Verify: Eliminating Vehicle Inspections Could Increase Insurance Rates
SAN ANTONIO — The advancements in vehicle technology often mean that cars have more features. However, those technological improvements can sometimes lead to increased insurance costs.
For many Texas drivers, mandatory vehicle inspections will soon be a thing of the past. But will this impact your insurance rates?
THE QUESTION:
Will eliminating the state’s required vehicle inspection cause insurance premiums to go up?
THE SOURCES:
- Chris Schafer, Senior Editor with Insurify
- Rod Griffin, Senior Director of Consumer Education and Advocacy with Experian
- Omar Ochoa, Managing Attorney of Omar Ochoa Law Firm
THE ANSWER: TRUE
WHAT WE FOUND:
Chris Schafer suggests the elimination of the inspections may not directly increase premiums; however, it could lead to more accidents.
“The fact that cars that are not being inspected, particularly when we’re talking about issues like brakes and tires, all of a sudden lead to more accidents which lead to higher premiums,” Schafer said.
Omar Ochoa believes that premiums could rise because drivers may neglect proper maintenance.
“One of the biggest examples is that a requirement of the vehicle inspection is that your tires have enough tread. A lot of people just don’t really check that on a day to day basis,” Ochoa said.
Rod Griffin added that there are other factors that influence insurance rates, such as driving history and the type of car you drive. If a car is expensive to repair, the insurance rates can also be higher.
In short, yes, the elimination of the state’s required vehicle inspection could potentially contribute to rising insurance costs.
