Virginia · VA · Vehicles
Virginia: Is there an annual vehicle safety inspection?
Regular safety inspection
Virginia requires registered vehicles to pass a safety inspection every 12 months at a State Police-licensed station.
Inspections are run through stations overseen by the Virginia State Police. A new car inspected by the dealer is exempt from the first inspection, then must be reinspected within 12 months. Vehicles registered as antiques, which must be at least 25 years old, are exempt. Cars brought from another state must be inspected after they are registered in Virginia.
Conditions
- Inspection every 12 months
- Antique-registered vehicles exempt
What the law says
Motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers required to be inspected pursuant to the provisions of § 46.2-1157 shall be reinspected within 12 months of the month of the first inspection and at least once every 12 months thereafter.
Sources
- Va. Code § 46.2-1158 Official · law.lis.virginia.gov
- Va. Code § 46.2-1157 Official · law.lis.virginia.gov
- Virginia State Police, Vehicle Inspection FAQs Official · vsp.virginia.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Virginia State Police, Vehicle Safety Inspection
- Website
- vsp.virginia.gov
How bordering states compare
- Kentucky No safety inspectionNo. Kentucky does not require safety inspections of private cars; cars brought from other states get a VIN and odometer check.
- Maryland Only at sale or first registrationOnly at titling. Maryland requires a safety inspection before a used car is titled and registered, including when sold or brought from another state.
- North Carolina Regular safety inspectionNorth Carolina requires an annual safety inspection before a vehicle's registration can be renewed.
- Tennessee No safety inspectionTennessee does not require safety inspections of private passenger cars, including when a car is sold or brought from another state.
- West Virginia Regular safety inspectionWest Virginia requires registered vehicles to pass a safety inspection every two years.