In 2019-2020, the Virginia General Assembly considered a budget plan that eliminated the Virginia State Vehicle Inspection program. Across the state, citizens cheered! No more sitting in line for an annual inspection? What’s not to love, right?
A lot, actually.
Mandatory vehicle inspections are controversial. Only 15 states, including Virginia, currently require periodic safety inspections. Several states have voted to end their inspection programs in recent years.
The Virginia General Assembly chose to keep the Virginia State Safety Inspection program. Like it or not, Virginia drivers are still required to get an annual inspection.
So, what’s the fuss? Why do vehicle inspections matter, and who do they benefit? Let’s talk about it.
Virginia Car Inspections
A safety inspection includes a certified inspector checking your vehicle’s safety equipment. Virginia requires vehicles to undergo an annual vehicle safety inspection.
An emissions inspection measures the emission levels released by your vehicle to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. Vehicles in certain counties and cities in Northern Virginia must pass an emissions inspection every two years.
Approximately 5,500 safety inspection stations operate across the Commonwealth. Virginia State Police troopers oversee each station’s operations and compliance with regulations. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) oversees emissions inspection stations. All Virginia Tire & Auto locations are certified safety and emissions inspection stations*.
*Virginia Tire & Auto of Chesterfield is not certified for emissions inspections since vehicles in Chesterfield County do not need them.
The Importance of Vehicle Safety Inspections
The importance of the Vehicle Safety Inspection is in the name: Safety.
Virginia’s inspection program covers all safety-related components of the vehicle, including tires, brakes and steering. Any failure or defect in these components is dangerous to you, your passengers, pedestrians and other motorists.
Today’s cars have life-saving safety features like automatic emergency braking, obstacle detection, tire pressure monitoring systems, and more. But they can’t tell you if your tire tread depth is low or your headlights are out or your brakes are bad. Even the most advanced cars can’t monitor key safety components checked during your annual safety inspection.
Read: Virginia State Inspection Checklist
Researching Safety Inspections: Do They Help Keep Us Safe?
Here are summaries of the studies most cited by critics and supporters of state inspections:
- Crashes involving vehicles with defects are twice as likely to result in a fatality than crashes with vehicles that do not have defects, according to a 2018 study by the University of Texas. Other key findings of the study include:
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- Slick or defective tires were the most common defect related to fatal crashes.
- The percentage of out-of-state vehicles involved in fatal crashes was lower for states that have a vehicle safety inspection program than states that do not.
- Component failure or degradation is a critical reason for only 2% of car crashes (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The two primary reasons for those crashes were tires and brakes.
- The crash rate in states without inspections declined by about 8 percent from 2008-2017, according to information provided by the Virginia governor’s office in 2019. During that period, the crash rate in Virginia declined by about 2 percent. Additionally, only three of the 10 states with the lowest crash rates require inspections.
- A 2009 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation study demonstrated that “the Vehicle Safety Inspection program in Pennsylvania is effective and saves lives.” They expected that Pennsylvania would have 115-169 more crashes each year if it did not have a vehicle safety inspection program.
- The average age of vehicles in the U.S. is 11.9 years and getting older. Older vehicles are more likely to have a defect resulting in a car crash. In Virginia, vehicles manufactured in 2009 or earlier fail safety inspections 29% of the time.
- After ending their safety inspection programs, South Carolina, Mississippi and Florida all had more traffic fatalities and/or crashes.
It’s no secret that the Virginia Automotive Association lobbies against legislative action that would end safety inspections. However, automotive groups were not the only ones to oppose the proposed budget plan in 2019.
The Virginia Coalition for Safe Vehicles also included groups such as the Virginia State Police Association, Virginia Professional Fire Fighters Association, the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia, and the VA Trucking Association. People and organizations across the Commonwealth support safety inspections because they keep our citizens safer.
The Importance of Vehicle Emissions Inspections
The federal government requires states to implement emissions inspection and maintenance programs in major metropolitan areas with poor air quality.
According to the Virginia DEQ, “vehicle emissions are the largest single source of toxic and smog-forming air pollution in Northern Virginia.”
The Air Check Virginia program was established in 1982 to limit air pollution in Northern Virginia through vehicle emissions inspections.
You can help reduce air pollution in our neighborhoods by participating in the Virginia Emissions Inspection program and staying on top of your vehicle maintenance.
Read: Getting a Vehicle Emissions Inspection in Virginia
Get Your Virginia Inspections at Virginia Tire & Auto
No matter how you feel about inspections, they are here to stay in Virginia. So why not get your inspections done at a repair shop you trust—Virginia Tire & Auto.
At Virginia Tire & Auto, we hold to four core values: professional, attentive, genuine and forward-thinking. Our mechanics and inspectors do their job with pride and integrity because that’s what you deserve. Not to mention, our car care shops offer clean, comfortable waiting areas, Wi-Fi, and refreshments.
Keep in mind that safety and emissions inspections are first-come, first-serve. Please call ahead for estimated wait times. For the shortest wait, come midday, midweek, midmonth.
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