Case Studies

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Case Study: State Inspection

by Todd Low

Automotive Technology

The State of Utah requires a state inspection on all vehicles registered in the state. Utah safety inspection entails a service of a licensed inspector to check roughly 50 to 75 separate items on each automobile. If any of the items checked are found to have failed after the inspection, the inspector and shop stand liable for any accidents.

A Utah safety inspection costs the owner of the vehicle $10, and the State of Utah gets $1 of that, so the shop gets $9. Shop labor rates usually run between $45 to $50 per hour. In order to just break even, the shop inspector must be able to perform the complete inspection in 1/5 of an hour, or approximately 12 minutes.

A proper safety inspection should involve the following steps:

Pull wheels and drums to check brakes.
Raise car on a hoist to check suspension and steering
Check headlights, taillights, turn signals, etc. for brightness and aiming

These procedures usually take approximately 40 to 50 minutes to be properly done. Thus, the shop must pay the inspector for 45 minutes work, and must pay the State of Utah $1.00 for each certificate. The shop loses money on every inspection performed. However, if anything does not pass inspection, the shop will usually be paid to repair the problem.

Questions:

Is it fair for the State to allow the shop to charge only $10 for an inspection?

Would it be ethical to skip some of the items on an inspection to cut down the time?

Do some shops recommend unnecessary repairs?

Is it ethical to "sell up" other services available at the shop; i.e., "Can we fill your car, or would you like us to do a lube job on the car while it is here?"