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The 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron Privately Owned Vehicle Inspection Center on Kapaun is available to provide a free mechanical inspection to members of the KMC.
With more than 30,000 vehicles inspected each year, the center’s goal is to ensure POVs are in accordance with U.S. Army Europe and ensure a safe driving experience here in Europe.
Having the responsibility to make certain everyone has a safe driving experience in Europe, drivers might be asked to replace, repair or clean an item in order to pass inspection. This will lessen the risk that the person next to you and your family on the autobahn has working brakes, a clear windshield or a proper lighting system.
In order to make your POV inspection more painless, here are a few items inspectors look for when a customer arrives at the inspection station, facts and fiction, and the top 10 inspection failures.
Arriving at the station:
Be aware of the one-way travel direction when entering the POV inspection compound. Also, take a minute to review to informative signs posted along the driveway. They are intended to remind you of items required, such as a first aid kit, a warning triangle and a spare tire. These items are inspected at the beginning of the inspection process. Unfortunately, if you do not have a completed AE Form 190-10 or 1901AA (Renewal Application), the inspectors will not begin the inspection. Lastly, for safety reasons, wait at the stop sign until an inspector waves you forward.
Facts and fiction:
– Fact –
• The Kapaun POV inspection is not part of the Vehicle Registration Office.
• Lunch time from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the busiest time to get your vehicle inspected.
• All personnel and pets have to leave the vehicle while the mechanic test drives the vehicle.
• I do have to mount my temporary tags before inspection.
• If I am selling my car I still need a completed AE Form 190-10 or 190-1AA Renewal Application.
• As trained mechanics, we point out your vehicle discrepancies in order to keep members of the armed forces, civilians and your family members safe while driving.
– Fiction –
• The civilians only speak German.
• The inspection costs money.
• If I roll down my windows the inspector wont noticed the tinted glass.
• POV inspection have tools for me to use.
Top 10 inspection failures:
• Wrong first aid kit. U.S. Forces-registered POVs must carry a first-aid kit that meets or exceeds German legal requirements and standards of Deutsche Industrienorm (DIN) (German Industry Standard) 13164.
• Front and driver door window tint. After-market transparent or tinted material attached to windshield or front side windows directly to the left and right of the driver on the passenger side window is not allowed.
• Chips and cracks in windshield. Glass in front, rear or side windows directly to the right or left of the driver with cracks that impair or distort the driver’s vision is not allowed. Windshield with cracks or fracture damage (except for scratches and chips) in that part of the windshield located in the driver’s windshield-wiping area must also be fixed. Cracks outside the driver’s windshield-wiping area that are over 2.5 cm (1 inch), star-shaped fractures more than 12.5 millimeters (½ inch), or any condition concerning glass breaks or cracks that obstruct the driver’s visibility must be repaired.
• Brake inspection. Braking effort from any wheel is less than 70 percent of maximum effort recorded from another wheel on the same axle specified, or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight line.
• Incorrect turn signals. Light color, position, or intensity not according to regulations.
• Worn tires. The tread depth of the vehicle tires must be at least 1/16 of an inch (1.6 millimeters). Inspectors will use a tread-depth gauge at any two adjacent major grooves at three areas spaced approximately equally around the outside of the tire.
• Engine/transmission/steering oil leaks. The vehicle will be rejected if there is evidence of an ongoing slow leak of oil or antifreeze or saturation of the underbody of the vehicle. If there is evidence of a slow leak, the undercarriage must be cleaned and re-inspected to verify whether or not there is still a slow leak. The vehicle will be rejected if there is an excessive leak. An excessive leak is any leak that allows fluid to drop from the vehicle onto the ground while the vehicle is being inspected.
• Vehicle height. Minimum body ground clearance must not be less than 8 centimeters for flexible body parts such as ground-effect spoilers or air dams and 11 centimeters for hard parts such as exhaust, frame components and suspension.
• Headlight alignment. Aim of a headlight not within limits prescribed in regulations. Lamp color, position, or intensity not in accordance with regulations. Headlight height less than 56 centimeters or higher than 137 centimeters.
• Exhaust leaks/noise level.
The exhaust system must be secured tightly and free of leaks. Tailpipes must extend behind the rear wheels or beyond the side edge or rear of the vehicle body unless prevented by the manufacturer’s specifications. POV may be rejected if it emits excessive blue or black smoke. All parts of the exhaust line must be strong enough to resist normal hand pressure applied by the inspector. All repairs to exhaust systems must be made by welding or component replacement. All exhaust systems (manufacturer installed or after-market) of motorcycles and automobiles will be inspected for noise levels according to the procedures. Motor vehicles exceeding the noise level of 95 decibels will be rejected.
The 86th VRS POV Inspection Center is open from 7 a.m. to
3:45 p.m. (or until the “last car” sign is posted) Monday through Friday. The center closes at 11 a.m. the last duty day of the month.
