MARYLAND STATE INSPECTION STUDY GUIDE 2026
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS SCORED A+
✔✔Frame contact lift - ✔✔A frame contact lift capable of raising vehicles, except for
limousines and recreational motor homes, at least 5 feet off the floor.
✔✔Jack stands - ✔✔Jack stands able to hold limousines and recreational motor homes
when raised and placed on them. Must be capable of supporting the types of vehicles
subject to inspection.
✔✔Drum micrometer calibration gauge - ✔✔Compatible with the brake drum measuring
tool.
✔✔Disc micrometer calibration gauge - ✔✔Compatible with the brake disc measuring
tool.
✔✔Ball joint checker - ✔✔Equipped with a dial indicator and capable of accurately
measuring ball joint or king pin movement in increments of 0.001 of an inch (not
required for Class B or T).
✔✔Roller/floor jack - ✔✔Capable of lifting types of vehicles subject to inspection.
✔✔Drum brake micrometer - ✔✔Capable of accurately measuring the inside diameter
of brake drums in at least 0.005 of an inch increments.
✔✔Disc brake micrometer - ✔✔With a pointed anvil, capable of accurately measuring
the thickness of discs or rotors in increments of at least 0.001 of an inch.
✔✔Brake shoe lining thickness gauge - ✔✔Capable of accurately measuring the
remaining usable bonded brake lining or the thickness of brake lining remaining above
rivet heads in fractions of an inch.
✔✔Brake disc pad thickness gauge - ✔✔Capable of accurately measuring the
remaining usable bonded brake disc pad lining or the thickness of brake disc pad lining
remaining above rivet heads in fractions of an inch.
✔✔Screwdriver - ✔✔Capable of spreading tire cuts and breaks to determine severity of
damage.
✔✔Tire tread depth gauge - ✔✔Capable of accurately measuring tire tread depth in
1/32 of an inch.
✔✔Steel tape - ✔✔Minimum 25-foot with clearly legible S.A.E. figures and markings.
, ✔✔Miscellaneous hand tools - ✔✔Necessary to perform mechanical disassembly of
vehicle components to conduct inspections.
✔✔S.A.E.-to-metric conversion chart - ✔✔Typewritten or commercially printed and
enclosed in clear plastic.
✔✔Tire pressure gauge - ✔✔Capable of measuring air pressure in pounds per square
inch (PSI) for the type of vehicle being inspected.
✔✔Window Tint Meter requirements: - ✔✔Manufactured as a two-piece device, portable
and compact, with digital readout to the nearest percent;
(b) Suitable for testing standard automotive glazing on roll down and fixed windows;
(c) Designed to be operated by one person;
(d) Equipped with an alignment aid feature to assist in obtaining and maintaining
accuracy throughout the period of measurement;
(e) Equipped with an activation switch or button, off switch or button, or self
deactivation;
(f) Equipped with the manufacturer's reference sample/calibration standards that are
labeled with the manufacturer's name, serial number (if equipped), and percentage of
light transmittance;
(g) Equipped with a light transmittance meter which shall maintain unit accuracy within +
or - 2 percentage points (certified by an independent testing laboratory);
(h) Designed to maintain repeatability within + or - 1 percentage point; and
(i) Equipped with a portable carrying case.
✔✔Calibration - ✔✔Any test equipment or tool requiring calibration shall be calibrated
monthly, as required by the manufacturer, or more frequently, if necessary.
✔✔Test Equipment Storage - ✔✔Any test equipment or tool that is not permanently
mounted shall be kept together in or within close proximity to the inspection bay.
✔✔Equipment Notification - ✔✔The Division may add or delete test equipment and
tools from those set forth in §A of this regulation by notifying licensed inspection stations
in writing and requiring them to obtain the additional equipment within 90 days of the
written notification.
✔✔Reference Material for Class A - ✔✔Class A inspection stations and any Class F
fleet inspection stations inspecting the types of vehicles inspected by a Class A
inspection station shall have current model year brake, ball joint and tire guide
specifications by July 1st of that year.
✔✔Emission Guide Specifications - ✔✔Emission guide specifications that are within two
model years by July 1st of that year (for example, on July 1, 2011, such stations would
be required to have either 2010 or 2011 model year emission guide specifications).
