Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 540 CMR - REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLES › Title 540 CMR 4.00 - Annual safety and combined safety and emissions inspection of all motor vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers and converter dollies › Section 4.03 - Requirements for Initial and Subsequent Annual Inspection

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1)
General
			 Provisions
. Every owner or person in control of a Massachusetts
			 registered motor vehicle shall submit the vehicle for inspection under 540 CMR
			 4.03(1)(a) through (i):
(a)
Inspection Upon Registration
. Every owner or person in
			 control of a motor vehicle which is newly acquired in the Commonwealth shall
			 submit such motor vehicle for a required inspection within seven days of the
			 date on which the motor vehicle is registered to said owner in the
			 Commonwealth.
(b)
Subsequent Inspection
. Every owner or person in
			 control of a Massachusetts registered motor vehicle shall submit the vehicle
			 for the required inspection annually, no later than the date of expiration on
			 the previously issued Certificate of Inspection or as notified in a manner
			 prescribed by the Registrar. Early renewals are permitted.
(c)
Validity of Certificates of
			 Inspection
. Certificates of Inspection displaying void(s) due to a
			 windshield replacement, which are also displaying a duly issued Windshield
			 Replacement Certificate, shall be valid until the expiration of the Certificate
			 of Inspection or when ownership of the vehicle is transferred, or as notified
			 in a manner prescribed by the Registrar, whichever occurs first.
(d)
General Registration
			 Holders
. Every motor vehicle owned by a General Registration
			 holder, except for motor vehicles held for sale and demonstration by a dealer,
			 shall be inspected pursuant to
			 540 CMR 4.00.
(e)
Farm Tractor
.
			 Any tractor or other self propelled vehicle used exclusively for agricultural
			 or farming purposes, except automobiles and trucks, the use of which is
			 declared by the owner or person in control thereof to be restricted to the
			 period from a ½ hour before sunrise to a ½ hour after sunset and
			 which is operated in or upon any way during such period shall be inspected and
			 shall be equipped with one stop light and with brakes as manufactured,
			 including a stationary brake with ratchet and pawl.
(f)
Out of State
			 Registration
. Motor vehicles submitted for inspections that are
			 registered in any other state or jurisdiction shall be inspected in accordance
			 with the applicable provisions of
			 540 CMR 4.00 and the policies
			 and procedures established by the Registrar. Vehicles registered in any other
			 state or jurisdictions are not required to have an active or valid
			 registration.
(g)
Inspection upon Return to Commonwealth
. A motor
			 vehicle which is not garaged or operated within the Commonwealth during its
			 assigned inspection period may be operated for 15 days after its return to the
			 Commonwealth if the motor vehicle bears satisfactory proof of adequate
			 Emissions or Safety and Emissions Inspection from another jurisdiction. The
			 owner or person in control of the vehicle shall submit the vehicle for required
			 inspection within said 15 days. A motor vehicle which is not garaged or
			 operated within the Commonwealth during its assigned inspection period may be
			 operated for three days after its return to the Commonwealth if the motor
			 vehicle does not bear satisfactory proof of inspection from another
			 jurisdiction. The owner or person in control of the vehicle shall submit the
			 vehicle for required inspection within said three days. All vehicles actively
			 registered which are either not garaged or operated within the Commonwealth or
			 temporarily off the road and unable to be inspected during their assigned
			 inspection period must notify the Registrar no later than the date of
			 expiration on the previously issued Certificate of Inspection in a manner
			 prescribed by the Registrar.
(h)
Common Carrier Motor Vehicles
. The mandatory
			 inspection requirements of
			 540 CMR 4.00 are not a
			 substitute for any inspection which may be required by the Department of Public
			 Utilities pursuant to M.G.L. c. 159A.
(i) The Registrar, in his or her discretion,
			 may issue a waiver for any of the requirements of
			 540 CMR 4.00 if, after
			 investigation, he or she determines that such waiver is in the best interest of
			 the public good.