What the End of NH State Inspections Means for Drivers

Michael Baldassarre
Sep 12
3 min read

Exterior of Baldassarre Automotive in North Hampton NH with blog graphic text “NH Ends Car Inspections: What Drivers Must Know” about the state ending annual vehicle safety inspections. — New Hampshire will end annual car inspections in 2026

A Major Shift for NH Drivers

The Keene Sentinel recently covered a big change: starting January 31, 2026, New Hampshire will no longer require most vehicles to pass yearly safety inspections. Tires, brakes, lights, rust, and other key systems will no longer be checked on a state-mandated schedule. Instead, that responsibility now rests entirely on drivers.

Police can still stop cars with obvious issues, but there will be no more annual inspection reminder to catch problems before they become dangerous.

What the Article Got Right

We agree with many of the voices quoted in the Sentinel:

Rust is a serious threat in New England. Road salt eats away at suspension, brake lines, and frames. Without inspections, hidden corrosion may go unnoticed until it causes a breakdown or accident.
Many drivers are unaware of what’s happening under their car. As one mechanic in the article pointed out, people are often shocked when shown how bad rust or wear has gotten.
The risk of unsafe vehicles on the road will likely increase. Mechanics and law enforcement both warned that ending inspections could mean more crashes tied to equipment failure.
Breakdowns may replace routine checks. Shops may see fewer scheduled inspection appointments but more emergency calls when parts fail unexpectedly.

These points line up with what we see daily at Baldassarre Automotive. Inspections weren’t perfect, but they gave drivers a structured reason to get their car looked over once a year.

Our Perspective at Baldassarre Automotive

From our side of the lift, inspections have always been about catching problems early and giving customers peace of mind. Ending the program doesn’t make rust disappear or brake pads last longer. It just means you have to be more proactive.

We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve had a vehicle in for inspection and found something the driver had no idea about—whether it was a brake line about to fail or suspension parts ready to snap. Without those checks, these issues could have turned into dangerous or costly surprises.

What Drivers Should Do Now

Even without a state-mandated inspection, you can protect yourself and others by:

Scheduling regular maintenance. Oil changes, tire rotations, and brake checks are natural times to also look over the essentials.
Booking seasonal check-ups. A quick look before winter and summer driving can save headaches later.
Asking for a safety check. Anytime your car is in our shop, we’ll happily do a courtesy review of the basics—just like we did during inspections.

One of our customers put it best:

“Mike was excellent. He was friendly, explained everything and went over the vehicle from top to bottom. This inspection was worth its weight in gold.”

That level of transparency and trust will not change, regardless of state policy.

The Bottom Line

We echo the concerns raised in The Keene Sentinel article. Ending inspections will save some drivers the hassle of scheduling an annual appointment, but it also removes a safeguard that has kept unsafe vehicles off the road for decades.

👉 Our advice: stay ahead of the curve. Treat maintenance and safety checks as a responsibility, not just a legal requirement. Your car—and your safety—are worth it.

📍 60 Lafayette Rd, North Hampton, NH

📞 603-964-0178

For further details, you can read the full article in The Keene Sentinel.