Vehicle safety inspections
Seattle Mun. Code § 6.311.280
in effect6.311.280 - Vehicle safety inspections
A. The vehicle safety inspection and certificate of safety required by subsection 6.311.260.C.6 shall be provided by an approved mechanic and shall certify that the following items on taxicab or for-hire vehicle are mechanically sound and fit for driving:
1. Foot brakes;
2. Emergency brakes;
3. Steering mechanism;
4. Windshield;
5. Rear window and other glass;
6. Windshield wipers;
7. Headlights;
8. Taillights;
9. Turn indicator lights;
10. Stop lights;
11. Front seat adjustment mechanism;
12. Doors, including that the doors properly open, close, and lock;
13. Horn;
14. Speedometer;
15. Bumpers;
16. Muffler and exhaust system, except for where vehicle propulsion systems emit zero emissions such as in battery electric vehicles;
17. Condition of tires, including tread depth;
18. Interior rear view mirror and exterior side view mirrors;
19. Safety belts and air bags for driver and a passenger or passengers; and
20. Other items reasonably required by the Director.
B. If the vehicle is sold, the certificate of safety remains valid until the next medallion renewal date.
C. An approved mechanic who performs vehicle safety inspections must not have a conflict of interest as defined by the Director by rule. The Director may remove an approved mechanic from the list maintained by the Director for a violation of this Chapter 6.311 or rules prescribed by the Director or due to substantiated complaints from drivers.
D. Vehicles shall be maintained consistent with the service standards recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. The vehicle owner and driver shall keep all maintenance and service records for all vehicles owned and used for for-hire transportation services for three years.
E. The vehicle owner and driver shall remedy a vehicle defect in a manner consistent with a vehicle safety recall notice issued by the vehicle manufacturer and/or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, after being notified of the recall by the vehicle manufacturer, the driver's affiliated agency or company, or the Director.
F. The vehicle owner and driver shall ensure that all requirements in this Section 6.311.280 are met and continually maintained.
G. A vehicle that has been in a collision and determined by the insurance adjuster to be a total wreck or total loss shall not be placed back in service until an approved mechanic with a current certification in structural analysis and damage repair or airbags has verified that there is no damage to the vehicle frame and that the airbag system is working properly. The inspection is separate from the vehicle safety inspection completed each year.
H. The Director shall summarily suspend a medallion and place a vehicle out of service if the vehicle fails a vehicle safety inspection or the Director determines that a violation of this Section 6.311.280 is an immediate safety hazard and it is necessary to prevent a clear, substantial, and imminent hazard to life, safety, or property.
(Ord. 126977, § 1, 2023.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT6BURE_SUBTITLE_IVNELICO_CH6.311FRETRAXFREVEDR_6.311.280VESAINFetched: 11/1/2026