Some states require vehicles to pass regular safety inspections to ensure they are safe for the road. West Virginia is one of those states. In West Virginia, most vehicles must pass a safety inspection every 24 months.
These inspection requirements apply to most vehicles on the road, although your inspection date does not necessarily align with your registration date or license plate expiration. If you fail an inspection or don’t get one, the West Virginia DMV might not allow you to drive the vehicle until an inspection is completed.
Which Vehicles Need a Safety Inspection?
Just like the state’s car insurance coverage requirements, West Virginia’s inspection requirements apply to almost all vehicles registered in the state.
This includes:
- Passenger cars and trucks
- Motorcycles
- Commercial vehicles
- Trailers
- Semi-trailers
- Pole trailers
If the vehicle is required to be registered in West Virginia, then it is subject to the inspection requirements. A valid inspection sticker must be affixed to the vehicle before it can be operated on the roads.
Are There Any Exceptions to Inspection Rules?
Yes. Not all vehicles are subject to the safety inspection requirement.
There are a few exceptions to the inspection requirements, and those include:
- House trailers (Class R)
- Special Class S vehicles
- Trailers of less than 2,000 pounds GVWR
- Some antique vehicles
If you purchase a vehicle, you have ten days to get the inspection completed. This deadline is the same whether the vehicle came from within the state or from another state.
What Is the Inspection Process?
The main goal of the safety inspection is to help ensure that all components of the vehicle are operating properly so that it is safe for the roadway. A car in good working order is much less likely to cause a car accident and put you or other drivers in danger.
To have your car inspected, you will need to take it to a police-authorized inspection station or facility. Many local auto repair shops within the state are authorized to perform these inspections. A fee of no more than $19 may be charged to complete the inspection.
What Is Covered in the Inspection?
The facility should inspect all the major systems and components of your vehicle, including:
- Glass and windshield wiper systems
- Side and rear view mirrors
- Lighting and electrical systems
- Body parts and bumpers
- Tires and wheels
- Exhaust system
- Brakes
- Suspension and steering components
- Fuel system
Upon passing inspection, an inspection sticker will be placed on your windshield as proof of the inspection. Unfortunately, some vehicles fail their inspection. If your car failed, keep reading below to learn what to do.
What To Do if Your Car Fails the Inspection
If your vehicle fails the inspection, don’t worry! You will be given an opportunity to have the items repaired to get your vehicle in passing condition. Remember that you may authorize the facility performing the inspection to complete the repairs, but you are not obligated to use that facility.
You may take your car to another mechanic for the repairs. You can return to the original inspection facility within five days and have the repaired part re-inspected. If you wait longer than five days, you will need to complete another entire inspection of the vehicle.
Once the repairs are complete and the vehicle passes, the rejection sticker will be removed and replaced with the passing inspection sticker. Remember that you may not operate the vehicle on the road after a failed inspection except to drive it to a repair facility to make necessary repairs.
What If My Car Was Already Inspected in Another State?
West Virginia has reciprocity with several states, so a successful inspection in one of those states will meet the West Virginia requirements.
Those states are:
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Utah
- Wyoming
If you have a valid inspection sticker from one of these states, you may register and drive your car in West Virginia until the sticker expires. Only when will you be required to get a new inspection from a West Virginia inspection facility.
Contact the Charleston Car Accident Lawyers at Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Vehicle safety inspections are more than a formality—they help prevent dangerous accidents and keep everyone on the road safer. If you’ve been injured in a car crash and suspect that a poorly maintained vehicle was to blame, you may have the right to compensation.
At Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers, our Charleston car accident attorneys can investigate the cause of your accident, gather evidence, and fight for your recovery. Whether the issue involved a failed inspection, improper repairs, or unsafe parts, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Call today at (304) 346-5990 to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you seek justice and financial relief after a collision.
