You're in the sixth hour of your 12-hour drive along the coast, driving down the interstate without a care in the world, and suddenly your car starts to rattle. Suddenly, your arrival time is in serious jeopardy. Of course, this is a made-up story, because like any good car owner, you bring your car in for a regular inspection. But what is checked during a safety inspection? A safety inspection checks all the features of your vehicle that make it safe for road use. That means checking your tires, brakes, lights, mirrors and other things your vehicle needs to function properly and keep you and your passengers safe. So if you don't want to know what to do when your car breaks down, let's get into the finer points of a safety inspection. What is a vehicle safety inspection? It varies by state, but in general, a vehicle safety inspection is a regulatory inspection to ensure that vehicles are safe for road use. In some states, this inspection is required annually, whil