

US states generally (possibly all) don’t do vehicle safety inspections. There are periodic smog tests and that’s about it. Detection of unfitness to be on the road is entirely reactive, based on a system of police-issued “fix it” tickets. That can range from correcting a burned-out tail light to doing something about the rusty muffler dragging on the ground.
I’ve you’re driving a 90-year-old car, it’s not for economic reasons.