Inspection stations will just check emissions on vehicles five years or older starting Monday.
Motor Vehicle Commission administrator Raymond Martinez says the changes will save the state about $17 million. Most of the savings come from scrapping 2.4 million mechanical inspections and re-inspections performed each year and by shifting new car emissions testing back a year.
School buses, limousines, jitneys, taxis and other commercial-plated vehicles will still be checked for emissions and mechanical defects.
New Jersey will become the 30th state that doesn't look for bald tires, worn brakes, non-working lights and turn signals, and cracked windshields.