Virginia Safety Inspection: What the Inspector Checks

The Virginia State Police publish the required inspection procedure. These are the items for a standard vehicle.

Information checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

Independent guide. This site is not run by any state DMV, state police or environmental agency, and it is not affiliated with any repair shop or inspection station, including any business with a similar name. Rules and fees change, so confirm anything important with the official source linked at the bottom of each page.

1. Brakes: worn, damaged or missing parts; worn, contaminated or defective linings, drums, pads or rotors; leakage and proper fluid level.
2. Parking brake: broken or missing parts and proper adjustment.
3. Headlights: approved type, aim and output; condition of lamps, lenses, wiring and switch; high beam indicator.
4. Other lights: approved type, proper bulbs, condition of lenses, wiring and switch, aim of fog and driving lamps, illumination and proper color. Every vehicle must have a rear lamp showing red to the rear and a white light illuminating the rear license plate.
5. Signal devices: approved type, proper bulbs and correct operation.
6. Steering and suspension: wear in bushings, kingpins, ball joints, wheel bearings and tie rod ends; looseness of the gear box; play in the steering wheel; power steering fluid leakage; wheel and axle alignment; broken coil springs or spring leaves; shock absorbers; broken or weakened frame; broken or missing engine mounts.
7. Tires, wheels and rims: tire condition including tread depth, mixing of radial and bias ply tires, cracked or damaged wheels.
8. Mirrors: rigidity of mounting, condition of the reflecting surface, road visibility 200 feet to the rear.
9. Horn: electrical connections, mounting and button; it must be audible for at least 200 feet.
10. Windshield and other glass: approved safety glass; cloudiness, distortion or other obstruction to vision; cracked, scratched or broken glass; unauthorized stickers must be removed; operation of the left front door glass.
11. Windshield wiper and defroster: operating condition and condition of wiper blades.
12. Exhaust system: manifold, gaskets, pipes, mufflers and connections; leakage of gases at any point.
13. Rear license plate: illumination.
14. Hood and area under the hood: operation of the hood latch; presence of the emissions system and any removed or disconnected essential parts; low brake fluid or power steering fluid; power steering belt tension, wear or absence.
15. Air pollution control system (1973 and later models): installation, with no parts removed, disconnected or rendered inoperable. This includes the catalytic converter and the fuel tank filler pipe.
16. Driver's seat: anchorage, location and condition.
17. Seat belts: approved type, installation and condition.
18. Air bag and air bag readiness light: any defect indicated by the light; an air bag that has been deployed and not replaced; a removed part; or an indicator that fails to light or stays on continuously.
19. Doors: handles that open from outside and inside, and a latching system that holds the door closed.
20. Fuel system: any part not securely fastened, liquid fuel leakage, presence of the fuel tank filler cap.
21. Floor pan: holes that allow exhaust gases to enter the occupant compartment and conditions that create a hazard to occupants.

After the inspection

All defects must be corrected and the vehicle reinspected within 15 days. The driver may receive a traffic summons for any defect still present when the vehicle is operated on the highway. Back to the Virginia inspection guide.

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