ONE of the nice things about living in the 21st century is that automobiles are made really well. There are hardly any lemons anymore, and while we do hear about occasional recalls, they are relatively unusual and readily resolved. New cars in 2012 are just very good, solid, mechanically innovative and pretty much trouble free.

We were therefore pleased to see a couple of bills introduced by Sen. Tony Ada that would make registration and safety inspection of our cars a little easier. During Monday’s public hearing on Bills 479 and 480, representatives of the Guam Automobile Dealers Association (GADA) testified in favor of both measures.

Bill 479 authorizes the dealers to register cars at the point of sale, rendering the trip up to the Department of Revenue and Taxation unnecessary. Dealers already take care of that legwork when you buy a new car, but this bill would allow them to issue you the plates right at their establishment. GovGuam will still collect all the required fees; however, the dealer would handle and process the transaction so you wouldn’t need to visit Rev and Tax at all.

Bill 480 would eliminate the annual safety inspection for new cars, allowing you to drive your new vehicle for three years before you must get it inspected. The vehicle would be inspected and an inspection certification issued when you take delivery, so you would be able to register it for the next two years on your computer – again eliminating the need to go up and stand in line at Rev and Tax.

During testimony at the hearing we learned that in nearly all stateside jurisdictions, annual safety inspections have already been eliminated in favor of three- or even five-year intervals. At least one state has done away with safety inspections entirely.

Predictably the folks who inspect our cars now every year, and collect 15 bucks for doing so, are against the bill, but their reasons – unique driving conditions on Guam, bad roads, etc. – are specious. Most will readily, if privately, admit that newer cars do not need the annual inspection, and allow that cars really don’t need to be looked at for the first several years of their life.

Car warranties support that. It’s a rare car that goes out of the showroom without at least a 36,000-mile or three-year warranty these days. Any problems which might occur during those three years can be handled under warranty, so let the dealers issue that safety certification right along with the registration. If you buy a new car every three years, you shouldn’t ever have to go to Rev and Tax or an inspection station.

Good ideas, Sen. Ada, backed up by GADA. The bills should pass.