Can You Get a Ticket for an Expired Inspection While Parked?
Published in Uncategorized on August 4, 2025
Reading Time: 4 minutes
If your car is stationary, you may feel confident it is safe from traffic violations. However, if your car has an expired inspection sticker, you could receive a ticket in many jurisdictions, even if your vehicle is not in use.
It is easy to get caught off guard by this, especially if you have not used your vehicle for weeks or months. However, in many states, inspection requirements apply even when the vehicle is not in motion. You cannot expect a police officer to look the other way just because the engine is off.
In this post, we will explore how to comply with your state’s inspection requirements. We will also look at how a personal injury lawyer can assist you if an expired inspection is impacting your car accident claim.
What Is a Vehicle Inspection?
In many states, cars must undergo a routine safety and emissions check to ensure they meet minimum standards of roadworthiness. For example, in Massachusetts, vehicles must undergo an annual inspection, and owners then receive a sticker which must be placed in the bottom right corner of the windshield.
Vehicle inspections often check the following:
- Brakes and steering
- Condition of tires
- Light, signals, and windshield wipers
- Compliance with state emissions regulations
If your state requires you to display a sticker, this will show when your inspection expires. This makes it easy for police officers to identify vehicles whose inspections have expired.
Consequences of Expired Tickets
If you fail to get your car inspected on time, you will be considered noncompliant with state laws. In Massachusetts, this means you may receive a moving violation, resulting in a fine.
If you do not pay the fine on time, you may face additional fines or even a license suspension. Noncompliance can also impact the cost of your auto insurance, as non-payment could be considered a surcharge able incident.
Why parked vehicles are included
Being penalized for expired inspection stickers may seem unfair if your vehicle is not moving. However, public roads are still part of the traffic system.
Therefore, every vehicle on public roads must meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness, and any vehicle with an expired inspection sticker is liable to be fined.
Where not to park with an expired inspection sticker
The areas where parking is prohibited can vary depending on the jurisdiction. Affected parking spots could include:
- City streets
- Municipal parking lots
- Curbside parking in residential areas
Fighting Expired Inspection Tickets
There are several ways you may be able to contest an expired inspection ticket successfully. Of course, specifics vary depending on the jurisdiction, but here are some possible options:
- Provide more information: If you received an inspection deadline extension and were out of state when it expired, you can provide the relevant evidence to try to fight your ticket.
- Lost or damaged sticker: If your sticker was lost or damaged, you may be able to file a request for a replacement at the DMV branch or get a new inspection for your vehicle. In this case, a judge may decide to cancel your original ticket.
- Check the ticket: If the ticket issued to you has missing information, you may be able to fight the ticket. Details to check include the make, model, license plate number, and the traffic rule cited. Any errors could help you overturn your ticket.
Failed Inspections and Car Accident Cases
Clearly, it is a stretch for the other party’s insurance company to claim your negligence in having an expired inspection sticker contributed to an accident involving your car while it was parked. However, if you drive your car with an expired inspection, it is possible that it could be used against you later.
Are you automatically at fault with a failed inspection?
No, you are not automatically at fault if you are involved in a car crash with an expired inspection. No driver should hold back from seeking qualified legal advice because he or she was driving without a valid inspection.
The risk of driving with a failed inspection
If you get behind the wheel knowing your car has failed its inspection, you are taking on a lot of risk. Inspections testify to the roadworthiness of your vehicle. If it failed an inspection, rather than just having an expired inspection, this means it has a known defect.
The other party’s insurance company may pounce on this fact and try to use it against you. You could find yourself held liable for the accident if a defective car part or other safety issue caused the car to malfunction and contributed to your car crash.
Will my insurance pay out if I have an expired inspection?
If you get into a car accident when you have an expired inspection and you were at fault, you will need to seek compensation for your injuries and property damage from your insurance company. Whether your expired inspection will affect your auto insurance depends on the wording of your policy.
You will need to examine your policy in detail to see whether it includes a clause about liability when driving with an expired inspection. You may need to call your insurance company to check where you stand.
The takeaway? Do not take the risk of driving your car, or even parking it on public roads, when it has an expired inspection sticker or has failed an inspection. The risks outweigh the benefits, and you could hurt any resulting car accident case.
Trust Sweeney Merrigan With Your Car Accident Case
If you have been hurt in a car accident case in Massachusetts, Sweeney Merrigan is a name you can trust. With 15 years of experience in fighting for the rights of car accident victims in Boston and beyond, we have a reputation for transparent communication and a commitment to pursuing fair compensation for every one of our clients.
Our approach to personal injury law has resulted in big wins for our clients. In one notable motor vehicle accident case, we secured a payout of $16.9 million – the highest reported to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly that year! During a free case review with us, our experienced attorney can explain your rights and possible routes to overcoming extra challenges such as expired inspections.
Find out what your case could be worth today. Schedule a free consultation by calling (774) 214-2515 or by contacting us online, and we will call you back shortly.