Vehicle Safety Inspections

Vehicle Safety System Inspection (VSSI) Station in Riverside, CA

Authorized Emission & Vehicle Safety System Specialists

CSAI Smog Check Center is licensed by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Automotive Repair as an official smog check STAR station and vehicle safety system inspection station. We’re proud to offer these services to California drivers from two convenient locations: CSAI Auto Service and CSAI Smog Check Center. For speedy in-and-out service, you can schedule at our dedicated Vehicle Safety System Inspection and STAR Smog Check Inspection here.

Vehicle safety systems inspections

Inspections under the Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection (VSSI) Program (Assembly Bill 471, Low, Chapter 372, Statutes of 2021) began statewide on July 8, 2024. The inspection combines the brake and lamp inspections with vehicle safety systems checks. Revived salvage vehicles must pass the inspection before being registered with DMV. Once registered, these vehicles can return to the road under a salvage title.

Only a licensed technician working in a licensed station may perform a vehicle safety systems inspection and authorize the issuance of a certificate of compliance. When performing a vehicle safety systems inspection, the technician shall inspect the condition of all required vehicle safety systems, in accordance with the applicable procedures in the vehicle safety system inspection manual. This will allow any/all condition(s) that result in the vehicle failing the safety systems inspection to be addressed at the conclusion of the completed inspection.

Vehicle Safety System Inspection Overview

• Vehicle Safety Recalls
  • Upon inspection of the vehicle identifying information entered by the technician, the State shall automatically check for any safety recalls identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the vehicle being inspected. A vehicle with an unrepaired safety recall identified by the NHTSA shall fail the vehicle safety systems inspection. Click here to check for applicable recalls prior to inspection.
• Lighting System Inspection
  • The inspection of the lighting system shall consist of checking the condition and operation of original equipment, any replacement and customer added lights, and reflectors.
• Passenger Compartment Inspection
  • The inspection of the vehicle’s passenger compartment shall consist of separate inspections of items located in or on the passenger compartment to ensure they are functioning as designed by the manufacturer. Those items, when equipped, include the windshield, windshield wiper(s), mirrors, seats, seatbelts, child seat lower anchors and tethers (LATCH) system, rear window, and a visual inspection of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).
• Tire and Wheel Inspection
  • The inspection of the vehicle’s tires and wheels is intended to ensure the tires are safe, the wheels are free of cracks and bends that would cause them to be unsafe, and the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), if equipped, is functioning.
• Brake System Inspection
  • The inspection of the brake system shall consist of checking the condition of the vehicle’s brakes to ensure that the component parts and systems are functioning properly and comply with manufacturer and component manufacturer specifications.
• Steering and Suspension Systems Inspection
  • The inspection of the steering and suspension systems is a physical and visual inspection that will include any and all bushings, bearings, ball-type socket joints, arms, rods, struts, bars, subframes, belts, power assist fluids, steering gears, steering columns, shocks, springs, linkages, and steering and suspension related sensors, switches, and wiring.
• Body Structure Inspection
  • A vehicle requiring a vehicle safety systems inspection may have been deemed a total-loss due to severe accident damage, which could have severely altered the shape and structure of the frame or unibody. The body structure inspection is a visual inspection of the vehicle panels, frame/unibody, fuel system, and other components.
• On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) Equipped Vehicles (2000 & Newer)
  • A road test is the last portion of the vehicle safety systems inspection. A road test may reveal problems or defects that are not readily apparent during the static inspections. The road test shall consist of a stopping test, a visual inspection of the instrument cluster and any controls, and an evaluation of the control and stability of the vehicle at speed according to the requirements of this chapter. When performing a road test, the vehicle must be driven at a sustained speed of no less than 30 miles per hour (mph) for a distance long enough to assess all the systems covered in this Vehicle Safety System Inspection Overview