Tristar Automotive is an official state licensed Vehicle Safety Systems (VSS) Inspection station in Santa Rosa. Vehicle Safety Systems inspection certificates are required by the DMV when re-registering most vehicles or reviving a salvage title in California. Certificates are not required for trailers weighing 3,000 pounds or less. Tristar will inspect your vehicle’s safety system, including brakes, lamps, etc. to make sure they are in proper working order and in compliance with specifications as set-forth by the state of California. Our ASE Certified technicians will also make adjustments if necessary, prior to issuing the Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection certificate requested by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Why would I need a Vehicle Safety Systems (VSS) inspection?
A Citation Was Issued
When a California State Highway Patrol officer discovers a defect on your vehicle which could cause a personal safety issue or create a hazardous situation for other motorists, a citation may be issued, directing you to remedy the problem. In order to clear the citation, you will need to have a Vehicle Safety Systems (VSS) inspection performed at a State Licensed inspection station, where a trained technician examines all related components of the vehicle’s braking system, lamp system and other components that comprise your vehicle’s safety system. in order to identify faulty components. Upon adjustment or replacement of the vehicle’s faulty brake or lamp component(s), the Inspection Station will issue the owner a certificate of compliance. The Vehicle Safety Systems certificate will then need to be presented to the California Highway Patrol office or the Department of Motor Vehicles as proof of correction and to clear the citation.
Re-titling a Salvage or Junk Vehicle
In California, when a vehicle has been declared a Total Loss by an insurance company (due to fire, flood or collision), the title is surrendered to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV then issues either a Salvage or Junk certificate for the vehicle. The Salvage vehicles are generally sold at dealer auctions to either dismantles or re-builders of such vehicles. A Vehicle Safety Systems inspection – formerly known as a Brake and Lamp inspection – will need to be performed to obtain certificates proving all components are in proper working order. The certificates will need to be presented at the DMV when reviving aka registering a salvage title vehicle for operation on public roads.
Purchasing a Used Vehicle
While this scenario does not require the issuance of a Certificate by a State Licensed Vehicle Safety Systems inspection facility; when purchasing a used car, many individuals prefer the peace of mind in knowing that the car they are considering buying is in proper mechanical operating condition. Tristar Automotive can not only provide a complete Safety Inspection, but can also perform a multi-point mechanical inspection to determine the working order of engine, drivetrain, tires, brakes, lamps, cooling system, steering, suspension and more! The pre-purchase inspection will provide you with a full disclosure of the vehicles mechanical condition and better prepare you to negotiate a fair price with the seller.
