Can a car that wouldn't pass state inspection be traded in?

[shocksyde]

I've got a car that WOULD NOT pass a state inspection. I have no 3rd brake light, and my headlights are not OEM equipment. They are frankenstein xenon projectors taken from an Infinity FX35 (My car is an Altima).

Do dealers take trade-ins like this?

 

[Brutus04]

Yes it can...will not get top dollar.

 

[bruceb]

First why would it not pass inspection ? ? ?
The headlights, as long as they are properly aimed
in most states, will not be an issue. As to the third
brake light, is it not there or just not working ?
If not working, it is just a bulb or two. You have nothing to
lose by trying inspection. Worst it fails with 30 days to fix it.

 

[shocksyde]

Originally posted by: bruceb
First why would it not pass inspection ? ? ?
The headlights, as long as they are properly aimed
in most states, will not be an issue. As to the third
brake light, is it not there or just not working ?
If not working, it is just a bulb or two. You have nothing to
lose by trying inspection. Worst it fails with 30 days to fix it.

3rd brake light is completely removed and the entire back deck is reupholstered to cover up the holes. But now that I think about it, a trip to the junkyard and ~$50 should take care of that problem.

The headlights are definitely aimed correctly, it's just that the ones I have on there weren't even available as an option with the car. Doesn't that violate DOT regulations? Although, like stated above, I could get replacements at the junkyard.

So, all in all, maybe I'm worrying about nothing.

 

[MovingTarget]

Hmmm... I don't think non-original headlights violate DOT rules, as long as they are aimed correctly. As for the third brake light, depending on the specific regulation, it may not be necessary. Many cars on the road today still have no third light at all. The minimum is that your regular brake lights are in working order. That should be sufficient. What you might have the most trouble with inspection-wise will be emissions. Many states are pretty strict there as far as replacement engines/exhaust systems/etc. If that is ok, then you should be fine.

Coming from a state that does not do vehicle inspection: neener neener neener... Depending where you are, you might be able to sell it in a place that wouldn't give you a hassle as long as it ran and had the lights/signals working.

 

[oiprocs]

You can't trade in salvages, can you?

 

[shocksyde]

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Hmmm... I don't think non-original headlights violate DOT rules, as long as they are aimed correctly. As for the third brake light, depending on the specific regulation, it may not be necessary. Many cars on the road today still have no third light at all. The minimum is that your regular brake lights are in working order. That should be sufficient. What you might have the most trouble with inspection-wise will be emissions. Many states are pretty strict there as far as replacement engines/exhaust systems/etc. If that is ok, then you should be fine.

Coming from a state that does not do vehicle inspection: neener neener neener... Depending where you are, you might be able to sell it in a place that wouldn't give you a hassle as long as it ran and had the lights/signals working.

Yeah, my car has no mechanical problems, and the only "performance" mod is an intake, which can also be replaced with OEM equipment easily.

I guess this means I'm test driving a IS 250 this weekend

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
As for the third brake light, depending on the specific regulation, it may not be necessary. Many cars on the road today still have no third light at all. The minimum is that your regular brake lights are in working order. That should be sufficient.

While it's true that 2 brake lights *should* be sufficient and I'd imagine legal, I really can't think of too many cars which don't have the third (a psychological study showed that people noticed it a lot more than the traditional 2). Examples? I'm sure that I'm forgetting something...

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Hmmm... I don't think non-original headlights violate DOT rules, as long as they are aimed correctly. As for the third brake light, depending on the specific regulation, it may not be necessary. Many cars on the road today still have no third light at all. The minimum is that your regular brake lights are in working order. That should be sufficient. What you might have the most trouble with inspection-wise will be emissions. Many states are pretty strict there as far as replacement engines/exhaust systems/etc. If that is ok, then you should be fine.

Coming from a state that does not do vehicle inspection: neener neener neener... Depending where you are, you might be able to sell it in a place that wouldn't give you a hassle as long as it ran and had the lights/signals working.

Since the headlights are from another vehicle on which they were approved, they are fine. The illegal HID kits are the ones that are aftermarket.

The third brake light is Federally required on all cars as of the 1986 model year. On any car that is a model year 1986 or later, it is not DOT legal without a center high-mount stop light ("third brake light"). This is a Federal regulation that does not change from state to state.

As for the OP's question, it's possible that the dealer will accept the car as a trade-in, but most likely at a substantially reduced value. Customized cars have a much smaller pool of potential buyers and represent a much greater risk to a normal dealership.

ZV

 

[shocksyde]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Hmmm... I don't think non-original headlights violate DOT rules, as long as they are aimed correctly. As for the third brake light, depending on the specific regulation, it may not be necessary. Many cars on the road today still have no third light at all. The minimum is that your regular brake lights are in working order. That should be sufficient. What you might have the most trouble with inspection-wise will be emissions. Many states are pretty strict there as far as replacement engines/exhaust systems/etc. If that is ok, then you should be fine.

Coming from a state that does not do vehicle inspection: neener neener neener... Depending where you are, you might be able to sell it in a place that wouldn't give you a hassle as long as it ran and had the lights/signals working.

Since the headlights are from another vehicle on which they were approved, they are fine. The illegal HID kits are the ones that are aftermarket.

The third brake light is Federally required on all cars as of the 1986 model year. On any car that is a model year 1986 or later, it is not DOT legal without a center high-mount stop light ("third brake light"). This is a Federal regulation that does not change from state to state.

