Bill
SB 742
Imposes statewide biennial vehicle inspections for Maryland vehicles aged six model years or more; issues certificates via licensed stations; expands MVA/DSP oversight and fees.
Status / key dates
- Hearing: March 5, 2025, 1:00 p.m. (per bill info)
- Introduced: early 2025 (assigned to Judicial Proceedings)
- Effective date in bill text: October 1, 2025
Purpose
- Establish a statewide, regular vehicle safety inspection requirement by requiring submission of an inspection certificate (to the Motor Vehicle Administration, MVA) on a biennial basis for motor vehicles that are at least six model years old. The intent is to ensure specified safety equipment meets State standards.
Key provisions
- Biennial inspection requirement: MVA must require submission of an inspection certificate for any motor vehicle required to be registered under Title 13 that is at least six model years old.
- Exemptions: Class L (historic) vehicles and certain classes of vehicles that are subject to a separate preventative-maintenance/inspection program are not covered.
- Inspection scope: Required examination must include (at minimum) brakes; steering column; horn; mirrors; lights; windows; windshield; windshield wipers; speedometer; and seat belts.
- Inspection certificate: Must identify the inspection station and the licensed inspection mechanic; certificate is valid for 90 days from issuance.
- Licensing and regulation: The Department of State Police (DSP) is authorized to license inspection facilities; MVA must adopt implementing regulations, including establishing a maximum fee an inspection station may charge and designating a portion of the fee to be paid or retained by MVA to cover administration and enforcement.
- Administrative limits: The bill retains statutory limits on MVA fee-setting authority (may not exceed administrative cost) and gives DSP discretion to set licensing/operation standards for inspection stations.
Who/what is affected
- Vehicle owners: Owners of Maryland-registered vehicles six or more model years old will need periodic inspections and certificates to maintain registration.
- Inspection stations / small businesses: Existing inspection stations and auto repair businesses may need additional licensing/capacity; some may benefit from increased business, others face compliance costs.
- State agencies: MVA (rulemaking, fee administration) and DSP (inspection-station licensing, enforcement) — both will see operational workload increases.
- Potential secondary effects: Vehicle owners unable or unwilling to pay inspection/repair costs may delay or forgo registration renewal.
Fiscal and operational impacts (per fiscal notes)
- Large volume: Fiscal analysis estimates roughly 3.6 million vehicles would be subject, implying ~1.8 million inspections annually (biennial schedule).
- State revenue: Net effects on the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) are uncertain:
- MVA may collect a small per-inspection administrative fee (example: $2 administrative portion illustrated at ~$2.7M in FY2026; ~$4.2M in later years).
- Conversely, registration revenue could decline if vehicle owners delay/avoid renewal because of required repairs—an illustrative 5% noncompliance scenario could reduce TTF receipts by ≈$11M annually.
- State expenditures: General fund costs likely increase for DSP to add compliance/enforcement personnel; MVA incurs rulemaking and administrative responsibilities.
- Local governments: Not expected to be materially affected.
Implementation / next steps
- MVA and DSP must adopt rules/regulations to implement inspection standards, station licensing, fee structure, and enforcement procedures.
- Inspection stations will need to be licensed/approved by DSP before issuing the new certificates.
- Vehicle owners and inspection businesses will need outreach and guidance ahead of the October 1, 2025 implementation date.
Prepared from bill text and fiscal/policy analyses associated with SB 742 (Vehicle Laws — Inspection Requirement).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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