Missouri Drivers Pay $12 For A Safety Inspection. A New Bill Says That’s $12 Too Many

Drivers used to watching the limit creep downward year after year may want to look at what is happening in Missouri, because the direction of travel is the other way. A new bill would raise speed limits on rural, four-lane highways from 70 mph (113 km/h) to 75 mph (121 km/h). The same legislation also proposes ending vehicle safety inspections across the state.

Senate Bill 1408 has undergone several revisions since first clearing the Missouri Senate when it was initially focused on speed limits. It’s now been expanded to include other transportation-related matters and will need to be deliberated in the Missouri House chamber before getting final approval.

Read: Missouri Might End Safety Inspections, But Fake AI Stories Say It Already Happened

A separate bill was introduced earlier this year to scrap safety inspections for nearly all passenger vehicles. Owners of vehicles more than 10 years old with more than 150,000 miles on the clock must undergo a safety inspection every 2 years, in addition to any ownership change or when a law enforcement official directs an inspection after an accident. These inspections include checks of the lights, brakes, suspension, tires, exhaust, and other parts, and cost just $12.

The Changes

Through this latest bill, the safety inspection requirements would be removed for all motor vehicles from January 1, 2027, except salvage vehicles immediately following a rebuilding process, and vehicles directed by law enforcement to get an inspection after an accident. In addition, the bill will authorize licensed new and used motor vehicle dealers to perform the same inspections as other authorized inspection stations.

The bill also includes a separate change for salvage vehicles. As per current laws, an owner of a vehicle with a salvage title does not need to repair or restore the vehicle to its original appearance to complete a vehicle examination, as long as the car is 10 years or older. This would be changed to remove the requirement that the vehicle be 10 years of age or older, meaning no salvage vehicle needs to be restored or repaired to its original appearance, regardless of age.