Railroadman

This actually came up when I got my C-4 (it's a 1992) inspected but it obviously has relevance here. Long story, but the bottom line is the dealership hit me the standard $21 fee. They showed it as $15 for the inspection, and $10 for an emission inspection sticker. (even though no sticker was involved)

Digging into it, the fee for the vehicle inspection itself should be $10. There should be no emission inspection required.

I followed up by sending a question through the State DMV's web site, and received the answer "Any vehicle year 1995 or older are (sic) not required to have an emission inspection done when performing an annual inspection."

So for C-1 through C-3, and partway through C-4, your New York inspection cost should only be $10.00, not the $21.00 which we pay for our newer vehicles.

3JsVette

The inspection fee is printed on the inspection receipt.
Just ask for a copy of the NYS DMV inspection printout.

Brian VH McHale

Report that dealership to the NYS DMV.

Railroadman

FWIW, here's the reply from DMV:



And the chart of fees:

67's

Don,
The sticker is different on a car over 25 yrs old, it says Safety on it also.

Tom M

phil2302

It is a $10 inspection. It's a grab if any dealer is charging more.
BTW why go to a car dealer for an inspection?
Go to a local trusted repair shop that does the inspections. It takes 5 minutes.
Deal with someone you know and avoid the mumbo jumbo b/s and then tip the tech who does it.

Railroadman

Not disagreeing, but that's the first I have heard of that. As far as I knew it was the same sticker. Both of my newer vehicles which are here say "Safety/Emissions Inspection", you are saying the 25+ YO car only says "Safety"? I'll look at the Vette tonight.

Even at that, I don't see anything in the DMV info which says there is an additional charge.

The C-4 is 27 years old, and I took it to the same dealer last year for inspection, being charged $21. I'm considering sending a letter to the dealership enclosing copies of the DMV response, and requesting an $11 refund for each of those 2 years. If I get it, fine, if not, I will at least see what their logic is as to why they think they are entitled to the extra.

Railroadman

Yep, lesson learned. In the past I used to take the car to a Corvette specialty shop for inspection. I don't have a lift and I always had their guys do an oil change and just eyeball the whole underside overall in case I was missing something. That place is no longer in business. Some of their techs went to a different dealership from the one I have the problem with, who specialize in Vettes, but they are 30 miles away and last year they were booked well in advance so I settled on the place closer to home.

The dollar amount is not a huge deal but they got me PO'd. They failed the car for inspection, noting 4 items. Two of those were legitimate, one was not actually an inspection defect, and the 4th - brakes - was totally unneeded. Their suggested price for the work was way north of $1,000. When I went to do the brakes, the "metal on metal" they noted was total fabrication. Pads were still very legal. I measured the rotors, then took them to a local garage who used a micrometer, and they had about 30% of their life left. Supposing I had told the dealership to go ahead and do the work, what's chances they would have said they made a mistake and I didn't need brakes after all?

Next year I'll either go to the local garage, or will make the 30 mile trip out east to the other dealer.

Wayne88

You 'New York' guys should move over to New Jersey; there's no inspection at all needed for cars 25 years and older.

One caveat: New Jersey has the highest property tax in the country.

Railroadman

I disagree, I heard we have the highest property tax in the country! Na-na nana, our state sucks worse than yours does! (altho at least here we can pump our own gas!) If it were not for grandchildren, I would be gone from here.

phil2302

$1100. Wow what a ballsy rip off attempt. I would report that place.
Its really amazing what some people will stoop to for $.
Ask around, talk to friends and find the closest local shop with an honest rep. Dont need a Vette shop for a safety insp. The C2 is a simple no tech Chevy.
Be the very first guy in the morning and you wont have to leave it there or talk to them about when you can have it done while you wait.
They check brakes, tires, all lights, no view obstructing windshield cracks, park brake.
Thats it. The hood never even gets opened unless there is a problem with any front end lights.
Pay the $10, tip $10 and believe me they will remember you next year.

Railroadman

Phil, I have a local shop I have gone to for years for our DD's. I always took the C-4 to the specialty shop just because those guys knew Vettes and worked on them all the time. In fairness to the dealership in question, only $400 of that estimate was the brake job. But when you consider that it was not needed at all, it's still a rip-off. I might add that another $66 of the estimate was for replacing a light bulb. I don't know whether to laugh or cry! What's sad is there are some people who don't know any better, or who CAN'T do work themself, and they get hosed.

When the C-2 hits the road - HOPEFULLY sometime next spring - I'll be taking it to the "good" dealer for alignment and inspection. But I agree, they are not rocket science, and another "plus" for the local garage is they will let me be right there, instead of quarantined to a waiting room.

MikeM

You've mentioned "tip", twice now. Do you have to pay extortion money in New York State to get a legal,process that has a rate set by the state? What does paying a tip do for you?

phil2302

Really? Its for the 26 year old mechanic working is butt off taking time out from the Toyota he is working on and taking care of me, a long time customer pulling in asking for an inspection, being taken in in 5 minutes, getting it done in 5 minutes and then followed by a 10 minute chat with the shop owner who is a neighbor.
If you think being generous for service well rendered is extortion well I dont know what to tell ya,

Railroadman

I make an appointment at the local garage and they get me in as promised. Not a tipping situation in my book. If I pulled in unexpectedly with a problem and they jumped on it, maybe a tip would be in order, or perhaps I'd stop back with a box of donuts.

vettebuyer6369

Didn’t think I was able to hear of an advantage of moving from Mass to IL, but no more vehicle inspections sure sounds like one.

phil2302

Having mandatory car inspections is just another way of state gov putting their hand in our wallets.

Brian VH McHale

I roll in like Phil, and have a choice of many. I like the old in and out.

Wayne88

Sorry, New Jersey has the title.
But I agree, I'd be out of here if not for family and friends.

Article from June 4, 2019

SJW

You have reported this incident to the state attorney general's office, haven't you?

Live well,

SJW