Posted on 9/25/2026
A used car can look clean, drive quietly, and still have a list of things waiting underneath. Tires may be worn on the inner edges. A ball joint can have play without making noise yet. Brake lines can be rusty in places you won’t see from the driveway. Maryland’s safety inspection is meant to catch safety-related problems before a used vehicle is titled and registered, but buyers still need to think about timing. The best time to sort out the inspection is before the sale gets complicated, not after you’ve already paid and discovered the car needs several repairs. Find Out Whether the Car Already Has a Valid Maryland Inspection Before agreeing to the deal, ask whether the vehicle has already passed a Maryland safety inspection and when it did. The state requires applicable used vehicles to pass before they can be titled and registered, and a passing certificate is valid for 90 days. Don’t settle for somebody saying the car passed recently. A ... read more