a good indication that there is a fluid leak in your brake system, and you should have it checked out. It is very easy to check your brake fluid level.
First, you need to pop the hood and locate the master cylinder fluid reservoir. In newer vehicles, the reservoir is translucent and usually white. The lid of the reservoir should also be clearly labeled.
Since the reservoir is translucent, you are able to tell if your brake fluid is low without opening the reservoir. Brake fluid should not be needlessly exposed to air, so do not open the reservoir unless you must.
Older cars require a little more effort because they have a metal reservoir. Be sure to clean off the lid before opening the reservoir to avoid getting debris in your brake fluid. Check the fluid level by looking into the reservoir.
If your brake fluid is low, you can top it off with the type of brake fluid recommended in your car’s owner’s manual.
Be very careful when dealing with brake fluid, as it is very caustic. It can strip the paint off your car or car parts and will irritate your skin. It should be washed off immediately.