Is Inspection Required for Registration in West Virginia?

Yes, inspection is required for vehicle registration in West Virginia. According to §17C-16-4 of the West Virginia Code, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer registered in West Virginia must be inspected once every twenty-four months and have a valid inspection certificate displayed on the windshield. The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police is authorized to enforce this periodic inspection requirement for all registered vehicles.

West Virginia Inspection Requirements

West Virginia operates a comprehensive vehicle safety inspection program administered by the West Virginia State Police. Under state law, routine safety inspections are mandatory for most vehicles registered within the state to ensure the mechanisms, brakes, and equipment are functioning properly.

The inspection frequency changed effective January 1, 2024, when Governor Jim Justice signed HB 2310 into law. Previously required annually, inspections are now required every twenty-four months. When a vehicle passes inspection, an official certificate valid for two years is affixed to the inside of the windshield. Operating a vehicle without a valid inspection sticker is illegal in West Virginia.

All vehicles, including motorcycles, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers registered in West Virginia or displaying a temporary registration plate must be inspected and have a valid certificate of inspection before operating on public streets and highways. Inspections may be conducted at any official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police.

Inspection Requirements for New Registrations in West Virginia

The timing requirements for vehicle inspections vary based on how and where a vehicle is acquired:

Vehicles Purchased from Dealers

Licensed new vehicle dealers are not required to display inspection certificates on new vehicles during operational activities associated with dealer preparation for sale, provided the vehicle has not been titled or delivered to a purchaser. However, all vehicles operated under a dealer's permit must be inspected and have a valid West Virginia certificate of inspection affixed before being operated on streets or highways, except new vehicles expressly exempted by state law.

Vehicles Purchased from Private Sellers

Any vehicle purchased or otherwise acquired within West Virginia that does not have a valid inspection sticker must be inspected within ten days from the date of purchase. The responsibility to ensure the current inspection falls on the purchaser of the vehicle.

Vehicles from Out-of-State

New residents have ten days from the date they title a vehicle to obtain a West Virginia inspection. This requirement also applies to vehicles purchased from outside West Virginia. West Virginia maintains reciprocity agreements with Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Valid out-of-state inspection stickers from these reciprocal states remain valid in West Virginia until their expiration date. Residents who have been outside West Virginia for more than thirty consecutive days and whose inspection certificate expired while away have ten days upon return to obtain a current certificate.

Types of Inspections Required in West Virginia

West Virginia requires safety inspections for registered vehicles, but does not mandate emissions testing. The inspection program focuses on mechanical safety and proper equipment operation.

Safety Inspection Components

The official inspection procedure covers multiple vehicle systems and components. Certified inspector mechanics verify:

• Legal registration and current insurance certificate
• Safety glass condition (windshield and windows)
• Sheet metal, bumpers, fenders, and frame integrity
• Horn functionality
• Rearview mirrors
• Windshield wipers and washers
• License plate mounting
• Lights (headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, license plate lights)
• Brakes and brake system components
• Steering mechanism
• Tires and wheels (minimum 3/32-inch tread depth)
• Exhaust system
• Suspension system
• Fuel system for leaks
• Window tint compliance (no darker than 35%)
• Seatbelts

The maximum fee charged for inspection and issuance of the certificate is $19 for the two-year period. The fee breakdown includes labor charges plus the cost of the official certificate.

Commercial motor vehicles, subject to federal motor carrier safety administration regulations, may opt for annual inspections to meet federal requirements. For these voluntary annual commercial vehicle inspections, the total charge, including sticker cost, shall not exceed $14.

Emissions Inspections

West Virginia does not require emissions or smog testing for vehicle registration. The state focuses exclusively on safety equipment and mechanical condition inspections.

Vehicle Exemptions from Inspections

The following vehicle categories are exempt from inspection requirements:

• Class R vehicles (house trailers)
• Class S vehicles (special vehicles)
• Class T trailers (trailers weighing less than 2,000 pounds GVWR)
• Antique vehicles, as described in §17A-10-3a, except antique vehicles displaying actual license plates of the same year as the vehicle, must be inspected
• Vehicles bearing out-of-state registration (exempt from inspection requirements but may be inspected upon owner request)

West Virginia Registration Renewal and Inspection Requirements

West Virginia enforces inspection compliance through its vehicle registration system. The Division of Motor Vehicles and the West Virginia State Police coordinate to ensure all registered vehicles maintain current inspection certificates.

