You can't get away with much when it comes to Massachusetts Inspection in 2025. Long are the days when you could slip the guy ten bucks and have him pass your old clunker.

Third Brake Light Must Be Functional

In Massachusetts, a functional third brake light, also known as the center high-mount stop lamp (CHMSL), is a critical requirement for passing the state’s vehicle safety inspection.

Since 1986 for passenger cars and 1994 for light trucks, federal law has mandated CHMSLs on new vehicles, recognizing their role in preventing accidents. Massachusetts enforces this for all registered vehicles, regardless of age, to uphold consistent safety standards.

After market truck caps

I had an after market cap on my truck and the center high mounted brake light's electrical unit failed. I wasn't aware it was not functioning until the Massachusetts inspection station employee notified me I failed.

Repairing or replacing a faulty CHMSL is typically straightforward and inexpensive, making compliance accessible. I ordered a new unit from Amazon and just popped it in.

If your third brake light was standard equipment from the factory, then see your local dealer's parts department.

READ MORE:

Old Loophole Closed With Mass. Inspection Sticker Law:

The month of the old sticker mattered before

My old sticker expired in July of 2024, with the old rule, whenever I got the new sticker it was valid for one year from the date I obtained the new sticker. The updated law (11/1/22) states that the new sticker would be valid from the date of the expiration on the old sticker.

Motor vehicles passing required inspections will get a new sticker with the month the last sticker expired, valid for one year.  Any vehicle owner late in getting a vehicle inspected, beyond one year from the last inspection, will no longer get a sticker displaying the month the new inspection occurred. -mass.gov

Basically, the state is not going to lose out on the $35.00 fee if you decide to chance getting pulled over while you're driving around skipping a year of inspection, or for whatever reason you're not pulling into the inspection bay every year.

The penalty for driving vehicles with an expired sticker, or driving an uninspected vehicle, may result in a moving violation and lead to additional fines, or suspension if unpaid, and even a surchargeable incident which increases the vehicle owner’s insurance costs.