Virginia Vehicle Safety Inspection

The state of Virginia requires motor vehicles to be inspected on an annual basis. Inspection stations and the conduct of the inspection program are closely monitored by the Virginia State Police Safety Division.

Inspectors are required to take a written test and a practical exam and meet minimum experience requirements to become certified. In addition, the facility has to be certified by the State Police. The State Police monitor us on a continuing basis to insure that we are adhering to the regulations. The inspection regulations are complex, thorough, arcane and sometimes difficult to interpret and apply. The inspection manual that documents the program can be found here. A summary of the inspection requirements is posted near our service desk. Our inspection certification was difficult to obtain and is critical to our business, so we do inspections "by the book."

Shore Drive Shell currently has four certified inspectors and two inspection bays. We don't make appointments for inspections. A typical inspection for a car usually takes about twenty minutes or so, but sometimes the bays get tied up with cars awaiting parts, etc. and there may be a wait to get your car in.

The fees for state inspections are as follows:

• Cars $16.00
• Trailers $16.00
• Motorcycles $12.00