When must a vehicle be inspected?

The vehicle must be inspected between the time it comes into a dealer's inventory and right before the sale in order to ensure that it meets all safety and regulatory requirements. This inspection process is crucial for maintaining quality control and customer safety. It helps to identify any potential issues with the vehicle that need to be addressed before it is offered for sale to the public.

Conducting an inspection at this stage also helps the dealer comply with state regulations that mandate vehicles be in a certain condition to be legally sold. By ensuring the vehicle is inspected during this specific time frame, the dealer can provide customers with a reliable vehicle that has met all legal requirements, which is key to responsible dealership practices and maintaining a good reputation.

Inspecting a vehicle after it has been sold at retail or before entering the dealer's inventory would not fulfill this compliance requirement and could potentially lead to legal issues if the vehicle does not meet safety criteria when sold. Regular monthly inspections while in inventory are also not typical practice; inspections are generally tied directly to the sale readiness of the vehicle rather than an ongoing monthly regimen.