Roadkill cars... no MOT in USA?
Discussion
So I've recently been watching Roadkill during this lockdown. I find it a very funny show and a good way to waste 40mins. However it leaves me with a question! America mustn't impose any sort of car safety policies. Some of these cars they drive are dangerous at best, down right killing machines at worse. In the UK you get pulled for a light build out, some of there cars have torches strapped to the fenders as lights! 🤣. I know some of this is did for entertainment, but the conditions of some of these vehicles is horrendous! Do some states have zero safety regs and are these the states they are filming in?
I’m pretty sure it varies from state to state. Some states only really care about emissions checks (California smog regs?).
Even in Canada I’m sure you only need an ‘MOT’ when you buy a car and it doesn’t need another til the next owner buys it.
As much as I moan about our strict MOTs I think it’s better than having little/ no annual checks.
Even in Canada I’m sure you only need an ‘MOT’ when you buy a car and it doesn’t need another til the next owner buys it.
As much as I moan about our strict MOTs I think it’s better than having little/ no annual checks.
America isn't all one big homogenous country where everything's the same in every state. It's safer to think of each state (or group of states) as an individual countries with its own rules, and work from there. There are different income taxes and sales taxes in different states and even completely different property laws.
Until relatively recently new cars were sold in different specifications in different states, particularly as regards emissions. A more and more states joined California with its tough rules manufacturers started building all their cars to the tightest rules so the new cars are "50 state compliant".
However, some states still have relatively relaxed rules and hence more scope for "messing about with cars" than others.
Until relatively recently new cars were sold in different specifications in different states, particularly as regards emissions. A more and more states joined California with its tough rules manufacturers started building all their cars to the tightest rules so the new cars are "50 state compliant".
However, some states still have relatively relaxed rules and hence more scope for "messing about with cars" than others.
Nevada is a truly weird state and probably doesn't waste money enforcing much against penniless shack dwellers in the desert so long as they don't cause any trouble. The factoids below paint a picture,
Nevada is as big as the entire UK,
It's population is tiny at only 3 million people and they almost all live around just two cities, Las Vegas and Reno,
Las Vegas is a law unto itself, in the middle of the desert.
Reno is so close to California, and to nothing else, that it's very similar to California.
The state capital is Carson City which is small, with a population of only 50,000 people,
A staggering 80% of the state's land mass is under Federal control (Washington DC) rather than controlled by the state government.
So the bottom line is a couple of cities, a lot of empty space and not much else.
Nevada is as big as the entire UK,
It's population is tiny at only 3 million people and they almost all live around just two cities, Las Vegas and Reno,
Las Vegas is a law unto itself, in the middle of the desert.
Reno is so close to California, and to nothing else, that it's very similar to California.
The state capital is Carson City which is small, with a population of only 50,000 people,
A staggering 80% of the state's land mass is under Federal control (Washington DC) rather than controlled by the state government.
So the bottom line is a couple of cities, a lot of empty space and not much else.
From what they suggest in the videos their cars are clearly illegal but the punishment is minor so it is worth doing.
Similarly, the American attitude to speeding fines seems just to be the cost of doing business rather than any risk to one's liberty or driving licence.
Similarly, the American attitude to speeding fines seems just to be the cost of doing business rather than any risk to one's liberty or driving licence.
Edited by Truckosaurus on Sunday 21st March 11:27
They’ve answered these types of questions pretty regularly (in the Roadkill Extras, if you have a subscription). Usually cops car more about insurance and permits rather than a vehicles road worthiness.
I’ve been to the south quite a few times with work especially around the Houston area and the amount of battered, damaged and clearly dangerous cars you see stop doing 70+ on their motorways boggles the mind.
I’ve been to the south quite a few times with work especially around the Houston area and the amount of battered, damaged and clearly dangerous cars you see stop doing 70+ on their motorways boggles the mind.
rockin said:
Nevada is a truly weird state and probably doesn't waste money enforcing much against penniless shack dwellers in the desert so long as they don't cause any trouble. The factoids below paint a picture,
Nevada is as big as the entire UK,
It's population is tiny at only 3 million people and they almost all live around just two cities, Las Vegas and Reno,
Las Vegas is a law unto itself, in the middle of the desert.
Reno is so close to California, and to nothing else, that it's very similar to California.
The state capital is Carson City which is small, with a population of only 50,000 people,
A staggering 80% of the state's land mass is under Federal control (Washington DC) rather than controlled by the state government.
So the bottom line is a couple of cities, a lot of empty space and not much else.
And unmarked graves in the desert.Nevada is as big as the entire UK,
It's population is tiny at only 3 million people and they almost all live around just two cities, Las Vegas and Reno,
Las Vegas is a law unto itself, in the middle of the desert.
Reno is so close to California, and to nothing else, that it's very similar to California.
The state capital is Carson City which is small, with a population of only 50,000 people,
A staggering 80% of the state's land mass is under Federal control (Washington DC) rather than controlled by the state government.
So the bottom line is a couple of cities, a lot of empty space and not much else.
Interstingly, in ccomparing mile-for mile accident rates for inspection and non-inspection states, they found that the strictness of inspection, if any, had no statistically signifcant effect on accident rates or fatalities.
At the end of the day, the vast majority of accidents are caused by inattention, and to be perfectly honest that's more likely to happen in modern ipads-on-wheels than your clattering 40 year old banger held together by duct tape and rust. Accidents caused by mechanical failure are vanishingly rare.
Our MOT is one of the strictest going and we've got not shortage of horrendous car crashes. Seems like a waste of time to me.
