Massachusetts Vehicle Check

Vehicle Maintenance Tip

Keep your gas tank above half-full at all times. Condensation can build up in a near-empty gas tank in extremely cold temperatures, which can cause fuel line freeze-up and no-start conditions.

More Vehicle Maintenance Tips

Inspection and Repair Industry: Inspector Information

As the primary communicator with the motorists, the inspector is a vital component of the emissions and safety program. To ensure a high level of proficiency, a prospective inspector for the Massachusetts Vehicle Check Program must:

Complete specific training
Be issued a license by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)

An inspector can be licensed for non-commercial, commercial, 7D and/or motorcycle inspections. Non-commercial and commercial training includes emissions and safety components, while 7D and motorcycle training is for safety only. The commercial training also includes additional material that meets the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements for commercial motor vehicle inspectors.

RMV provides inspectors who have received a training certificate, met other RMV requirements, and paid appropriate fees if applicable, with an Inspector’s License. An Inspector license is valid for one year unless it is suspended or revoked. If you have not been trained by Parsons, licensed by the RMV or your Inspector license has been suspended or revoked, you will not be allowed to perform inspections.

Inspector Training and Licensing Requirements

You will need to complete the initial training that is appropriate for your class of Inspector license.
You must complete the re-certification training for your class of Inspector license every two years. Parsons will mail you a re-certification letter when your training re-certification is due. To avoid re-certification training delays due to inspector address changes, keep your mailing address current with the RMV at all times.
You must renew your license with the RMV every year. The RMV will mail you a letter when your license renewal is due. To avoid license renewal delays due to inspector address changes, keep your mailing address current with the RMV at all times.

How to become an inspector
Interested in becoming an inspector? Click here to download, print, and complete your Inspector Training Application or contact Parsons at 877-834-4677 to request that an application be mailed to you. You will be required to successfully complete a state-approved inspector training course at one of the Parsons training facilities.

In addition to successfully completing an inspector training course, you are required to submit a license application to the RMV. Click here to download, print, and complete your Inspector License Application. This application must be mailed with the license application fee to the RMV address on the application.

To learn more about becoming an inspector, contact Parsons at 877-834-4677.

Commercial Vehicle Inspector Qualifications
If you want to become licensed to inspect commercial vehicles, you will need to:

Have at least one year of experience:
- In a truck manufacturer-sponsored training program or similar commercial training program designed to train students in truck operation and maintenance; or
- As a mechanic or inspector in a motor carrier maintenance program; or
- As a mechanic or inspector in truck maintenance at a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, or similar facility; or
- As a commercial motor vehicle inspector for a State, Provincial or Federal Government; and
Hold an RMV license to operate a vehicle in the GVWR that you want to inspect;
Hold an RMV inspector’s license for the vehicle class that you want to inspected; and
Be employed by an inspection station licensed to inspect commercial motor vehicles.