The Salem inspection station at 185 Salem Woodstown Road is Salem County’s state inspection station and road test site, and both services work by appointment. It’s one of only three state stations in New Jersey where inspections need an appointment, so book online before you go. Inspections run weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to noon, with no fee, and road tests are given weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Salem Inspection Station Hours, Address and Contact Details
| Detail | Salem Inspection Station |
|---|---|
| Address | 185 Salem Woodstown Rd, Salem, NJ 08079 (get directions) |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7:00 a.m.–noon; closed Sundays and state holidays |
| Appointments | Required for inspections (book on the inspection appointment page) and for road tests |
| Cost | No fee at state inspection stations |
| Road test hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., by appointment |
| Services | State inspections, reinspections and replacement stickers; road tests |
| Licenses and registrations | At the Salem MVC in the Finlaw Building, 199 East Broadway |
| Phone | MVC inspection line: (888) 656-6867 |
How to Book an Inspection Appointment in Salem
Salem, Washington and Cape May are the only state stations that require an appointment. To book a Salem inspection:
- Open the MVC’s inspection appointment page and choose the Salem station.
- Pick an open date and time. You can be inspected up to two months before the month your sticker expires, so start early.
- Arrive on time with your driver’s license, registration and New Jersey insurance card.
If nothing is open before your sticker runs out, use a station that takes vehicles without an appointment; the closest are Deptford and Millville. Police can ticket an expired sticker, so don’t let it lapse while you wait.
Salem’s Two MVC Addresses
Salem has two MVC addresses. Inspections and road tests are at 185 Salem Woodstown Road. Some older listings shorten the address to Woodstown Road and show Wednesday hours until 7:00 p.m., which no longer apply. Licenses, REAL ID, titles and registrations are handled at the agency on East Broadway.
What to Bring for an Inspection
- A valid driver’s license. The driver must be at least 17 but doesn’t have to be the owner.
- The vehicle’s registration document. An online renewal receipt isn’t accepted.
- A New Jersey Insurance Identification Card. The insured’s surname must match the owner’s surname on the registration, and leased vehicle cards must list the leasing company as owner.
What the Salem Inspection Station Checks
For most vehicles, the inspection is an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) test: the inspector connects to the car’s computer to read engine problems that can raise emissions. A 1996 or later vehicle with a lit check engine light fails. Most gasoline vehicles need inspection every two years once they’re five model years old; 1995 and older gasoline cars, 100% electric vehicles and motorcycles are exempt. Our guide to New Jersey car inspection has the full list of which vehicles need inspection and which are exempt.
When Your Vehicle Is Due
Your sticker is good through the last day of the month shown on it, and you can bring the vehicle in up to two months before that month. New cars get a five-year New Car Dealer Inspection Decal from the dealer. Police can cite you for an expired sticker, with fines of $100 to $200, and the MVC may revoke your registration privileges.
If Your Vehicle Fails
A failed vehicle gets a red sticker, an Emission Repair Form and a Vehicle Inspection Report. You have until one month after the last day of the month on your sticker to make repairs, done by you or a registered Emissions Repair Facility, and get reinspected at a state station or a private inspection facility. For a state reinspection, bring your repair receipts, the Emission Repair Form and the Vehicle Inspection Report. The red sticker doesn’t protect you from a ticket; there’s no grace period for driving a failed vehicle.
Replacement Stickers
If your windshield is replaced or your sticker is lost, stolen or damaged, state stations such as Salem issue replacement stickers from their reinspection area. Bring your license, registration and insurance card, plus one of these: the original sticker, a police report for a theft, your Vehicle Inspection Report or the glass company’s invoice.
New Residents and Out-of-State Vehicles
If you register a vehicle from out of state, your registration packet includes a temporary Green Card. Put it in the lower left corner of the windshield and bring the vehicle to a state inspection station within 14 days to get its decal. Because Salem works by appointment, book your inspection as soon as you have your registration from the agency on East Broadway, so the 14 days don’t run out. Our guide on how to register a car in New Jersey lists what to bring for the registration itself.
Road Tests at 185 Salem Woodstown Road
This is Salem County’s road test site, with tests by appointment on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Here’s the auto road test at a glance:
| Step | What to know |
|---|---|
| Before you book | Pass the knowledge and vision tests, have a validated permit and complete supervised driving: at least six months if you’re under 21, three months if you’re 21 or older, or 20 days outside the Graduated Driver License program |
| Booking | Choose Auto road test in the MVC’s appointment scheduler, then Salem |
| On test day | Bring the 6 Points of ID documents you used for your permit, the permit itself and a New Jersey licensed driver who’s at least 21 and has held a license for three years |
| The car | Registered, insured and inspected, with brakes the examiner can reach from the passenger seat; no tinted windows or self-parking features; red decals on the plates if you’re under 21 |
| If you pass | Walk in at the Salem MVC on East Broadway for your probationary license |
| If you fail | Wait at least 14 days before testing again |
If Salem has no dates that suit you, the closest other road test sites are the Cherry Hill site on Hampton Road and Winslow in Ancora. Our NJ MVC appointment guide covers motorcycle, moped and CDL road tests too.
Tips for Visiting the Salem Inspection Station
- Book before you drive over. Salem doesn’t take vehicles for inspection without an appointment.
- Use the full road name for directions. The MVC lists 185 Salem Woodstown Road.
- Ignore late Wednesday hours in old listings. The station closes at 4:30 p.m. every weekday.
- Fix a check engine light first. It’s an automatic fail on a 1996 or later vehicle.
- Plan around Saturdays. Inspections end at noon, and road tests aren’t given on weekends.
Other Inspection Stations Near Salem
If you can’t get a Salem appointment in time, these state stations take vehicles without one:
- Deptford inspection station: 725 Tanyard Rd, Deptford; no appointment needed
- Millville inspection station: 1406 Wheaton Ave, Millville; no appointment needed
- Winslow inspection station: 550 Spring Garden Rd, Ancora; no appointment needed, and also a road test site
You can also use one of more than 1,100 private inspection facilities, which charge a fee. For every MVC agency and station, see our list of New Jersey MVC offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
At 185 Salem Woodstown Road, Salem, NJ 08079. It’s a separate site from the Salem MVC agency in the Finlaw Building on East Broadway.
Yes. Salem is one of three appointment-only state stations, along with Washington and Cape May. Book through the MVC’s inspection appointment page.
Inspections run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to noon. Road tests are given weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Yes. Salem is a road test site, with tests at 185 Salem Woodstown Road by appointment on weekdays.
Use a state station that doesn’t need an appointment, such as Deptford or Millville. Police can cite you once your sticker expires.
There’s no fee at state stations. Bring a valid driver’s license (the driver must be 17 or older), the vehicle’s registration and a New Jersey insurance card.
Conclusion
The Salem inspection station at 185 Salem Woodstown Road inspects Salem County vehicles for free and gives road tests, but both need an appointment. Book your inspection online early in your two-month window, bring your license, registration and insurance card, use Deptford or Millville if Salem is full, and walk in at the East Broadway agency for your probationary license after you pass your road test.
Add Comment