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS SCORED A+
✔✔Frame contact lift - ✔✔A frame contact lift capable of raising vehicles, except for
limousines and recreational motor homes, at least 5 feet off the floor.
✔✔Jack stands - ✔✔Jack stands able to hold limousines and recreational motor homes
when raised and placed on them. Must be capable of supporting the types of vehicles
subject to inspection.
✔✔Drum micrometer calibration gauge - ✔✔Compatible with the brake drum measuring
tool.
✔✔Disc micrometer calibration gauge - ✔✔Compatible with the brake disc measuring
tool.
✔✔Ball joint checker - ✔✔Equipped with a dial indicator and capable of accurately
measuring ball joint or king pin movement in increments of 0.001 of an inch (not
required for Class B or T).
✔✔Roller/floor jack - ✔✔Capable of lifting types of vehicles subject to inspection.
✔✔Drum brake micrometer - ✔✔Capable of accurately measuring the inside diameter
of brake drums in at least 0.005 of an inch increments.
✔✔Disc brake micrometer - ✔✔With a pointed anvil, capable of accurately measuring
the thickness of discs or rotors in increments of at least 0.001 of an inch.
✔✔Brake shoe lining thickness gauge - ✔✔Capable of accurately measuring the
remaining usable bonded brake lining or the thickness of brake lining remaining above
rivet heads in fractions of an inch.
✔✔Brake disc pad thickness gauge - ✔✔Capable of accurately measuring the
remaining usable bonded brake disc pad lining or the thickness of brake disc pad lining
remaining above rivet heads in fractions of an inch.
✔✔Screwdriver - ✔✔Capable of spreading tire cuts and breaks to determine severity of
damage.
✔✔Tire tread depth gauge - ✔✔Capable of accurately measuring tire tread depth in
1/32 of an inch.
✔✔Steel tape - ✔✔Minimum 25-foot with clearly legible S.A.E. figures and markings.
, ✔✔Miscellaneous hand tools - ✔✔Necessary to perform mechanical disassembly of
vehicle components to conduct inspections.
✔✔S.A.E.-to-metric conversion chart - ✔✔Typewritten or commercially printed and
enclosed in clear plastic.
✔✔Tire pressure gauge - ✔✔Capable of measuring air pressure in pounds per square
inch (PSI) for the type of vehicle being inspected.
✔✔Window Tint Meter requirements: - ✔✔Manufactured as a two-piece device, portable
and compact, with digital readout to the nearest percent;
(b) Suitable for testing standard automotive glazing on roll down and fixed windows;
(c) Designed to be operated by one person;
(d) Equipped with an alignment aid feature to assist in obtaining and maintaining
accuracy throughout the period of measurement;
(e) Equipped with an activation switch or button, off switch or button, or self
deactivation;
(f) Equipped with the manufacturer's reference sample/calibration standards that are
labeled with the manufacturer's name, serial number (if equipped), and percentage of
light transmittance;
(g) Equipped with a light transmittance meter which shall maintain unit accuracy within +
or - 2 percentage points (certified by an independent testing laboratory);
(h) Designed to maintain repeatability within + or - 1 percentage point; and
(i) Equipped with a portable carrying case.
✔✔Calibration - ✔✔Any test equipment or tool requiring calibration shall be calibrated
monthly, as required by the manufacturer, or more frequently, if necessary.
✔✔Test Equipment Storage - ✔✔Any test equipment or tool that is not permanently
mounted shall be kept together in or within close proximity to the inspection bay.
✔✔Equipment Notification - ✔✔The Division may add or delete test equipment and
tools from those set forth in §A of this regulation by notifying licensed inspection stations
in writing and requiring them to obtain the additional equipment within 90 days of the
written notification.
✔✔Reference Material for Class A - ✔✔Class A inspection stations and any Class F
fleet inspection stations inspecting the types of vehicles inspected by a Class A
inspection station shall have current model year brake, ball joint and tire guide
specifications by July 1st of that year.
✔✔Emission Guide Specifications - ✔✔Emission guide specifications that are within two
model years by July 1st of that year (for example, on July 1, 2011, such stations would
be required to have either 2010 or 2011 model year emission guide specifications).
