Prior to 2017, Utah was the only western state to require mandatory safety inspections as a condition of vehicle ownership and use.
We issued a policy brief to call for repealing this program which siphoned over $25 million annually from Utah drivers to fund this program. Data showed that accidents from mechanical safety failures (the reason for the safety inspection program) were rare in Utah; only 3.8% of car accidents occurred due to a mechanical error. Improved roads, public education efforts, and the vehicles themselves have minimized accidents; mandatory inspections did not appear to contribute to this rate being so low.
The proposed bill was heavily opposed by companies such as Jiffy Lube and Technaglass—whose businesses benefitted from a guaranteed pipeline of state-mandated customers. But legislators were ultimately persuaded to join the majority of states that have abandoned this anachronistic program.
