North Carolina to change its automobile inspection system

The state of North Carolina plans to change its automobile inspection system by requiring safety and emissions checks before an automobile registration can be renewed.

The state now uses windshield stickers to indicate when an inspection is due and drivers have a separate deadline to renew license plates.

Starting in October, the state will require that a vehicle owner gets an inspection before renewing license plates or getting a new registration.

After the system is fully operational, vehicle owners will have to remember only one date each year.