Vehicle owners must have valid registration cards and current certificates of insurance present in the vehicle at the time of inspection. The inspection system uses a registration-based enforcement approach where compliance is tracked through the vehicle identification number and registration records.

Each inspection station maintains detailed logs recording vehicle identification numbers, registration information, and inspection results. Inspector mechanics verify that registration documents match the vehicle identification number before conducting the inspection procedure.

Penalties for Expired Inspections in West Virginia

Operating a vehicle without a current and valid certificate of inspection constitutes a misdemeanor violation under West Virginia law.

Fines and Criminal Penalties

The penalty structure for inspection violations includes:

• Operating without a valid inspection certificate: Fine up to $100
• Enhanced penalty: Misdemeanor charges apply if the inspection certificate has not been valid for more than three months prior to citation issuance

Grace Period Provision

West Virginia law provides a limited grace period for drivers who obtain an inspection within five days of citation. Any person who obtains an inspection and current, valid certificate within five days of receiving a citation and provides the receipt to the court shall not be guilty of a violation, provided the certificate has not been invalid for more than three months prior to the citation date.

Rejection Sticker Restrictions

No person shall operate any vehicle after receiving a rejection sticker, except as necessary to return the vehicle to the residence or place of business of the owner or driver, or to a garage. The vehicle must be properly repaired and pass re-inspection before normal operation may resume.

Parking and Registration Consequences

Vehicles without valid inspection certificates may be subject to additional parking citations in municipalities that enforce inspection requirements through parking enforcement programs. The Division of Motor Vehicles may also suspend vehicle registration at the request of the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police for vehicles determined to be unsafe or lacking required inspection certificates.

Where to Get an Inspection in West Virginia

Vehicles must be inspected at official inspection stations licensed by the West Virginia State Police. The state maintains a network of certified facilities throughout all counties where qualified inspector mechanics perform examinations.

Finding a Licensed Inspection Station

The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles maintains a comprehensive list of all official motor vehicle inspection stations. This public database can be accessed online and lists facilities by county and location. Vehicle owners may have their vehicles inspected at any licensed station statewide, regardless of where the vehicle is registered.

Types of Inspection Facilities

Official inspection stations operate in various business formats:

• Independent automotive repair shops
• Tire and service centers
• Dealership service departments
• Fleet inspection stations (limited to company-owned or leased vehicles)
• Specialty shops with certified inspector mechanics

All official inspection stations must be open for inspections at least eight hours each normal business day, with a certified inspector mechanic on duty. Stations must maintain inspection operations twelve months per year.

Choosing Where to Get Repairs

If a vehicle receives a rejection sticker, the owner may choose where to have repairs completed. West Virginia law does not require repairs to be performed at the station that conducted the inspection. After repairs are completed, the vehicle must return to the inspecting station for re-inspection within five days, or the vehicle may be taken to a different station for a complete new inspection.

West Virginia Registration Without Current Inspection

Limited exceptions allow temporary operation of vehicles without current inspection certificates under specific circumstances.

Ten-Day Extension for New Purchases

Vehicles purchased within West Virginia or brought into the state by new residents receive a ten-day grace period to obtain an inspection. This temporary extension begins from the date of purchase for in-state acquisitions or from the date of titling for new residents. During this period, proper registration or temporary permits must be maintained.

Out-of-State Absence Extension

Residents who have been outside West Virginia continuously for more than thirty days and whose inspection certificate expired during their absence receive a ten-day extension upon returning to the state. To qualify for this extension, the vehicle owner must be able to document the extended out-of-state absence.

Temporary Permit Limitations

Vehicles operating under one-trip permits or temporary registration must still be delivered to inspection stations by legal means. Temporary permits do not exempt vehicles from the underlying inspection requirement but provide a limited time to obtain the required inspection.

Requesting Additional Time

Vehicle owners facing circumstances that prevent timely inspection should contact the West Virginia State Police Traffic Safety Section at (304) 746-2125 for guidance on extension procedures.

For general DMV inquiries regarding registration and inspection requirements, West Virginia residents may call 1-800-642-9066. Out-of-state customers may dial 304-558-3900.

Government Agencies

West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles
5707 MacCorkle Ave SE, Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 558-3900 or 1-800-642-9066 (West Virginia residents)
West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles

West Virginia State Police Traffic Safety Section
701 Jefferson Road, South Charleston, WV 25309
(304) 746-2125
West Virginia State Police Traffic Safety