Bill Text: NJ S496 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes private inspection facilities to perform off-site vehicle inspections of one or more vehicles.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-01-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [S496 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S496-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator OWEN HENRY
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes private inspection facilities to perform off-site vehicle inspections of one or more vehicles.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning certain vehicle inspections and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Diesel-powered motor vehicle" means the same as that term is defined in section 2 of P.L.1995, c.157 (C.39:8-60).
"Gross vehicle weight rating" means the same as that term is defined in section 2 of P.L.1995, c.157 (C.39:8-60).
"Heavy-duty diesel truck" means the same as that term is defined in section 2 of P.L.1995, c.157 (C.39:8-60).
"Off-site vehicle inspection" means a vehicle inspection conducted at a location other than the private inspection facility's licensed business address, which inspection is conducted in compliance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
"Private inspection facility" means the same as that term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1995, c.112 (C.39:8-43).
b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a private inspection facility shall be authorized to perform an off-site vehicle inspection of one or more vehicles, including, but not limited to, diesel-fueled trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less, heavy-duty diesel trucks, and diesel-powered motor vehicles; however, a private inspection facility shall not be authorized to perform off-site vehicle inspections of a school bus or a motor vehicle with an elevated chassis height.
c. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes a private inspection facility to perform an off-site vehicle inspection of one or more vehicles, including, but not limited to, diesel-fueled trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 pounds or less, heavy-duty diesel trucks, and diesel-powered motor vehicles. However, the bill provides that a private inspection facility is not authorized to perform an off-site inspection of a school bus or a motor vehicle with an elevated chassis height.
Under current regulations, a private inspection facility is only authorized to perform off-site inspections of a fleet of 10 or more vehicles.
Under the bill, an "off-site vehicle inspection" means a vehicle inspection conducted at a location other than the private inspection facility's licensed business address, which inspection is conducted in compliance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