As for the OP's question, it's possible that the dealer will accept the car as a trade-in, but most likely at a substantially reduced value. Customized cars have a much smaller pool of potential buyers and represent a much greater risk to a normal dealership.

ZV

Thanks, that was helpful.

I think all I'd have to do is put the original wheels back on (still have em with tires on), get the OEM air intake, and get the OEM third brake light. Ding!

 

[bruceb]

First, the wheels are not a concern to an inspection. They are looking at the condition
of the tires for wear. Second the air intake Will Not make a car fail inspection. I use a
K & N Filter on my car (99 grand prix) and it passes it's emission test with flying colors.
What state are you testing in ? ?

 

[marvdmartian]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The third brake light is Federally required on all cars as of the 1986 model year. On any car that is a model year 1986 or later, it is not DOT legal without a center high-mount stop light ("third brake light"). This is a Federal regulation that does not change from state to state.

Well, the definition of high mount will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and I oftentimes find myself shaking my head at third brake lights that aren't more than 6" higher than the other brake lights. I know the vehicles I've had have all had 'em pretty high, but I've seen some (convertibles, especially) where it's just a joke.

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: marvdmartian

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The third brake light is Federally required on all cars as of the 1986 model year. On any car that is a model year 1986 or later, it is not DOT legal without a center high-mount stop light ("third brake light"). This is a Federal regulation that does not change from state to state.

Well, the definition of high mount will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and I oftentimes find myself shaking my head at third brake lights that aren't more than 6" higher than the other brake lights. I know the vehicles I've had have all had 'em pretty high, but I've seen some (convertibles, especially) where it's just a joke.

haha i'm pretty sure on my z4 the so called third taillight is the one on the lip of the trunk, its literally at the same level as the rear break lights.

 

[shocksyde]

Originally posted by: bruceb
First, the wheels are not a concern to an inspection. They are looking at the condition
of the tires for wear. Second the air intake Will Not make a car fail inspection. I use a
K & N Filter on my car (99 grand prix) and it passes it's emission test with flying colors.
What state are you testing in ? ?

Inspection would be in Maryland. I wasn't planning on removing to aftermarket intake for emissions reasons, it's b/c "performance mods" tend to lower the value of the vehicle.

I'd put the stock wheels back on so that I could sell the rims/tires I have now.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: Brutus04
Yes it can...will not get top dollar.

NO trade in to a big dealer will get top dollar.

If you want top dollar for your used car - sell it yourself.

 

[thomsbrain]

I realize this isn't helpful, but removing the third brake light must be the dumbest mod I can possibly imagine.

I take it back. Removing the brakes to save weight is a little bit dumber.

I would expect that if the dealer notices these mods, they'll still take it, but they won't give more than 50% of the trade-in value. The reason is simple: they can't sell that car on their lot, period. For one thing, it would be a huge liability risk, as well as making the dealer look low-class and cheap (What Lexus dealer wants a riced Altima anywhere near its lot?). The car will go to an auction house, which in turn won't pay anything remotely resembling auction-house value because, again, it has modifications that pose safety and liability risks. It will be sold "as-is" to some 16-year-old for a tiny fraction of what a stock car could have fetched on the open market. In 12 months it will be wrapped around a telephone pole. Just another reason to save your money for a better car instead of modifying the one you have.

/Doom and Gloom.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: RichieZ

Originally posted by: marvdmartian

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The third brake light is Federally required on all cars as of the 1986 model year. On any car that is a model year 1986 or later, it is not DOT legal without a center high-mount stop light ("third brake light"). This is a Federal regulation that does not change from state to state.

Well, the definition of high mount will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and I oftentimes find myself shaking my head at third brake lights that aren't more than 6" higher than the other brake lights. I know the vehicles I've had have all had 'em pretty high, but I've seen some (convertibles, especially) where it's just a joke.

haha i'm pretty sure on my z4 the so called third taillight is the one on the lip of the trunk, its literally at the same level as the rear break lights.

I agree, but I didn't set the terminology.

ZV

 

[DanTMWTMP]

A bit off-topic here:

I've never heard of State inspections? I only know of the required smog checks for car registration. Damn, I hope I'm not violating anything since in all my years of driving, I've never gone in for a state inspection (never heard of it)...

Is it just another term for getting a smog check?

goddamn I feel like such a noob...

 

[shocksyde]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
A bit off-topic here:

I've never heard of State inspections? I only know of the required smog checks for car registration. Damn, I hope I'm not violating anything since in all my years of driving, I've never gone in for a state inspection (never heard of it)...

Is it just another term for getting a smog check?

goddamn I feel like such a noob...

In Maryland they're only required when the vehicle changes owners, I believe.

 

[shocksyde]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
I realize this isn't helpful, but removing the third brake light must be the dumbest mod I can possibly imagine.

I take it back. Removing the brakes to save weight is a little bit dumber.

I would expect that if the dealer notices these mods, they'll still take it, but they won't give more than 50% of the trade-in value. The reason is simple: they can't sell that car on their lot, period. For one thing, it would be a huge liability risk, as well as making the dealer look low-class and cheap (What Lexus dealer wants a riced Altima anywhere near its lot?). The car will go to an auction house, which in turn won't pay anything remotely resembling auction-house value because, again, it has modifications that pose safety and liability risks. It will be sold "as-is" to some 16-year-old for a tiny fraction of what a stock car could have fetched on the open market. In 12 months it will be wrapped around a telephone pole. Just another reason to save your money for a better car instead of modifying the one you have.

/Doom and Gloom.

WOW. Uh....yeah....

I removed the brake light because it was rattling.