At the end of the day, the vast majority of accidents are caused by inattention, and to be perfectly honest that's more likely to happen in modern ipads-on-wheels than your clattering 40 year old banger held together by duct tape and rust. Accidents caused by mechanical failure are vanishingly rare.
Our MOT is one of the strictest going and we've got not shortage of horrendous car crashes. Seems like a waste of time to me.
South Carolina has no state inspection for vehicles. It is one of 15 states that does not require an inspection....
I used to live in SC and taught Automotive Tech for a while at a community college. The state of some of the vehicles was unbelievable at times, stuff that you'd never imagine going wrong with cars etc. and they're still on the road!
I used to live in SC and taught Automotive Tech for a while at a community college. The state of some of the vehicles was unbelievable at times, stuff that you'd never imagine going wrong with cars etc. and they're still on the road!
toohuge said:
South Carolina has no state inspection for vehicles. It is one of 15 states that does not require an inspection....
I used to live in SC and taught Automotive Tech for a while at a community college. The state of some of the vehicles was unbelievable at times, stuff that you'd never imagine going wrong with cars etc. and they're still on the road!
Yup.....I live in SC. Absolutely no MoT or emissions testing of any kind. As someone above mentioned this means many drive on dangerous tyres(tires....ahem ) and results in needless accidents in the rain. I used to live in SC and taught Automotive Tech for a while at a community college. The state of some of the vehicles was unbelievable at times, stuff that you'd never imagine going wrong with cars etc. and they're still on the road!
Now, I’m pretty sure a cop could pull you over and ticket you for bald tyres or a light bulb out etc as those things may be an offence but the onus is on the vehicle owner to ensure compliance ....I guess.
You often see expensive high cars like BMWs a few years old with well worn tyres.
Same with rust. It’s not unusual to see older cars with completely rusted out sills rolling around. You only need a rear number plate here too. I drive my 1960 Daimler SP250 with my SC plate on the rear and on the front a reproduction UK plate of its original UK numberplate, no issues.
Gilhooligan said:
I’m pretty sure it varies from state to state. Some states only really care about emissions checks (California smog regs?).
Even in Canada I’m sure you only need an ‘MOT’ when you buy a car and it doesn’t need another til the next owner buys it.
As much as I moan about our strict MOTs I think it’s better than having little/ no annual checks.
Even in Canada I’m sure you only need an ‘MOT’ when you buy a car and it doesn’t need another til the next owner buys it.
As much as I moan about our strict MOTs I think it’s better than having little/ no annual checks.
Varies by Province but out West there are no MOTs , the only time you need a vehicle inspected is when it's going to be registered in a different Province .
rockin said:
America isn't all one big homogenous country where everything's the same in every state. It's safer to think of each state (or group of states) as an individual countries with its own rules, and work from there. There are different income taxes and sales taxes in different states and even completely different property laws.
Until relatively recently new cars were sold in different specifications in different states, particularly as regards emissions. A more and more states joined California with its tough rules manufacturers started building all their cars to the tightest rules so the new cars are "50 state compliant".
However, some states still have relatively relaxed rules and hence more scope for "messing about with cars" than others.
If cars sold in different states were different specs, how did moving cars between states work? Did they have to be modified to meet the regulations of the state they were going to if they were tighter, much like exporting and importing cars between other countries?Until relatively recently new cars were sold in different specifications in different states, particularly as regards emissions. A more and more states joined California with its tough rules manufacturers started building all their cars to the tightest rules so the new cars are "50 state compliant".
However, some states still have relatively relaxed rules and hence more scope for "messing about with cars" than others.
Blakewater said:
If cars sold in different states were different specs, how did moving cars between states work? Did they have to be modified to meet the regulations of the state they were going to if they were tighter, much like exporting and importing cars between other countries?
As far as I know there were specs for California only and the rest of America and probably only emissions related.California has some very strict requirements with, I think, pre 1974 being the completely exempt year and it’s not a rolling year. From 1974 upwards there’s a sliding scale of emission requirements.
This makes CA compliant cars more desirable to that market. If you have a late 70’s car in another state with no emissions requirements many owners remove all the emissions equipment. If that car were to be sold back into CA it would have to have the factory fitted equipment added and be functional. This can be a big pain. I think you can only have X attempts at the CA emissions test and if your car can’t pass it gets marked as a gross polluter. Not sure what happens then.
Some other states have emission requirements but they have a 25 year exemption.
For example, there were two versions of the Triumph TR8 sold in the US, the rest of the US got the twin carb and CA got the fuel injection version. At the end they may all have been FI cars though.
I imported a 1992 pre-cat TVR Griffith in 2017 when they became legal to import. I didn’t have to do any modifications to it to allow me to register it in my state of SC. When I sold it I don’t think a CA buyer could buy it because CA has stricter emission requirements than Federal ones.
What boggles my mind is in most states you can buy and build a Cobra kit car and register is as a 1965 car! Engine swaps can, in theory I think, be a bit questionable but often it seems a blind eye is turned.
Blakewater said:
If cars sold in different states were different specs, how did moving cars between states work? Did they have to be modified to meet the regulations of the state they were going to if they were tighter, much like exporting and importing cars between other countries?
Exactly that, although in reality normal humans would never attempt to undertake such expensive re-working and certification. They'd just buy a compliant car. When you see the Jay Leno type resto-mods in California they will typically have a modern engine and driveline complete with the latest emissions controls lifted straight from a current production vehicle, albeit bought as a "crate" package. Both Corvette and Mustang tick all the right boxes in the V8 department and their engines/drivelines can breeze through the certification process.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff