Virginia Car Safety Inspection Before Registering Car?

Maintenance October 26, 2019

Where Can I Get My Auto Inspected in VA and What Can I Await?

va inspection sticker

Ah, the annual car inspection. It's practically a rite of passage for Virginia drivers. While some bewail and dread it, it doesn't have to exist a difficult procedure. If you take some time to acquire about what goes into a car inspection and what y'all tin can exercise to ready beforehand, this tin can be an easy annual errand to cheque off your list.

Where Tin I Get My Machine Inspected in VA?

Bring your vehicle into any one of our Virginia Tire & Auto locations for Virginia Safety and Emissions Inspections. We offer extended hours to work with your schedule and ensure that all equipment is operation properly.

Although it can seem like a pain, Virginia's high standards for cars make our roads safer for everyone and they assist you maintain your car. Even cars that appear to exist in good shape can have hidden problems. When a routine inspection catches them, you can choose to proactively set a modest problem before it becomes a more than expensive 1.

Overview of a Car Inspection

The cost of an annual inspection in Virginia is $20*, no matter where you lot go. (If someone tries to charge you more than that, they're taking you for a ride.) When you arrive for your car inspection , you'll pull into the bay at the gas station or car repair shop. If y'all expect until the end of the month, you might need to wait in a line—over fifty% of Virginia land inspections occur in the terminal 10 days of any given month. If you can go toward the beginning of the month, you may exist able to save yourself some fourth dimension.

In one case a technician is available, you'll mitt over your keys and car while the technician runs through the inspection. Virginia's inspection procedure has 24 points , but the whole inspection takes just about 20 to 30 minutes. If your car fails whatsoever of the points of inspection, you aren't obligated to become information technology repaired by the mechanic conducting the inspection, but they will probably give you a quote.

How Virginia Differs from Other States

Virginia's annual car inspection requirement sometimes surprises newcomers to the state. In Maryland, for example, cars require inspection only once. Chris Price, the store director at Virginia Tire & Automobile of Cascades , said he has seen new Virginia residents come in with cars that oasis't been inspected for years, and they are surprised to discover that their car fails to laissez passer Virginia inspection on multiple points.

What Happens When a Car Fails Inspection?

Declining inspection is more mutual than you might recollect—1 in ten of the cars that come through will fail. All information technology takes is failure on one of the 24 points of the inspection. Just considering a machine seems to exist driving fine doesn't mean that there aren't any problems under the hood.

Common Causes of Inspection Failure

Worn-out brake pads—they must be more than 2/32 of an inch thick
Burnt-out light bulbs
Worn-out tires
Broken windshield wipers
Low tire tread depth—they must be to a higher place two/32 of an inch

Chris's biggest piece of advice for anyone getting their car inspected is, "Don't be frustrated if your car fails." While it means your auto needs a repair of some sort right away, it might relieve you a lot of coin down the route, before the problem worsened. And it keeps your car, and you, safer on the road.

car inspection

Considering many of the bug aren't noticeable from everyday employ of your car, we recommend visually checking some items on your vehicle earlier bringing your car in for an inspection. If you want to minimize your car's chances of failing , y'all tin can run through our Virginia State Inspection Checklist earlier you have your automobile to be inspected.

1 example of a larger problem you might not detect yourself is an exhaust leakage. An inspector volition thoroughly examine the entire exhaust arrangement, from the engine to the discharge point. In the event that there'south a leak, you may need to get an engine diagnostic or an exhaust organization repair , depending on the origin of the leak.

Getting Your Car Up to Standard

If your car fails the inspection, you'll probably need to visit the repair store shortly later. Virginia Tire & Auto volition give you a quote for the needed repairs if they inform you that your car has failed (and explain why), and you can decide whether you'd like to do the repair yourself, accept it to some other mechanic, or have Virginia Tire & Auto practice the repair. Virginia Tire & Auto prides itself on its transparency with customers, giving off-white quotes, and will always evidence y'all what is wrong with the car if you'd similar to see information technology for yourself.

Proceed Your Motorcar Condom and Avoid Tickets

car inspection

Virginia takes car safety very seriously, and as many acquire the hard way, the law will really pull you over and give you lot a ticket if the inspection sticker on your windshield has expired.

Stay prophylactic on Northern Virginia's roads and avoid any unnecessary legal complications.

Virginia State Inspections are available at all Virginia Tire & Auto locations. We recommend getting your inspection performed in the middle of the month and eye of the week for shorter wait times. Phone call ahead for expected expect times and inspection availability.

*The Virginia Country Safety Inspection toll increased to $20 equally of July 1, 2019.