North Carolina § 20-183 - 4D. Procedure when a vehicle is inspected.

Full text of North Carolina North Carolina General Statutes § 20-183 — 4D. Procedure when a vehicle is inspected., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 20-183. 4D. Procedure when a vehicle is inspected.

Receipt. - When a safety inspection mechanic or an emissions inspection mechanic inspects a vehicle, the mechanic must give the person who brought the vehicle in for inspection an inspection receipt. The inspection receipt must state the date of the inspection, identify the mechanic performing the inspection, identify the station or self-inspector where the inspection was performed, and list the components of the inspection performed and indicate for each component whether the vehicle passed or failed. A vehicle that fails a component of an inspection may be repaired at any repair facility chosen by the owner or operator of the vehicle. Electronic Inspection Authorization. - When a vehicle that is subject to a safety inspection only passes the safety inspection, the safety inspection mechanic who performed the inspection must issue an electronic inspection authorization to the vehicle at the place designated by the Division. When a vehicle that is subject to both a safety inspection and an emissions inspection passes both inspections or passes the safety inspection and has a waiver for the emissions inspection, the emissions mechanic performing the inspection must issue an electronic inspection authorization to the vehicle at the place designated by the Division. , (d) Repealed by Session Laws 2007-503, s. 6, effective October 1, 2008. When Electronic Inspection Authorization Expires. - An electronic inspection authorization issued under this Part expires at midnight of the last day of the month designated by the vehicle registration sticker of the following year. History (1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 754, s. 1; 2007-503, s. 6.) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2020-3, s. 4.7(a)-(h), as amended by Session Laws 2020-97, ss. 3.15(a), 3.16(a), provides: "(a) Definition. - For purposes of this section, 'credential' means any of the following issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles: "(1) Drivers license. "(2) Learner's permit. "(3) Limited learner's permit. "(4) Limited provisional license. "(5) Full provisional license. "(6) Commercial drivers license. "(7) Commercial learner's permit. "(8) Temporary driving certificate. "(9) Special identification card. "(10) Handicapped placard. "(11) Vehicle registration. "(12) Temporary vehicle registration. "(13) Dealer license plate. "(14) Transporter plate. "(15) Loaner/Dealer 'LD' plate. "(16) Vehicle inspection authorization. "(17) Inspection station license. "(18) Inspection mechanic license. "(19) Transportation network company permit. "(20) Motor vehicle dealer license. "(21) Sales representative license. "(22) Manufacturer license. "(23) Distributor license. "(24) Wholesaler license. "(25) Driver training school license. "(26) Driver training school instructor license. "(27) Professional housemoving license. "(b) Extend Validity of Credentials. - Notwithstanding renewal, duration, or expiration provisions of G.S. 20-7 , 20-11, 20-37.6, 20-37.7, 20-37.13, 20-50, 20-66, 20-79, 20-79.02, 20-79.2, 20-183.4B, 20-183.4D, 20-280.3, 20-288, 20-324, and 20-359, or any other provision of law to the contrary, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall extend for a period of five months the validity of any credential that expires on or after March 1, 2020, and before August 1, 2020. The Division shall extend for a period of five months the validity of any credential listed in subdivisions (6), (7), (9), (10), and (18) of subsection (a) of this section that expires on or after March 1, 2020, and before the date 30 days after the date the Governor (i) rescinds Executive Order No. 116 or (ii) issues another executive order lifting restrictions on Division of Motor Vehicles functions. Notwithstanding G.S. 20-37.13 (h) and G.S. 20-37.13 A(a), the Division of Motor Vehicles is authorized to waive the requirement that commercial drivers license and commercial learner's permit holders have a medical examination and certification, as required by federal law, consistent with any waiver of medical qualifications standards issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. A credential extended under this section shall expire five months from the date it otherwise expires as prescribed by law prior to this section. However, the subsequent expiration of a credential extended under this section shall occur on the date prescribed by law prior to this section without regard to the extension. The Division shall notify individuals affected by an extension granted under this section, including information on new expiration dates and how the extension affects subsequent renewal and expiration dates. "(b1) Extension of Intrastate Medical Waivers. - Notwithstanding the limitation on duration of waivers in G.S. 20-37.13 A(b), the Division of Motor Vehicles may extend for up to five months the validity of a medical waiver issued by the Division under G.S. 20-37.13 A if the waiver expires on or after March 1, 2020, and before the date 30 days after the date the Governor (i) rescinds Executive Order No. 116 or (ii) issues another executive order lifting restrictions on Division of Motor Vehicles functions, and the Division's Medical Review Unit determines the extension is appropriate. "(c) Driving Eligibility Certificates. - Notwithstanding G.S. 20-11 (n)(3), a driving eligibility certificate dated on or after February 9, 2020, and before March 10, 2020, remains valid and may be accepted by the Division of Motor Vehicles to meet the requirements for a license or permit issued under G.S. 20-11 until 30 days after the date the Governor rescinds Executive Order No. 116 or the date the Division reopens all drivers license offices, whichever is earlier. "(d) Waive Penalties. - Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Division shall waive any fines, fees, or penalties associated with failing to renew a credential during the period of time the credential is valid by extension under subsection (b) of this section. "(e) Motor Vehicle Taxes. - Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, due dates for motor vehicle taxes that are tied to registration expiration under Article 22A of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes shall be extended to correspond with extended expiration dates under subsection (b) of this section. "(f) Validity by Extension a Defense. - A person may not be convicted or found responsible for any offense resulting from failure to renew a credential issued by the Division if, when tried for that offense, the person shows that the offense occurred during the period of time the credential is valid by extension under subsection (b) of this section. "(g) Report. - Within 30 days of the extensions made under subsection (b) of this section, the Division shall submit a report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division detailing implementation of this section. "(h) Effective Date. - This section is effective retroactively to March 1, 2020, and applies to expirations occurring on or after that date." Session Laws 2020-3, s. 5, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2020-97, s. 4.5, is a severability clause. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2007-503, s. 6, effective October 1, 2008, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date, in subsection (b), substituted "Electronic Inspection Authorization" for "Sticker" in the subsection heading, and substituted "issue an electronic inspection authorization to" for "put an inspection sticker on the windshield of" twice; deleted subsections (c) and (d) which defined content of sticker and when a sticker expires; and added subsection (e).

Source: official North Carolina text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina § 20-183

What does North Carolina General Statutes § 20-183 cover?

Section 20-183 ("4D. Procedure when a vehicle is inspected.") is part of the North Carolina General Statutes, the codified statutory law of North Carolina. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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Is this the official text of North Carolina law?

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