Guides
The state pages tell you what the rule is. These explain what to do when the rule actually lands on you — a stop, a failed inspection, a fee you did not expect.
Window tint
The VLT number your state actually enforces
- Why a 35% film reads 25% on the meter, and why that gets you pulled over
Tint is sold by its own VLT number. The law measures glass and film together. That gap explains most tint tickets in the US, and it is not a lie by the shop.
Inspection
Whether you actually have to show up somewhere
- Check engine light on: why it fails the inspection outright, what each state does about it, and why clearing the lamp rarely helps
An illuminated malfunction indicator lamp is an automatic emissions rejection in OBD programs. This guide sorts how California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Washington treat the light, what happens when someone erases the code before the test, and which fault to chase first instead of guessing.
EV fees
The annual surcharge that replaces the gas tax
- EV annual fee versus the gas tax: who actually pays more, and at what mileage
The EV surcharge is a flat number; the gas tax scales with every gallon burned. Run the break-even for a 30-mpg car in the five states tracked here, and see how high-mileage drivers flip the comparison.
The raw numbers, state by state
If you just want the limit or the fee: window tint by state, inspection by state, and EV surcharges by state.
Rules checked November 2026.