Acton Ford
Massachusetts Inspection Station
Acton Ford located at 76 Powdermill Road, is an official Massachusetts Inspection Station. Please Bring Your Registration To The Service Desk When You Arrive For Your Inspection. Stop by during our regular service hours Monday through Saturday, no appointment required.
The state of Massachusetts requires all vehicles to be inspected for safety and emissions within seven calendar days of registration, and inspections must be renewed annually, before the sticker expires.
Service Department Service CouponSTATE INSPECTION FAQs
How long does a state inspection usually take?
Due to the high volume of inspections at the end of the month, we recommend getting your inspection sticker early in the month that it expires to minimize your wait time. The state will only allow us to conduct inspections out of one dedicated bay in our shop. For this reason, we can only perform one inspection at a time. A car, SUV or light truck inspection typically takes between 30 and 45 minutes from the time that it enters the inspection bay. Vehicles over 10,000GVW and trailers can take 1 hour or more.
Can I make an appointment at Acton Ford for my Massachusetts State Inspection?
To make sure that everyone has equal access to our inspection services, we accept walk-in inspections on a first-come-first-served basis. If you have a commercial vehicle over 10,000 GVW or a trailer, please call ahead so that we can make sure a licensed commercial inspector is available.
Can I take my non-Ford vehicle to Acton Ford for my Massachusetts State Inspection?
Yes, we are able to inspect vehicles of all years, makes and models unless specified otherwise by the mass vehicle check program.
For additional questions regarding your inspection, call us at (978) 897-7000 or Click Here +
What if My Vehicle Failed Inspection?
If your vehicle failed its inspection, follow these steps to prepare for a re-test:
Step 1:
Repair Safety Defects Immediately
A vehicle that fails its safety inspection must be repaired immediately. When you drive a car, truck, SUV or bus with safety defects, you put yourself and others at risk. You may also be issued a citation by police, which could lead to insurance surcharges.
If, after your vehicle’s initial inspection, you receive a referral to a Motorist Assistance Center (MAC), please consult with the experts there before having your vehicle repaired.
Until your vehicle is re-inspected, be sure to keep the repair receipts in your vehicle as proof that you are in compliance with the law. This is especially important for safety defects because you are required to have them repaired immediately. It’s also good practice to keep emissions-related repair receipts in case your vehicle does not pass its re-test and you need to apply for a waiver or economic hardship extension.
If your vehicle passed its emissions test, skip to Step 3
Step 2:
Repair Emissions Defects Within 60 Days
If your vehicle fails its inspection due to an emissions problem, you need to get it fixed and re-tested within 60 days of the initial inspection. Since these defects can negatively affect your vehicle’s gas mileage and our air quality, it’s better to have your vehicle repaired as soon as possible, preferably by a Registered Emissions Repair Technician (RERT). They are the only ones who can help qualify you and your vehicle for an emissions waiver or economic hardship extension.
Make sure your vehicle is ready for its re-test. After certain emissions repairs are completed, vehicles need to be driven under specific highway and city conditions to get their internal computers ready. Please ask your RERT or the vehicle’s dealer for more information.
Until your vehicle is re-inspected, be sure to keep the repair receipts in your vehicle as proof that you are in compliance with the law. This is especially important for safety defects because you are required to have them repaired immediately. It’s also good practice to keep emissions-related repair receipts in case your vehicle does not pass its re-test and you need to apply for a waiver or economic hardship extension.
If your vehicle passed its emissions test, skip to Step 3
Step 3:
Pass the Re-Test
Your vehicle must pass a re-test within 60 days of its initial inspection. If, within those 60 days, you return your vehicle to the same location where your initial inspection was performed, the re-test is free.
If your vehicle failed its emissions test and safety inspection, it will be re-checked for both at the same time.
If your vehicle is repaired by a RERT and fails its re-test, it may qualify for a one-year emissions waiver. If your vehicle requires a major repair, such as a transmission or engine overhaul, you may qualify for a non-renewable one-year economic hardship extension. Obtaining either a waiver or an extension will meet program requirements, but must be completed within 60 days of your initial inspection.
Visit Acton Ford For Your Massachusetts State Inspection
At the Acton Ford Service Center, we inspect vehicles of all years, makes and models. Stop in Monday through Saturday at 76 Powdermill Road for your inspection and any other service and maintenance requirements.